Submitted Photo The next Gowanda High School principal, Rebekah Moraites, stands next to the school’s sign.

GOWANDA — At the Gowanda Central School District’s first board of education meeting of the new school year, Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson announced that the district will soon be welcoming a new high school principal, whose tenure will be preceded by a newly appointed interim principal until Oct. 8. In addition to the new principal, the board is looking forward to new programs this fall, as well as continued discussion about the capital project.

During the administration round table portion of the meeting, Anderson thanked Joseph Bruening, who has served as interim high school principal since Anderson vacated the position to become superintendent of schools earlier this year. “I want to publicly thank Mr. Joe Bruening for his service as our interim high school principal from the time he took over in March until now. He is a professional, he is humble, he is truly an asset to the district and I just can’t thank him enough for getting us to this point.” Bruening, who is also a teacher, the school’s athletic director and department head for P.E. and health, served as interim high school principal until last Friday. Kevin Munro, a “veteran administrator,” who served as interim elementary school principal during the 2016-17 school year, was appointed interim high school principal until the new principal begins after the Columbus Day holiday on Oct. 9.

“I’d like to welcome Rebekah Moraites, who will be formally appointed tonight as our high school principal,” Anderson said to Moraites, who was in attendance at the meeting.

“I’m looking forward to her time starting with us next month.” Moraites comes to the district from Erie-2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES, where she served as a staff development specialist. She also served as coordinator of student interventions at Oracle Charter School in Buffalo, where she was also a high school English teacher.

During the administrator presentation portion of the meeting, Middle School Principal Todd Miklas presented the board with information about the upcoming character education program that is taking place this school year. The program brings nationally and internationally known motivational speakers to the school once a month for six months and will include a wide range of topics, such as bullying, by speakers who include athletes and performing artists. Miklas invited board members to attend one of the sessions.

During Elementary School Principal Carrie Dzierba’s report, she said that students enjoyed a great first week, due in large part to members of the Gowanda Kiwanis Club, who greeted students on their first day. “It was just the most remarkable thing to see. They sent a ton of members,” Dzierba said. “It’s just such a nice way for our little ones to come back. They give them a little gift, but it’s not even about the gift! It’s just about members greeting them, them seeing someone right there as they get off of the bus and are coming into the school being happy about them coming back. I just can’t thank them publicly enough for the time that they spend and them being here every year.”

The board meets again Wednesday for a workshop at 6 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 7 p.m.