[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6328245,"mediaKeyId","2321374-e46ab85f0524903fd08fa3634e2b280a","parentId",2321374,"title","Williamsville board declines to adopt proposed school start times after hours of public comment","audioSeconds",7071,"startMs",2815000,"endMs",9886000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321374-e46ab85f0524903fd08fa3634e2b280a&start=2815&end=9886","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2321374-e46ab85f0524903fd08fa3634e2b280a/thumbnail_2815000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6328245/New-York/Williamsville-board-declines-to-adopt-proposed-school-start-times-after-hours-of-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328245-f4a390c8577ade9619b4c97423e66120/orig.mp4?Expires=1776048249&Signature=h-BivCcwgYPsqpDX9PVlKQqtnkBrUbcaH87KuFD6n-GCIKqLWBlHIWZ5Xa33-huE2cNRaCID~tFOSWoX~yrTWeNBEROpSgV4~k--CTXYRAGioAEV88FdDJMvsKW~sDbDvObd1BhK9UIonVJnwoTZgAD861a2LTI0zt71AurDtIyBk8QSqQYUOsm4SCzinXLUUwGDEepspE6IYe7opu-NdeR5VKiRhb26pohhmxWSI37Rhb0Xk7LPzBIvmOSoxqXf-y1ODzNchoXHww6sV5AoIir3PSqAR4ED8liyrHjtijSuq4mlP2HCCVz0La0tvFd~V2TteDpwfaTiIrVbeq3gHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-12T02:53:11Z","article","The Williamsville Central School District Board of Education did not approve a proposed change to school start times on Feb. 11, 2025, after more than an hour of public comment and extended discussion by board members. A formal motion to accept the proposal as presented was not made and the measure died without a vote.

The proposal, which district materials and committee presentations framed as intended primarily to benefit high-school students, drew dozens of speakers during the meeting’s public expression portion. Parents, physicians, teachers and students urged the board to reconsider or delay the plan, raising concerns about younger students’ sleep, athletics schedules, special-education supervision and family child-care needs.

The public comments gave the board multiple perspectives on effects across age groups and activities. “This proposal has been framed as a necessary adjustment to support high school students, but in doing so, it unfairly places the burden on elementary school students and their families,” said Jillian Lenhard, a parent and pediatric speech-language pathologist. Several physicians said evidence on elementary-age benefits is limited; Dr. Mojda Kappas, a community general surgeon and mother, told the board that “even the experts agree that there’s some room for improvement with the times that have been proposed,” but urged more study before making changes.

Students and student-athletes warned of collisions with jobs, after-school practices and competitions. “This time change will not be adding an hour to the day for students,” said Eli Feldstein, a junior at Williamsville East, after collecting petitions opposing the change. A high-school parent and special-education advocate, Richard Thompson, told the board the district should plan on-site before-care for students who require adult supervision rather than alter schedules that would force parents to leave jobs.

Board members said they had read hundreds of emails and received more than 1,600 community responses. Several trustees said they felt the district had not yet produced detailed plans on transportation routing, athletic schedules or before-care that would show how a later high-school start could be implemented without undue harm to other student groups. “Some of these other districts actually dedicated professionals to fleshing out an athletic schedule in full detail, fleshing out a transportation schedule in full detail,” said Dr. Spicer, a trustee, summarizing information she wanted before a final decision.

Superintendent Dr. Brown Hall said she remains supportive of later high-school start times on the basis of adolescent sleep research but acknowledged the committee’s draft plan lacked sufficient logistical detail for some board members. “Personally, what I would propose … is to send this back to committee,” she said, and said any implementation would not likely be ready for the 2025–26 school year and could be delayed to 2026–27 if the board pursues further work.

After board discussion, the president asked for a motion to accept the proposal as presented. There was no motion or second; the president declared the motion failed. The board made no formal decision to adopt the plan and did not set an immediate new timetable for action.

The superintendent and several trustees said staff will continue work on related transportation studies to improve route efficiency. The board gave no final directive to implement the start-time changes and left open the possibility of additional committee study if the board chooses to revisit the topic.

What remains clear from the meeting: the district faces sharply divided community views, detailed logistical questions about busing and extracurriculars, and particular concerns from parents of elementary and special-education students who said earlier start times would compound family and supervision burdens.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 11, 2025 - Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Williamsville Central School District Board of Education did not approve a proposed change to school start times on Feb. 11 after no motion to accept the plan was made following extended public comment and board discussion.","taxTitle","WILLIAMSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",13432,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6328236,"Williamsville budget presentation shows $2.2 million working deficit; state aid projected to rise",255,9990000,10245000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321374-e46ab85f0524903fd08fa3634e2b280a&start=9990&end=10245","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2321374-e46ab85f0524903fd08fa3634e2b280a/thumbnail_9990000.jpg","/articles/6328236/New-York/Williamsville-budget-presentation-shows-22-million-working-deficit-state-aid-projected-to-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328236-74d473c8c977a371e2fa608e791407e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1776048249&Signature=ID9gC5S0L7W79bOxmoaBjkrYWG2E78tTzx~9K5msyRLsOq4QgKVdLUhj~l6mkem-YfN9wYWL5Jo9Q3je5Z3BGvejYpTwRgAyNPh89KZAYBe2tn2~o~BZeSka0YFcR4GZhTSS8mLlJq-pHnJXeiE21L2cRqcbUVIXBxo7LNfUt1O3o4HmB6BCk9LrwdlK~jLzdWmgZRNoYL8o9O~hB3bwW0hZk7aV~h48JBWW9gVywYOintQAN3OgUO0bvfidV3T4oUhVMVFSQgrqLrwTPWwwwS~gzeXXU6SgGzRTa6IZtkTdr~MOF2kEY-H~mLv6mu3SxYwvI-o-Ltcmocv7jEP7sA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Williamsville Central School District officials presented a working draft of the 2025–26 budget during the Feb. 11 meeting and reported a preliminary $244,517,917 spending plan, a proposed tax levy of $148,845,213 and a working deficit of about $2.2 million.

