West Genesee Central School District

Message from the Superintendent-May 29, 2026

Families, Staff, and Community Members,

Budget Turnout

Thank you to everyone who voted in the recent Annual Budget and Board of Education Elections. Being part of the process is important and we know it is valued in our community. The total votes on the budget was 3,189 and among the highest in 25 years. The year 2010 tallied 3,493 votes and there were 6,057 cast in 2020 with a completely mail-in format as the only annual budget participating exceeding this year. The special referendum in December of 2023 had 3,289 voter participants.

NYS Budget

The NYS Budget was not finalized until late Wednesday night, however there was progress last week, particularly with the main education bill being approved by the Legislature. There is little change from our estimated revenue which keeps the fiscal planning steady, despite the delay from NYS, the latest in 16 years.

Noteworthy is the five-year delay of the zero-emission school bus mandate. We are thankful to legislative representatives for their understanding and advocacy regarding our concerns about the viability of moving to an all-electric school bus fleet under the mandate’s previous deadlines.

Along with continued environmental strategies, we must ensure that school buses have the necessary battery-life to safely deliver our children to school and back home again. There remain many questions of budget implications, support infrastructure challenges, and servicing schedules that must also be answered prior to a transition to electric buses.

The mandate to begin exclusive purchase of electric buses has been moved back to 2032 and the 100% Zero Emission Bus fleet deadline back to 2040. We are hopeful that this will allow time for school districts, bus manufacturers, and utility companies to continue to work on solutions to these challenges.

Events and Celebrations

What a wonderful morning on Thursday at the Annual West Genesee Wildcat Olympics! The stands were filled with energetic adult and student supporters, the drums led the parade of athletes to start the festivities, and the regular insert of singing and dancing set the tone for the day. The true stars were our student-athletes who gave their all with some energy left to smile, laugh, and cheer. This day, each year, is the very definition of it being a great day to be a Wildcat! Congratulations to students and thank you to all the taller students (WGHS!) and adults for making it a special day!

June is right around the corner and the school year pace “ramps up” to the conclusion of the year. There will be a plethora of extra-curricular events, year-end celebrations, and well-deserved recognition of our students to conclude a great school year. Be sure to check your calendar and be a part of these special occasions.

Sincerely,

David C. Bills, Superintendent of Schools

Message from the Superintendent-May 15, 2026

Dear West Genesee Families, Staff, and Community Members,

This E-Newsletter, as the many editions before it, is filled with news of celebrations of all kinds. Take a glance and you will see: an award winning E-Sport team, student-artists, individual student recognition, ensembles, student-ceramicists, staff recognition, and a collection of student interactions.

Look again and you will realize there are NYS Champions, Regional Honor Recipients, NYS top 28 individual, Gold and Silver Ratings, monetary award recipients, Regional Selections, and a nationally recognized (Hall of Fame) coach.

One more time and you will notice the mix of individuals, small groups, and large groups, many age levels involved that includes our younger and older students working together, and combined expressions of appreciation for our staff.

All of that in one E-Newsletter and there are 139 previous editions available on our website out of a total of almost 300 editions going back to 2011 and many years of similar success and recognitions. This is evidence of a special place with a plethora of experiences, a wide-span of ages, and a combination of students, staff, families, and community. Enjoy reading about all of these accomplishments and look for ways to offer congratulations!

Also, take the time to notice important information and upcoming noteworthy dates that are included. All of these are just a few of the many reasons why it is (always) a great day to be a Wildcat!

Sincerely,

David C. Bills, Superintendent of Schools

Message from the Superintendent-April 30, 2026

Dear West Genesee Families, Staff, and Community Members,

"The days are long, but the years are short." Gretchen Rubin from The Happiness Project

This concise expression has philosophical observations of life. As the month of May is in sight, this is true in our schools. The turn of the calendar and changing weather seems sudden, while the tasks, hard work, and rigors of each day may have felt to the contrary. Upcoming celebrations of our students marks the culmination of a school year and the many days of work until this time, within and outside of the classroom.

This quote can be true across other timeframes and circumstances. We see students’ successes quite often. The many editions of the E-Newsletter, including this one, feature the accomplishments in academics and extracurricular arenas that are a source of pride to our community. Our students thrive and perform at high levels because they work so hard every day in classrooms, on the stage, and on the playing fields.

Be sure to come to recognition events, athletic contests, and concerts that occur across all levels. Enjoy the high level of participation and performance as we congratulate students for the dedication and hard work that got them to that point. Let’s also recognize the outstanding staff that make the many parts of a comprehensive education possible.

Before we know it, summer months will arrive. Now is the time to look for the many opportunities with summer camps and recreation programs offered by West Genesee CSD and the Town of Camillus Parks and Recreation.

Enjoy this edition of the E-Newsletter!

Sincerely,

David C. Bills, Superintendent of Schools

Message from the Superintendent-April 17, 2026

Dear West Genesee Families, Staff and Community Members,

Recently, my schedule included visits to Participation in Government classes and 2nd Grade classrooms within hours of each other. It is always rewarding to spend time with students in rich and meaningful conversations. While the content was different across the 10-year age difference, the engagement was high, and students were curious, thoughtful, and kind. We have great Wildcats, both taller and smaller. Kudos to them and the staff that support them!

Congratulations to our recent inductees to National French Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, and National Technical Honor Society all celebrated this week. Their pictures are included below to signify their accomplishments. Groups such as this represent high achievement and commitment to service and leadership that is valued in our young people.

