Williamsville Central School District approves $242M budget and new student board members

The Board of Education meeting held on May 27, 2025, in New York focused on several key updates and initiatives for the upcoming school year. The meeting began with a community update, where the board announced the approval of a budget totaling $242,719,867 for the 2025-2026 school year. This budget will maintain current academic and extracurricular programs, enhance special education offerings, and prioritize school safety and student wellness initiatives.

The board recognized the re-election of current members Christina Bleckinger, Mark Mana, and Stewart Buellen for another three-year term, alongside the introduction of three new student board members from Williamsville East, North, and South. The district also celebrated its achievement of being named one of the "Best Communities for Music Education" for the seventeenth consecutive year.

In terms of scheduling, the board confirmed that the last student day will be on June 25, with a half-day for elementary students, and the last teacher rating day moved to June 26. The meeting also highlighted the introduction of the "Say Something Anonymous Reporting" system, developed in partnership with the Sandy Hook Promise, aimed at enhancing student safety.

The board discussed upcoming community events, including a film screening titled "Can't Look Away," which addresses the negative impacts of social media on youth, scheduled for June 25. Additionally, a transportation efficiency study is ongoing, with a deadline for parent responses set for June 2, to improve bus routing for the next school year.

Summer school dates and locations were confirmed, with elementary and middle school sessions at Transit Middle School from July 9 to August 19, and high school sessions at Williamsville East from July 8 to August 20. Graduation ceremonies for the high schools were also scheduled for late June.

The meeting included updates on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, with the board expressing satisfaction with the progress made in creating an inclusive environment. The DEI plan aims to reflect the district's diversity in the curriculum and enhance community engagement.

The board also reviewed the annual wellness, nutrition, and fitness report, which outlines actions taken to meet policy requirements, and discussed the district's energy consumption and expenditures, noting an increase in energy costs compared to pre-COVID levels.

Lastly, the capital project update detailed ongoing efforts in the elementary air conditioning project, with plans for significant work over the summer to improve facilities across several schools.

Overall, the meeting underscored the board's commitment to enhancing educational offerings, ensuring student safety, and fostering an inclusive community environment as they prepare for the upcoming school year.