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GOWANDA -- The Gowanda Board of Education is seeking letters of interest from members of the community that wish to serve on the board. A submission deadline was set for Oct. 27, with letters to be submitted to District Clerk Kathy Ferneza.
"My introduction to the School Board was going through this process. I thought it was fair. I, frankly, enjoyed it. It was a nice experience," said Board of Education member John Waterman. "I'd like to see that replicated."
A vacancy was created with the resignation of Shauna McMahon, who left the board to focus on her new role as Forestville Elementary School Principal, as well as spending more time at home with her family. The Board of Education is seeking to fill the open seat after an interview process, which will follow the deadline for submission of a letter of interest. The Board of Education will review the letters of interest during executive session at its Nov. 1 meeting.
"If there are people truly interested, that should be the pool, I think, we pull from first," said Board of Education President Max Graham.
Also of note, the district received an unmodified opinion of its 2023 audit, which Business Administrator Barb Smith said "is the best (response) that you can have on your financial statement."
The district carried a 16.3% unassigned fund balance, totaling nearly $6 million, in 2022-23. That figure is up from 11.7% in 2021-22, which totaled slightly under $4 million. Smith noted a "significant increase in foundation aid" led to the increase in unassigned fund balance. Smith also noted that the district utilized funding from its unassigned fund balance to allocate to the pool repair.
Once the audit report is filed officially with the state, it will be posted on the district's website for easy public access.
Regarding the district's pool repair project, Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson anticipates a contract will be up for approval at the Nov. 1 meeting of the Board of Education. The pool repair work, once approved, will begin upon arrival of the necessary equipment. The district is also nearing an installation date of its new playground equipment, which was recently delivered.