Westfield Academy and Central School Superintendent Michael Cipolla shared guidelines from both Chautauqua County and the State Health Department regarding several COVID-related matters at a Board of Education meeting this month.

Board members learned about the guidelines issued by Chautauqua County for Testing to Stay (TTS) as an alternative to quarantine when a student or staff member has been exposed to someone with COVID in the school setting. Additionally, board members received the latest guidelines from the state Health Department regarding masking, distancing and quarantine.

In order to take part in Testing to Stay, Cipolla said the unvaccinated person must be identified as needing to quarantine by the county Health Department or by the school contact tracing team. The exposure with a COVID-positive person must have taken place in the school setting while both persons were “consistently and properly masked.”

Furthermore, Cipolla said the student or staff member must not have or develop any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and should have two COVID-19 tests within a five-day period, the second test being on Day 5.

Cipolla noted that the state guidelines require both masking and social distancing in school settings. Regarding quarantine, all fully vaccinated persons who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 may continue to attend or work at the school while being quarantined outside of the school.

Board members also passed a resolution awarding a contract to Perry Construction Group for $76,000 for the work for the 2021-22 Capital Outlay Project. They also approved four change orders for the 2019 Capital Improvement Project. Three of the change orders involve the approval of credits received back from unused allowances.

In other matters, board members learned that the work on ceilings and lighting in various classrooms is expected to be completed in the summer of 2022. Business official Joshua Melquist said that the district is exploring the possibility of repairing the bus lift as the Capital Outlay project for 2022-23.

“The current bus lift is not usable,” Cipolla said.

During board member commentary, Deanne Manzilla, having recently attended a Chautauqua County School Boards Association event, shared matters that the CCSBA is encouraging politicians to support.

“One example,” Manzilla said, “we’re asking that the $100,000 capital project money be raised to $200,000.”

Manzilla told the board that another example is in regard to bus drivers. Currently those who want to drive a school bus must go through CDL training and licensing.

“Maybe there could be a separate bus course and license,” Manzilla added.