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Parents urge high school robotics classes; district says robotics course under consideration
Summary
A parent raised local school districts’ course offerings and asked Westbury to expand high school technology classes and the robotics team; district leaders said a robotics course is under consideration but budget and staffing constraints complicate immediate implementation.
At the public comment portion of the June 10 meeting, resident Isabella Hamilton Lomax urged the board to expand technology and robotics offerings at the high school, citing course guides from neighboring districts and asking that the district move beyond after-school clubs toward formal classes.
“...I went home and I researched all of the course curriculums for all of the districts around,” Hamilton Lomax said, naming districts she had reviewed. She asked that the high school program be expanded beyond a robotics club and that the team be given more space and capacity.
Assistant Superintendent Mr. Galavan responded that launching a robotics class at the high school is “in our plans,” but he cautioned that budget constraints and staffing schedules make immediate implementation uncertain. “We’re looking for a way to do it in, kind of a net neutral way because we have certain budget restrictions coming into the next year,” Galavan said, adding that building faculty competence in AI and related fields is an administrative priority.
The district encouraged Hamilton Lomax to share her research with the board and administration; she agreed to email materials. The board did not take a formal vote; the exchange was a public comment and staff response.
