WESTFIELD — As classes resume, Westfield Academy and Central School District, like other districts across the state, will be able to make its own decisions regarding COVID-19.

District Superintendent Michael Cipolla shared the governor’s current guidelines regarding the pandemic.

“It is entirely flexible, to allow schools to make their own decisions,” he said. “It is a positive step forward.”

On Aug. 22, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that New York state was lifting COVID-19 restrictions for kindergarten through 12th grade schools ahead of the new academic year. Westfield board members were supported the decision.

“It is such good news for students and staff,” board member Tom Tarpley said. “In such an important matter, the focus should be on students, without continual control from the state.”

State mandates have been an issue for the district, which prompted the board to send several letters to Hochul during the 2021-22 school year. Tarpley, who helped draft the letters for the board, has been a consistent advocate for the removal of COVID-19 state mandates.

In February, the board drafted a letter to the governor requesting that districts be allowed to make its own decisions regarding the safety of students, including the wearing of masks. In April, the board drafted another letter regarding the state mandate to test unvaccinated staff members for COVID-19. The letter requested that the mandate be allowed to expire and not be renewed.

In other business, board members discussed the 2022-23 Code of Conduct. Board member Deanne Manzilla referred fellow board members to Section IV: Essential Partners, which include “Parents/Legal Guardians, Teachers, School Counselors, Principals, Superintendent, and Board of Education,” and lists their responsibilities.

“Don’t feel you are knit-picking when you’re looking at this document or any others,” Manzilla said. “That’s part of our job.”

Wendy Dyment, board president, shared information she had received at the NYSBA Leadership conference on August 11 and 12 in Albany. Seminars covered such topics as legal updates, community involvement and engagement, mental health of students and staff and the effect the pandemic has had on emotional stability, she said. “the conference was really valuable. They had something for everyone,” she said.

Dyment also brought the Chautauqua County School Boards Association Save the Dates Document and pointed out several events which she feels would be beneficial for board members.

In other business, the board approved several interscholastic athletic agreements with neighboring districts. These included agreements for varsity and modified wrestling, varsity golf and varsity girls’ swimming.

Manzilla reminded the board that it keeps coming up that Westfield is going to be a disappointment to those who want to have mergers for the sake of having mergers.

The board also approved the 2022-23 Building Level and the District Safety Plan and the 2022-23 tax warrant. The also approved all guidelines for the collection of taxes and the duties of the tax collector for the 2022-23 school year.

In matters of personnel, board members approved the permanent appointment of Cindy Keefe as school secretary, effective Aug. 11. They accepted the resignation of Katherine Lindquist as special education teacher, effective on or before September 11, 2022. Bus drivers and bus monitors for the 2022-23 school year were also approved.

During the period of board member commentary, Tarpley said he appreciated Cipolla’s comments about the opening of school this year.

“We can actually focus on education this year,” he said. “It will be good not to have all the interference of the last couple of years.”