GOWANDA — While Gowanda’s girls lacrosse program has been in place since 2015, the program did not have its own fundraising account, a need students identified and brought to board members’ attention March 4.

Five middle/high school students approached the board to seek their approval in creating their own girls lacrosse account. The students took turns sharing the history of the program, its growth, and the justification for their own activity account separate from that which was created for boys lacrosse.

The girls lacrosse program began in 2015 with a girls varsity team and expanded in 2017 to include a modified girls lacrosse team. The students explained that this spring, Gowanda will be adding a junior varsity girls lacrosse team. Due to the growth of the program, interest and related expenses are expected to increase, said the students.

“Fundraising may be required and, therefore, a student activity account is needed for the Gowanda girls lacrosse program,” the students said.

They expressed interest in attending a girls lacrosse clinic, attending a college lacrosse game and ordering team apparel such as warm ups and windbreakers. Planned fundraisers include an umbrella sale, a lemonade sale and more. Students then presented board members with their petition, which included the required 30 signatures of middle and high school students.

Board President Mark Nephew said, “Normally, we’d think about this before we make a decision, but it’s going to happen.”

Students were pleased that the board unanimously agreed to create the student account for future fundraising activities.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, a community member approached the board regarding recent legislation from Gov. Andrew Cuomo that will allow schools in New York to have cameras on the stop arms of school buses. “Is there a plan to put cameras on the stop arms of buses?” she asked the board.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson explained, “The purchase and installation of these cameras comes from the village or township. We’ll reach out to the village…We’d like that to happen, but we don’t know when or how at this point.”

Anderson explained that the camera installation is a matter of jurisdiction, as villages and townships are responsible for enforcing stop sign violations, extracting video footage and collecting fines. He explained that should the township agree to install the cameras, the municipality would be responsible for the cost.

Anderson recognized three teachers who will be retiring at the end of the school year. Social Studies teacher Jeffrey Hatfield, a Gowanda alumnus, is retiring after 26 years with the district. John Jarzynski, English teacher and department chair, will be retiring after 30 years. Lois Piscitelli will be retiring after 29 years at Gowanda, where she taught Living Environment, served as science department leader and coached bowling.

“I met all three when I came here in 2007,” said Anderson. “They’ve been wonderful colleagues and friends for 13-plus years. I’ll miss them all. Congratulations, and we wish them well!”

The next meeting of the Gowanda School Board is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the middle school library.