# West Seneca Central School District

The West Seneca Central School District is the third largest central school district in Western New York, and one of the largest school districts in New York State. It serves 25 square miles (65 km$^2$), including a majority of the town of West Seneca, and portions of the towns of Cheektowaga, Orchard Park, and Hamburg. It was centralized in 1946.

## District

West Seneca's District Offices are located at 900 Mill Rd, West Seneca NY 14224.

### Administration

* Lisa Krueger - Superintendent
* Jonathan Cervoni - Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Operations
* Carmelina Persico – Assistant Superintendent for Educational Operations
* Kristin Collins–Director of Special Education
* Marisa Fallacaro-Dougherty athletic director
* Beth Johnson–Personnel Supervisor
* Brian Schulz–District Treasurer
* Janice Lewandowski–Financial and Computer Services Manager
* Michael Rybak–School Resource Officer

### Board of Education

As of 2024–2025 the Board of Education is:
* Edmund Bedient, President
* Laura Sokol-Scott, Vice President
* Lorene Barulich
* Marla Greenberg
* Jeremy Maloney
* Sarah Piwowarczyk
* Vincent Vanderlip

### District History
#### Selected Former Superintendents

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
* Pierce McGrath
* Vincent J. Coppola–?-1994 (unknown, named Superintendent of the Corning-Painted Post Central School District)
* Merton L. Haynes [interim]–1994 (Interim Superintendent - Grand Island Central School District, named Interim Superintendent of Alden Central School District)
* Richard L. Sagar–1994-2001 (Superintendent - Beacon City School District, fired)
* John F. Schleifer Jr. [interim]–2001-2002 (Deputy Superintendent - West Seneca Central School District, retired)
* James K. Brotz–2002-2007 (Principal - West Seneca West High School, retired)
* Jean M. Kovach–2007-2010 (Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction - West Seneca School District, retired)
* Mark J. Crawford–2010-2017 (Superintendent - Hamburg Central School District, retired)
* Whitney K. Vantine [interim]– 2017 (Superintendent - Tonawanda City School District,
* Matthew J. Bystrak–2017-2023 (Unknown, resigned to become Kenmore Town of Tonawanda School District’s Assistant Superintendent of Student Services)
* Jeffrey R. Rabey [interim]–2023-2024 (previously retired, Interim Superintendent of Depew Union Free School District)

#### 2013-present

In 2013, the district underwent major changes. State funding to the district was cut much like all over New York State. District-wide enrollment dropped, and over 10% of the staff in the district left the payroll. The Alternative Learning Center was closed and students were sent back to either East or West High Schools. The start times and bell schedules of the middle and high schools were changed and moved to an earlier time to minimize transportation costs. Middle School grades were changed from previously 7–8 grade to 6–8 on the West side and 5–8 on the East side. East Elementary school which formerly shared a building with East Middle school was closed to accommodate the new grades in the middle school. The former K-4th graders at East El. were sent to nearby Clinton Street Elementary School or Northwood Elementary School and the former 5th and 6th graders at East El. moved to East Middle school. [5th graders no longer at West Seneca middle schools]
In 2015, Potters Road Elementary School closed due to a vote by the school board, but was reopened for the 2021–2022 school year under the name Winchester Potters Elementary School.
In 2021, Winchester Elementary School was closed down also due to a vote by the school board. Fifth graders were moved back to Clinton Street and Northwood Elementary Schools for the first time since 2013.

## Schools

At the high schools, over 10% of the students are enrolled in Advanced Placement Courses. The high schools offer National Academy Foundation diplomas in the courses of the Academy of Finance and the Academy of Information Technology. Over 80% of the graduates seek higher education opportunities. Looping through grade levels have been implemented in the elementary grades as well as middle school. A district-wide gifted and talented program exists at the intermediate and middle school levels.

### High schools
#### West Seneca East High School

East Senior High School is located at 4760 Seneca Street and serves grades 9–12. The principal is Jason Winnicki.

