Photo via screenshot Gowanda School Resource Officer Ben Shields spoke to the Gowanda Board of Education at a recent meeting on the benefits of adding a second officer to the District.

GOWANDA — A decision on an additional School Resource Officer for the Gowanda Central School District could be coming soon.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson noted the District has been in contact with Sheriff’s Offices in Cattaraugus County and Erie County, as well as the State Police, regarding the addition of a second School Resource Officer.

Anderson noted the cost would be the officer’s salary and benefits, along with a patrol car for the officer to use. Erie County was deemed as a more costly option than Cattaraugus County in terms of salary, benefits, and overtime compensation. Anderson noted the State Police did not have a School Resource Officer program for the District to pull from. The current Gowanda School Resource Officer, Ben Shields, is a Cattaraugus County officer.

“There is a significant cost to it, but I think as a taxpayer and a parent myself, it’s worth every penny because of the results you get,” Shields said at a previous meeting.

The Board did not take any action on the matter, with further discussion expected at the next Board meeting.

At its latest meeting, the Board of Education approved the appointment of Sherri Tyler as a Substitute Teacher, Substitute Teaching Assistant, and Substitute School Monitor; Christian Merrill as a Substitute Cleaner and Substitute Custodian; and volunteer coaching appointments for Jalisa Gonzalez, Softball, and Ray Logan, Track. The Board also approved additional compensation for Brian Hahl, Special Education Teacher. Eileen Webb resigned from the roles of School Monitor and Substitute Food Service Helper.

The Board also approved a Memorandum of Agreement between the Gowanda Teaching Association and the District to add the position of Assistant Trap Team Advisor. Donations were also accepted on behalf of the Gowanda Boys Basketball Team in the amount of $1,287 and the Gowanda Bowling Team in the amount of $1,000.

The District will work to replace a sign at the Hillis Field Press Box that was damaged during a winter storm. The target date is graduation this year. The Pool Repair Project timeline has not been altered in recent weeks, with an opening date still targeted for the beginning of next school year.

The 2024-25 School Budget Public Hearing will be held Wednesday, May 8 at 6 p.m. in the High School Library. The 2024-25 School Budget Vote will be Tuesday, May 21, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. in the Middle School Library. Election Inspectors are Susan Edler, Lisa Huffman, Nancy Palmer, Mary Jones, Sarah Allen, and Carol Nephew.

The Budget Vote will have several propositions attached. Proposition 1 is the proposed basic budget. Proposition 2 is the purchase of three buses utilizing funds from the vehicle purchase reserve, at no effect on the tax rate. Proposition 3 pertains to the establishment of a capital reserve fund to assist with future projects, at an amount that shall not exceed $8 million. Proposition 4 calls for an authorization to transfer $1.5 million of the District’s unassigned funds to a repair reserve fund. The final proposition on the ballot, Proposition 5, increases the annual appropriation for the support and operation of the Gowanda Free Library from $59,000 to $60,180.

Also at the Budget Vote, three seats on the Board of Education will be listed. Board President Max Graham, Vice President Dollene Christopher, and newly appointed Board member Jennifer Gernatt are set to have their terms expire. All three seats will carry three-year terms, with the candidate receiving the most votes to begin their term on May 22, while the other two candidates will begin July 1. All three terms will expire June 30, 2027.

The next meeting of the Gowanda Board of Education is Wednesday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the High School Library.