WACS Board of Education member Tom Tarpley.
At their meeting on Oct. 15, Westfield Academy and Central School Board of Education members urged all citizens to carefully read New York Proposition 1 before casting their vote on Nov. 5.
During the period of board commentary, Tom Tarpley expressed concerns about the proposition, known as the Equal Rights Amendment, which is on the ballot. The proposition, if passed, will amend the state constitution. “Voters really need to do research on Proposition 1,” he said. “We need to encourage everyone to read it.”
Tarpley spoke of a regulation proposed by the state earlier, which would have allowed gender neutral sports, but generated great opposition from the public. He cited an editorial from the October 13 Post-Journal headlined “Regents Make Good Choice Delaying Gender Neutral Sports,” which stated that a vote on the proposed regulation had been delayed.
The article states the regulation would have eliminated the Tanner Test regarding boy’s participation in girl’s sports. It goes on to say that “in our view, the problem with the regulations, as written, is the boatload of unintended consequences the state is creating.”
The editorial then noted that Proposition I would create a constitutional amendment which would, among other things, effectively enable gender-neutral sports to take place.
“There was no explanation for the delay. They said it was prompted by the number of comments received,” Tarpley said. “It’s beginning to appear that the delay was intended in the hope that Proposition 1 would slip by.”
According to a website called GET THE FACTS – NY PROP 1, “Prop 1 will appear on the back of ballots across the state to protect New Yorkers’ rights and fundamental freedoms – including abortion. It makes sure that no New Yorker can be discriminated against by the government, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, pregnancy status, disability status, or whether someone is LGBT.”
Board member Deanne Manzellla also said voters need to look at Proposition 1 before they vote. “I strongly suggest that citizens in New York state look closely into the very things that Proposition 1 entails,” she said. “The items that Tom brought up are only a small part of the proposition. There are a lot of things in it that will affect children in this state.”
In other business, WACS Superintendent Michael Cipolla spoke to the board about the increasing encouragement from the state to implement regionalization among school districts. Regionalization is a tool for districts to promote collaboration, he said.
Chautauqua was the first county in the state to adopt shared sports between districts, Cipolla said. “We have really set the bar for what regionalization looks like,” he said. “There are some great things happening in our region.”
Cipolla went on to say this is a good opportunity for the district to document the ways in which it has shared with neighboring districts and to expand on these programs. He reviewed the state’s timeline, which requires a final regionalization plan, by October 2025.
Cipolla also noted that the special education position, for which the district has advertised, is still unfilled. The district will repost for the position. “We really could use some applicants,” he said.
Cipolla also commended the members of the board of education, noting that it is board of education recognition week. “It’s a 12-month commitment to serve the students and the taxpayers of our community,” he said. “Thank you for your unwavering dedication to our school and our students. Your passion and your efforts often go unseen, but they are truly the foundation of what we do.”
In another matter, secondary principal Corey Markham told the board that a presenter spoke to the students about Rachel’s Challenge. Rachel Scott was one of the students killed in the Columbine High School shooting.
After Rachel’s death, her family found that she had touched many lives through kindness and compassion, Markham said. Rachel Scott’s family started a nonprofit organization to promote the qualities that she embraced and to prevent school violence, he said.
Markham said the district should embrace Rachel’s Challenge because it has a transforming effect. “I’ve seen the impact that Rachel’s Challenge can make on school districts,” he said.
Markham also noted that the National Honor Society will be hosting Trunk or Treat on Monday.