##### Selected former principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
* Wesley Starkweather–1969-1975
* aniel P. Mazuchowski–1975-1991 (Vice Principal - West Seneca East High School, retired)
* Renee F. Goshin–1991-2004 (Principal - West Seneca East High School, retired)
* Angela J. Lapaglia–2004-2011 (Assistant Principal - West Seneca East High School, retired)

#### West Seneca West High School

West Senior High School is located at 3330 Seneca Street and serves grades 9–12. The principal is Jay Brinker.

#### Selected former principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
* Thomas F. Daley
* John Schleifer–?-1991 (unknown, named Director of Secondary Education for West Seneca Central School District)
* James Brotz–1991-2002 (Assistant Principal - West Seneca West High School, named Superintendent of West Seneca Central School District)
* Kevin J. Eberle–2002-2004 (Assistant Principal - Lake Shore Central High School, named Principal of Grover Cleveland High School)
* Jon T. MacSwan–2004-2011 (Assistant Principal - Williamsville East High School, named Superintendent of Cleveland Hill Union Free School District)

#### Academic Schedule

| Period Number | Beginning Bell | End Bell |
| Block 1 | 7:30 | 8:50 |
| Homeroom/Announcements | 8:50 | 8:55 |
| Block 2 | 8:59 | 10:19 |
| Block 3 | 10:23 | 12:18 |
| Block 4 | 12:22 | 1:42 |

### Middle schools
#### East Middle School

East Middle School serves grades 6-8 and is located at 1445 Center Road. The principal is Jason Marchioli. Assistant principal is Erin Farley.

##### Selected former principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
* John H. Robson–1964-1967 (Administrative Intern - Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District, named Acting Assistant Superintendent of West Seneca Central School District)
* Monica L. Whitman–1998-2009 (Principal - Hamburg Middle School, resigned)
* James Klubek–2009-2010 (Assistant Principal - West Seneca East High School, named Principal of Silver Creek High School)
* Vincent Dell'Oso–2010-2013 (Principal - Lewiston-Porter Middle School, named director of athletics of West Seneca Central School District)

#### West Middle School

West Middle School is located at 395 Center Road, and serves grades 6–8. The principal is David Kean.

##### Selected former principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
* Louis R. Donato–1972-1985 (Vice Principal - West Seneca West Junior High School, retired)
* Richard Spagenberg; 1986-1990 (unknown, retired)
* Richard D. Caputi–1990-1995 (Assistant Principal - West Seneca West Senior High School, retired)
* Ronald A. Wisher–1995-2006 (unknown, retired)
* Brian Graham–2006-2013 (Principal - Winchester Elementary School, named Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Services of West Seneca Central School District)

### Elementary schools

* Allendale Elementary School (Grades K-5) (Built in 1954) Cornerstone laid on January 9, 1955 with 1954 inscribed on it. Opened on September 12, 1955 and dedicated on January 20, 1957.
* Clinton Elementary School (Grades K-5) (Built in 1967) Opened on September 25, 1967
* Northwood Elementary School (Grades K-5) (Opened in September 1970)
* West Elementary School (Grades K-5)
* Winchester Potters Elementary School (Grades K-5)

### Closed schools

* Allendale Junior High School (Grades 7–8, closed June 1989) [Became The Education Center for Grades K-1, 1990-c.1997. Building is now West Elementary]
* East Elementary School (Grades K–6, closed June 2013)
* Winchester Elementary School (Grades K–5, closed June 2021)
* Alternative Learning Center (Grades 9–12, closed June 2013)
* Ebenezer School (High school, then became elementary. Current building for district offices, built in 1921)
* Reserve Elementary School (Grades K-5. Built in 1964, fire destroyed building)
* Bellwood School (Original West Seneca High school until 1949, then became elementary) (Built 1912, Closed 1982, Partially Demolished)
* Gardenville School (High school until 1949 then became elementary. Built 1924, Closed 1981, Demolished 1995)
* Abbott Road Elementary (Grades K-5. Joined district in 1963)

### Bird's Eye Images
#### Elementary schools

* Allendale Elementary School
* Clinton Street Elementary School
* Northwood Elementary School
* West Elementary School
* Winchester Potters Elementary School

#### Middle schools

* East Middle School
* West Middle School

#### High schools

* West Seneca East Senior High School
* West Seneca West Senior High School