At the July 8 Board of Education meeting, resident Silas Pratt, a Westbury parent and coach, said he has offered his time and submitted an official letter of interest and resume to district staff to help the high-school football program but was told there was no room in the budget for him.

Pratt described his coaching background and urged the board and superintendent to consider his offer. "I can't just sit in the stands and hope things get better," Pratt said, describing the program's decade-long struggles and his desire to help student-athletes who are also high-achieving academically.

Pratt said he had reached out to Assistant Superintendent Bloom and submitted his materials for official consideration. "I was told that there was no room in the budget for me," Pratt said on the public record, adding that he had cleared his schedule and wants to use athletics as a vehicle to support higher education for district students.

Pratt identified his long-term ties to Westbury and pointed to academic success among his children and other student-athletes as part of his pitch. He said district contacts acknowledged receipt of his letter but that he had been told budget constraints prevented hiring or assignment.

The board did not act on Pratt's request during the meeting. Trustees and staff did not make a public commitment to hire him or to allocate new budget funds; Pratt asked the board and superintendent to consider creating opportunities within existing resources or returning with a plan.

District staff present (Pratt named Assistant Superintendent Bloom as a contact) did not make a public decision at the meeting. Pratt said he had formally submitted his resume and asked the board to help find a path forward if possible.