Westfield Academy and Central School Board of Education members received a presentation from the First Amendment First Vote Club students at their meeting last month.

In other business, board members reviewed the draft of the proposed 2025-26 Board of Education meeting dates and approved the recommended advisors for Girls on the Run. DeAnn Shelters and Brianna Alonge were approved as advisers who will receive stipends and Shannon Bills as a volunteer adviser for the 2024-2025 School Year, effective March 25.

Board members completed the first reading of three policies, which includes Policy 5661: Wellness, Policy 7513: Medication and Personal Care Items, and Policy 7521: Students with Life-Threatening Health Conditions.

Board members discussed the portion of Policy 7513, which deals with the placing of feminine hygiene products at District expense in restrooms for students in Grades 6-12. Board member Tom Tarpley pointed out the proposed policy does not clearly state that these products will only be placed in female restrooms or unisex restrooms.

Tarpley requested that the policy clearly state where the products will be located. “Could the policy be further reviewed by our policy committee?” he asked. “The policy should clearly indicate that the only restrooms these products would be placed in would be restrooms identified for use by female students.”

In another matter, the board reviewed an Application for Refund or Credit of Real Property Taxes, filed by 217 JAM LLC (CVS Health Corporation), requesting a refund of $2,892.46. The corporation is requesting a refund because the assessed value of the property has gone from $1,200,000 to $1,081,600, thereby reducing the amount of taxes due to the district.

Board members subsequently approved the transfer from the Reserve for Tax Certiorari to cover the cost of the property reassessment.

The board also approved a resolution recognizing a number of individuals, as recommended by the Committee Chairs, to serve on interview committees during the final interview process for the Superintendent of Schools.

The committees include a student team, support staff team, administrative team, faculty team and a parent team. They will commence serving on April 23, 2025 and ending upon the appointment of the next Superintendent of Schools.