Williamson Central School District

The Board of Education consists of five members elected to three-year terms by voters living in the school district.

The Board members for SY-2006/7 are: Linda Moll (president), Michael Collins (vice-president), William Herbert, Richard Jordan, and Patrick Wright.

As of the latest reporting (SY-2004/5) the racial/ethnic breakdown for district students is: 1.5% American Indian/Asian/Pacific Islander; 6.3% Black; 3.5% Hispanic; and 88.7% White (non-Hispanic).

The school sponsors teams in basketball, cheerleading, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track, volleyball, wrestling.

The development of public education in Williamson paralleled that of the growth of schools in other parts of New York State.

In contrast to other states, such as Virginia, most school systems in New York are town-centric, rather than county-centric (the exceptions being districts serving large metropolitan areas).

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, "one-room schools" sprang up across New York, often many to a town since attendance was determined by how far a child could walk.

This law permitted the new districts to establish "academic departments," or high schools, which were to be overseen by both the Regents and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Boards of education managed the property and finances of the city and union free districts, and hired superintendents to administer systems with several schools.

Much of this growth occurred as Williamson's demographic character changed from primarily agricultural to that of a bedroom community for neighboring Monroe County, New York to the west.

Consequently, the need for a high school was recognized and initially it appeared that Williamson would open a combined facility with the Marion district just to the south.

Sentiment was so strong against this move, however, and Williamson residents were able to secure their own senior high school, which opened on October 13, 1969.

1850 - District Number Eleven opens in "Koetsville", at the north-east corner of Shepard and Stoney Lonesome Roads.

1924 - Portable classroom building rented and placed on present-day Middle School tennis courts location.

1931 - In June the WCS Class of 1931 holds its commencement exercises in the newly completed school building (built at a cost of $375,000).

1937 - The "Little Red School House," a 50-year-old structure on Townline Road—"after a storm of protests"— is saved from closing despite serving only one student, six-year-old Miriam Cole.

1966 - Disregarding its own Master Plan, New York State approves financial aid for a Williamson-only high school.