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GOWANDA -- Following months of tension on the Gowanda Central School Board of Education, two of the most outspoken and controversial members handed in their letters of resignation last week.
On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.., the board confirmed the resignations of members David Barnes and Janet Vogtli during its most recent meeting. Both Barnes and Vogtli cited their views that members of the board are operating without cooperation from the rest of the board, with one instance being cited in particular.
During the Dec, 2 board meeting, member Jim Hotnich proposed a one-year extension of Gowanda Superintendent, Dr. Robert Anderson. The motion to extend Dr. Anderson was not on the agenda for the meeting, causing Vogtli to fight against the extension, which inevitably passed. Dr. Anderson's extension was a primary reason for both Barnes and Vogtli's resignation.
"We're reactive, not proactive," Vogtli said in her resignation letter. "We are expected to just go along, smile, vote the same way, and rubber-stamp what the superintendent wants, without meaningful discussion or recommendations. I feel my fiduciary responsibility to the district is ignored regarding spending and budgeting money wisely and does not allow me to be an effective board member."
"I am disheartened by our board that makes a decision after much deliberation and discussion, and then chooses to act contrary to what was discussed," Barnes said in his resignation letter.
"To this day, I don't understand how a motion was made by Jim Hotnich and seconded by Lynn Guzetta and no discussion allowed – and a vote taken that was contrary to what was discussed earlier."
On May 14, Barnes and Vogtli were charged with official misconduct pursuant to New York State Education Law 1709 (18). Vogtli had been on the Gowanda Board of Education since 2018, while Barnes had been a member since June, 2019.
These resignations follow the resignation of former board president Ron Cook, who stepped down on Nov. 21.