05-19-23 WCSD Weekly Update
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Welcome to the weekly update!
I want to thank all of the community members who came out to support and help pass the 2023-2024 budget. With the budget passing, we will be able to continue to provide an excellent educational experience to ensure all students succeed here in Williamsville. I also want to congratulate the four candidates who were elected by the community to serve on the Board of Education.
Incumbents Mike Buscaglia and Crystal Kaczmarek-Boger were re-elected and will continue to serve. Along with them, Kerry Spicer was elected, and will serve a three-year term beginning July 1, 2023. Mark Manna, who received the fourth most votes among the candidates, was sworn in on Wednesday morning and will serve the remaining two years of the term held by former Board Member Teresa Leatherbarrow. We look forward to continuing our positive work and collaboration with the Board to produce positive student outcomes.
On Thursday during the Special Board Meeting, the Board of Education approved an agreement with FC Buffalo, an amateur soccer club, to use our athletic facilities at Williamsville South High School for their upcoming season. We know there is a great deal of soccer support and enthusiasm in Williamsville, and we look forward to FC Buffalo hosting camps and engaging with our students and families to help grow the game.
Next week, the Board of Education will have a regularly scheduled Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 23rd. At this meeting, we will provide an update on our Special Education Review, Code of Conduct feedback, and some of the Speaker Series ideas for the 2023-2024 school year that have been shared by community members.
This week, we highlighted Gitanjali Roa for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Following the water crisis in Flint Michigan, Gitanjali started researching carbon nanotube sensor technology, which would be used to detect chemicals in water.
Gitanjali invented Tethys, a device that quickly and inexpensively detects lead in drinking water. She also worked to create an artificial intelligence-based anti-cyberbully app and a device to diagnose prescription opioid addiction. In 2020, at just 15 years old, Gitanjali Rao was named Time Magazine’s first Kid of the Year for her work using science and technology to better the world. Be sure to watch the video project in the newsletter to learn more about her impact and accomplishments!
Enjoy the weekend and we’ll see you next week!