District Update
Back to School Edition
A Message From Dr. Brown-Hall
Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year!
It has been amazing to see the smiles and joy as students and staff returned to our school today. I am excited about the educational journey we are about to embark on and look forward to the many great things ahead of us in the coming months.
And, as the year begins, I want to remind everyone to stay engaged with the District and your schools.
Similar to last year, newsletters will be shared on a bi-weekly basis. Our schools shared back-to-school messages and will be sending another newsletter next week. You may have noticed that our platform has changed for easier navigation and translation, both of which were points of feedback received from stakeholders. Please be sure to stay informed through these newsletters and engaged with activities going on in your schools by reviewing the WITS event calendar.
Be sure to also join your PTA, PTSA, or SEPTSA. While students remember their teachers and some of the assignments they’ve completed over the year, the events and activities provided by our volunteer groups help enrich the school experience. From field days, trunk or treats, and field trips, the laughs, smiles, and memories are truly priceless!
In August we launched a new District app. If you haven’t already done so, download the app and access building contact information, calendars, athletic schedules, and arts information in just a few clicks! On the app, users can also receive push notifications for closings, delays, or emergencies throughout the course of the school year.
This year, two big initiatives we are continuing to review are school start times and cell phone policies. Over the course of the summer, we had 260 individuals indicate they wanted to be part of our school start times focus groups. At the end of August, we held a lottery to determine placement and will notify individuals at the end of the week.
In October, members of the School Start Time Committee, Leadership Team, Administrators, and Board of Education will be attending the National Conference on Adolescent Sleep and School Start Times. We look forward to sharing more following this conference as we begin our work and partnership on this educational endeavor.
In the classroom, we know technology can enhance the learning experience, but we also don’t want teachers competing for student’s attention with cell phones. While we know each grade level is different, we want to have uniformity and consistency across all levels as it relates to digital devices. We also have a keen eye on what is taking place at the state level, as Governor Kathy Hochul is also considering a state-wide cell phone policy for schools. We will continue to keep you updated and informed with data, research, and information as it becomes available.
Don’t forget, the next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 10th at 7:00 p.m. at the District Office. It will also be streamed on the District’s YouTube channel.
Lastly, as I shared on Friday, safety and security remains a top priority in the District. “See something, say something” is a simple yet effective strategy we can all utilize to keep our school community safe. Please, if something seems out of the ordinary – on social media or in our community – don’t hesitate to speak up.
Once again, welcome back! I am looking forward to an amazing school year with you all!
To download the new District App, access the iTune/App Store or Google Play.
iTunes/App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/williamsville-csd/id6503913720
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.finalsite.williamsvillek12
The Williamsville Board of Education is composed of nine representatives elected at-large by residents of the Williamsville Central School District. It is the responsibility of the Board to set policy which determines and facilitates attainment of the goals of public education in the Williamsville Central School District.
Board of Education meetings are generally held on Tuesday's at 7:00 pm, unless otherwise indicated, in the District Office Boardroom.
All Board Members can be reached by e-mailing boardofeducation@williamsvillek12.org.
