Williamsville school board candidates debate equity, special education and AI at PTSA/League forum
May 10, 2024 | WILLIAMSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York
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Williamsville Central School District candidates met at a May forum hosted by the Williamsville PTSA Council and the League of Women Voters to outline priorities on equity, special education, gifted programming, the district budget and how schools should respond to artificial intelligence.
The forum, moderated by Lori Robinson of the League of Women Voters of Buffalo Niagara and Claire Salig of the Williamsville PTSA Council, started with two‑minute opening statements from incumbents and challengers. Incumbent Dr. Littmann, a long‑time educator who returned to the board in 2021, emphasized experience in curriculum and capital projects and said, “I listen and I care.” Farooq Singh, the board president and candidate 6A, said the district has advanced supports in recent years — mental‑health resources, DEI initiatives and learning labs — but cautioned that sustaining programs requires stable funding.
Challengers highlighted gaps they said need attention. Phil Danielson, a project manager and parent, framed the board’s role as oversight of curriculum, budget and the superintendent and urged careful review of curriculum content. Endelo Soon, an attorney and active PTSA volunteer, said he would prioritize improving special education services and increasing board diversity, noting the district’s student demographics while urging better representation. Dawn Fletch, a longtime PTSA volunteer and parent, stressed representing the whole district and increased parent engagement.
On equity at the three high schools, candidates offered different emphases. Incumbents described mechanisms such as reviewing annual disciplinary reports and supporting professional development to identify and address disparities; Maureen Poulin, an incumbent with three years on the board, pointed to differences in building sizes and the need to assess participation thresholds when determining whether to offer particular courses. Fletch raised technology access as an equity concern, saying students receive district devices at earlier grades but not uniformly at the high‑school level. “We have to make sure everybody has a fair playing ground,” she said.
The forum moved to special education and inclusion. Candidates generally supported bringing more students with special needs into Williamsville schools while acknowledging space and staffing limits. Farooq Singh cited a proposed budget allocation of $509,520 for two high‑school and one elementary 8:1:1 classrooms and said additional behavior‑support contracts are included in the draft budget. Endelo Soon said the district “needs to make it a top priority” to bring special education students back into district buildings rather than outsourcing placements, and several speakers encouraged budgeting for classroom additions or modular space when necessary.
On gifted and talented services, candidates noted a mix of in‑school acceleration, AP offerings and outside programs such as a UB math option that may require out‑of‑pocket costs. Speakers described district efforts to provide tiered enrichment, pull‑out programming and partnerships with area colleges; several urged making enrichment opportunities more equitable and pursuing funding to sustain them.
Budget questions prompted discussion of the tax levy. Candidates said rising fixed costs, inflation and the end of pandemic federal funding constrained the district’s ability to lower the levy. Several incumbents said the district is using reserves judiciously to balance the budget and warned that significant cuts would likely affect classroom programs or staff. Phil Danielson asked for clearer documentation of the district’s cash balances and planned interest income.
Artificial intelligence drew broad agreement that schools cannot ignore AI and must develop policies and professional development for teachers. Candidates urged rethinking assignments, training staff on tools and detection, and harnessing AI as a resource when appropriate. “AI is here. We need to be prepared because our students will be working with it,” Dr. Littmann said.
The forum closed with three‑minute statements from each candidate and a reminder from the League of Women Voters to vote on the district budget and board election on May 21, 2024, with polling in the Williamsville North High School gym.
The event provided voters with contrast among incumbents who emphasized continuity and stewardship and challengers who focused on inclusion, transparency and targeted improvements. The district’s proposed $509,520 allocation for three 8:1:1 special‑education classrooms and plans for additional behavior‑support contracts were the clearest budgetary specifics given during the forum; candidates otherwise largely sketched priorities rather than detailed policy changes.
Next steps: voters will decide on the budget and board seats on May 21, 2024.
The forum, moderated by Lori Robinson of the League of Women Voters of Buffalo Niagara and Claire Salig of the Williamsville PTSA Council, started with two‑minute opening statements from incumbents and challengers. Incumbent Dr. Littmann, a long‑time educator who returned to the board in 2021, emphasized experience in curriculum and capital projects and said, “I listen and I care.” Farooq Singh, the board president and candidate 6A, said the district has advanced supports in recent years — mental‑health resources, DEI initiatives and learning labs — but cautioned that sustaining programs requires stable funding.
Challengers highlighted gaps they said need attention. Phil Danielson, a project manager and parent, framed the board’s role as oversight of curriculum, budget and the superintendent and urged careful review of curriculum content. Endelo Soon, an attorney and active PTSA volunteer, said he would prioritize improving special education services and increasing board diversity, noting the district’s student demographics while urging better representation. Dawn Fletch, a longtime PTSA volunteer and parent, stressed representing the whole district and increased parent engagement.
On equity at the three high schools, candidates offered different emphases. Incumbents described mechanisms such as reviewing annual disciplinary reports and supporting professional development to identify and address disparities; Maureen Poulin, an incumbent with three years on the board, pointed to differences in building sizes and the need to assess participation thresholds when determining whether to offer particular courses. Fletch raised technology access as an equity concern, saying students receive district devices at earlier grades but not uniformly at the high‑school level. “We have to make sure everybody has a fair playing ground,” she said.
The forum moved to special education and inclusion. Candidates generally supported bringing more students with special needs into Williamsville schools while acknowledging space and staffing limits. Farooq Singh cited a proposed budget allocation of $509,520 for two high‑school and one elementary 8:1:1 classrooms and said additional behavior‑support contracts are included in the draft budget. Endelo Soon said the district “needs to make it a top priority” to bring special education students back into district buildings rather than outsourcing placements, and several speakers encouraged budgeting for classroom additions or modular space when necessary.
On gifted and talented services, candidates noted a mix of in‑school acceleration, AP offerings and outside programs such as a UB math option that may require out‑of‑pocket costs. Speakers described district efforts to provide tiered enrichment, pull‑out programming and partnerships with area colleges; several urged making enrichment opportunities more equitable and pursuing funding to sustain them.
Budget questions prompted discussion of the tax levy. Candidates said rising fixed costs, inflation and the end of pandemic federal funding constrained the district’s ability to lower the levy. Several incumbents said the district is using reserves judiciously to balance the budget and warned that significant cuts would likely affect classroom programs or staff. Phil Danielson asked for clearer documentation of the district’s cash balances and planned interest income.
Artificial intelligence drew broad agreement that schools cannot ignore AI and must develop policies and professional development for teachers. Candidates urged rethinking assignments, training staff on tools and detection, and harnessing AI as a resource when appropriate. “AI is here. We need to be prepared because our students will be working with it,” Dr. Littmann said.
The forum closed with three‑minute statements from each candidate and a reminder from the League of Women Voters to vote on the district budget and board election on May 21, 2024, with polling in the Williamsville North High School gym.
The event provided voters with contrast among incumbents who emphasized continuity and stewardship and challengers who focused on inclusion, transparency and targeted improvements. The district’s proposed $509,520 allocation for three 8:1:1 special‑education classrooms and plans for additional behavior‑support contracts were the clearest budgetary specifics given during the forum; candidates otherwise largely sketched priorities rather than detailed policy changes.
Next steps: voters will decide on the budget and board seats on May 21, 2024.
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