OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Forestville Board of Education President Amy Drozdziel, left, and Superintendent John O’Connor, right, are shown at a Board of Education meeting earlier this school year.

FORESTVILLE — The Forestville Central School District approved the Smart Schools Bond Act Investment Plan (SSBA) at a recent Board of Education meeting.

As part of the plan, the district will implement security improvements to the building’s doors and entrances. Doors will be reinforced and include an Entry Control System with cards and card readers, along with video intercoms and lockdown and panic buttons. The cost of the upgrades to the district, including the cost of labor, is estimated at $358,413.

The SSBA was announced by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and approved during the general election on Nov. 4, 2014. The SSBA authorized $2 billion to fund educational technology and infrastructure improvements throughout the state. Forestville was allotted $594,163.

A public hearing was held on Dec. 8 before the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting to entertain public comment on the plan, which was also posted on the district website.

Also of note, the Board of Education held a special meeting on Dec. 22 to terminate the employment of Susan Woodward, a probationary teacher of Grades 7-12 in the field of English and Language Arts. Her position will terminate at the end of the day on Jan. 21. Board Members Jamie Hebner, Derek Case, Lindsey Ellis, Amy Drozdziel, and Mervin Fry all voted yes, with Michelle Merritt and Andrea Spengler absent for the special meeting, which began at 3 p.m. and concluded at 3:10 p.m.

At the regular meeting Dec. 8, Woodward was approved for administrative paid leave, effective Nov. 15 and ending on Jan. 15, 2023. The adviser appointments coinciding with her position including Middle School Newspaper, Science Club, Technology Club, and Yearbook Business were all removed at that time, effective Nov. 15.

At the Dec. 8 meeting, the board also entered Executive Session “to discuss the employment history of particular persons or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of particular persons at 6:48 p.m. and returned to regular session at 7:09 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 7:49 p.m. The board commonly enters Executive Session to discuss personnel matters.