Assistant Superintendent for Finance Mr. Kelly told the board that state aid estimates in the draft are up “nearly $7,400,000” compared with the current year, with transportation, foundation and building aid showing the largest increases. At the same time, the district’s BOCES cost projection increased during recent meetings with Erie 1 BOCES, adding an estimated $545,610 in costs to next year’s budget draft.

“We’re showing a $2,200,000 deficit that we have more work to do,” Kelly said, describing the figures as a work in progress. The district’s draft also anticipates using $2.5 million of fund balance next fiscal year (down from $3 million budgeted this year) and assumes total cost increases of about $1.13 million since a January presentation.

Kelly warned that some numbers were not final — BOCES charges are still being finalized and retirements and associated salary-step changes could change the net figure. He said retirements typically create some savings, but noted the district’s difficulty in predicting hiring step placement given current teacher labor-market conditions.

The presenter said the district plans to continue refining revenue and expense estimates; the board set the March meeting for further budget work. Public budget comment was held at the meeting; board members and the superintendent described the draft as preliminary and pledged further review before adoption.","District finance staff presented a working 2025–26 budget showing a proposed spending plan of $244.5 million, a preliminary tax levy of $148.8 million (3.29% increase) and a working deficit of about $2.2 million; state aid increases and retirements could change final figures.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6328240,"Williamsville board approves student board member election rules; board removes staff voting option",135,8735000,8870000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321374-e46ab85f0524903fd08fa3634e2b280a&start=8735&end=8870","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2321374-e46ab85f0524903fd08fa3634e2b280a/thumbnail_8735000.jpg","/articles/6328240/New-York/Williamsville-board-approves-student-board-member-election-rules-board-removes-staff-voting-option","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328240-2fa32504bbb958a81eaba3d450fd2864/orig.mp4?Expires=1776048249&Signature=PG0KWDNlbmBuaMrUKRgwbY20uygLqorITTCPfdSHtsFqfPpBb0~LCyjn3yXTuGBzCeuXUsdWaA3MbxIcld904T9QLBJ8-mJsme0JnSXTw9Ra3mGw12qoNbE97~gN5Xw-PaMr4KS-0HePJOpOIF7CIrNCfCz-2SNN5OxtkEWtilzJPcp~ER-8fz63cjnkIwcipOizQKI1K0wxH-YBvAkGeW0dslTqSjxUWuVHc9E6dELhHAQniY6AG~L4r4KgSROyroGTGwpgmn5MRXssDzjNenwscdtIeDYf9WHYDr4P8P38qN9uPcwjFQGmGiZq6CTsnSTnA3uea0zLMIIX0GaIxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Williamsville Central School District Board of Education on Feb. 11 approved a student board member selection procedure but removed language that would have allowed district staff to vote in the selection.

A committee had proposed that school staff be permitted to vote on a student board member to reduce the influence of popularity contests; committee members said students specifically requested staff participation. A trustee, however, moved to amend the proposal to restrict voting to the student body in keeping with the board’s earlier direction and with the statute’s primary emphasis on student selection.

“I think the first thing you want to teach a student who’s going to be sitting on this board is you follow the direction of the majority of the board and you follow the law,” said board member Mr. Manna, who offered the amendment to remove staff voting. The board voted 7–2 in favor of the amendment; two trustees opposed.

After the amendment passed, the board voted unanimously to approve the student board member proposal as amended. The board president said the district will prepare a formal policy reflecting the changes and that the implementation target remains July 1, 2025, per the timeline the board discussed.

Committee members said staff would not be required to vote even if the option had remained; proponents argued staff participation was suggested by students to mitigate popularity effects. Trustees who supported the amendment said the selection process should follow the board’s resolution and keep voting within the student electorate.

Administrators and board members also noted an obligation to produce a formal written policy before the first selection cycle. The board directed staff to draft a policy for later review and formal adoption.","The board voted to approve a student board member selection process but struck committee language allowing staff to vote; the amended procedure was adopted and the board asked for a formal policy to follow the law and prior board direction.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Williamsville board declines to adopt proposed school start times after hours of public comment

Williamsville budget presentation shows $2.2 million working deficit; state aid projected to rise

Williamsville board approves student board member election rules; board removes staff voting option