Congratulations to our West Genesee Special Education PTSA (SEPTSA) for hosting the Annual Family Resource Fair this past Tuesday at the West Genesee Intermediate School. At the fair, there were various community resource groups dedicated to supporting our students and their families. Children enjoyed a balloon artist, popcorn, and arts and craft activities courtesy of ARC of Onondaga Arts. Meaningful conversations, important connections, and plenty of resources were shared! Thank you to SEPTSA for your ongoing support of our children.

Congratulations to everyone involved in last night’s 56th Annual “Swing-In” event featuring well-known artist and dynamic saxophonist Sam Greenfield as a visiting clinician and performer. Our many student-musicians from West Genesee Intermediate School, Camillus Middle School, and West Genesee High School experienced clinics and rehearsals with Mr. Greenfield across previous days. The culminating performance was outstanding and enjoyed by an appreciative large crowd including family and community members. Mr. Greenfield, who travels throughout the country, pointed out West Genesee as an exceptional program and praised students, staff, and families for their commitment to excellence. Well-done Wildcats!

Please enjoy this edition of the WGCSD e-Newsletter below and noteworthy are important dates including that of the upcoming summer programs and the recently approved calendar for the 2026-2027 school year.

Sincerely,

David C. Bills, Superintendent of Schools

Message from the Superintendent-March 27, 2026

Dear West Genesee Families, Staff and Community Members,

Please let me express my sincere gratitude to everyone who attended informational sessions, participated in community forums, and sent questions for clarification these past few months with regard to the Capital Improvement Project proposal. The engagement was strong when it came to voting by submitting a vote through early voting, absentee voting, or going to the polls earlier this week.

There was a high volume of involvement that is noteworthy and impressive. The level of engagement our residents showed was outstanding—actively researching the plans, asking tough questions, and discussing the future of our facilities. We engaged in discourse respectfully and offered thoughts that included disagreements appropriately. It is important that we can do that!

Whether you voted in favor or against the proposal, high levels of participation represents care for our schools and our community. Kudos for those casting ballots in-person, that despite long lines, cool temperatures, and a late evening, remained steadfast. That unwavering commitment to “showing up” is exactly what it means to be a Wildcat.

Wishing you a relaxing and refreshing Spring recess next week. Look for an opportunity to engage in something unique with time away from the typical school schedule.

Please enjoy this edition of the WGCSD e-Newsletter!

Sincerely,

David C. Bills, Superintendent of Schools

Message from the Superintendent-March 13, 2026

Dear West Genesee Families, Staff and Community Members,

Thank you to families and community members that have been involved in discussions or inquiries relative to the Capital Improvement Project that will be presented for public vote on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. This is an opportunity to engage in respectful discourse that is valued and an important part of any process of this kind.

The WGCSD Communicator: 2026 Capital Improvement Project Referendum Newsletter was sent via U.S. Mail to all community members. The scope of the project with pertinent details within this communication are provided to inform voters prior to the vote. Additionally, the second of two Community Forums will be held to review information and provide the opportunity for questions on Monday, March 16, 2026 (WGHS Auditorium) at 7:00 p.m.

The new Facebook page entitled WGCSD 2026 Capital Improvement Project has been active with responses to Frequently Asked Questions, videos, and material to provide clear information.

Our WGCSD Website and Instagram (@wgcsdcapproj) remain as similar resources.

Please mark your calendar to vote on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. There are options of Early Voting, Absentee Voting, and Military Voting that are available and convenient to assure participation. Applications, as legally required, can be found on the West Genesee website and will be available at displays near events in coming weeks. Applications can also be found on the West Genesee website, or obtained by contacting the District Clerk at dwood@westgenesee.org or (315) 487-4563. Ballots will be mailed to approved applicants.

Reminder:

A letter was sent to West Genesee High School students, parents, and staff and included in this narrative of the last e-Newsletter regarding a recent formal agreement with Benderson Development for the purpose of a student overflow parking area. This formalizes similar use from past years.

Preparation is nearly complete as we will continue to make progress with the intent to recreate a space that is safe, functional, and provide the opportunity for an earned privilege for student drivers. We are hopeful to announce the opening date in the near future.

Please enjoy this edition of the WGCSD e-Newsletter!

Sincerely,

David C. Bills, Superintendent of Schools

Message from the Superintendent-February 27

Message from the Superintendent-February 13, 2026

Dear West Genesee Families, Staff and Community Members,

The West Genesee Fine Arts Department, more specifically a very large number of students, performed Something Rotten! to our appreciative community and responsive audiences. To say that it was exceptional, likely falls short of the final product that resulted from many months of preparation.

Each year we are impressed beyond measure at the performances we experience. Along with the many aspects of musical theater including singing, music, dancing, dialogue, scenery, lighting, sound, this show was a comedy! It is fair to say that including humor is a particularly challenging part of a performance; rehearsed and seemingly spontaneous. Our cast did exactly that!

I am thankful to the adults that support our students, a community that shows up (in subzero conditions, no less), and that we are committed to offering such experiences. Each of the many students involved let their light shine, regardless of their role, individually and collectively. What they experienced impacts their lives… and it impacted mine to witness it! Bravo cast, crew, directors, parents, and friends for a wonderful time at the theater with something outstanding in Something Rotten!

A letter was sent to West Genesee High School students, parents, and staff regarding a recent tentative agreement with Benderson Development for the purpose of a student overflow parking area. This formalizes similar use from past years. We are thankful for Benderson’s support and we intend to recreate a space that is safe, functional, and provides convenience and an opportunity for an earned privilege for student drivers.

Thank you to everyone for your ongoing patience.

Please enjoy the great features in this e-Newsletter!

Sincerely,

David C. Bills, Superintendent of Schools