Tom Hawk was the focal point of those farewells. After 15 years of service on the Board of Education, Hawk did not run for reelection.

“I learned a lot from him,” Board member Courtney Gullo said while referencing how knowledgeable Hawk is after spending so much time on the Board.

Hawk would regularly ask very detailed, direct questions regarding financial items pertaining to the District. Board member Sheila Hahn referenced Hawk’s focus on financial matters during her farewell, while Board of Education member Aaron Marshall fittingly said, “He watches the budget like a hawk.”

Hawk departs as the longest tenured member of the Board of Education. He will be replaced by Jerry Kinney, who attended the recent meeting as a member of the audience. Hawk was not in attendance at his final meeting, which made Board President Brian Aldrich say he “messed things up” before each member of the Board had time to share their thoughts.

Tom Hawk was recognized by the Fredonia Board of Education for 15 years of service on the Board at a recent meeting.

Aldrich concluded the meeting with a farewell to Hawk. Aldrich said, “The knowledge that he has, we’ll miss that.”

Aldrich marveled over Hawk’s “15 years of public service” to the District. Aldrich said, “It was never about ego, it was never about drawing attention to himself, it was always for the District.”

While Hawk is on his way out, he is not alone. Another new face will likely join the Board next year, as Student Representative Lacey Drennen concluded her tenure as Fredonia’s first student on the Board. Lacey’s parents, Denver and Lynn Drennen, were in attendance for the recent meeting, just as they were at her official appointment in January.

Drennen thanked the Board for the “amazing opportunity” provided to her on the Board. Drennen also thanked Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox, High School Principal Darrin Paschke, and Chief Officer for Curriculum and Human Resources Dr. Margie Wright for the support they showed during the interview process.

“This opportunity has opened my eyes to a whole new aspect of our school that I was completely unaware of as a student,” Drennen said.

The Board and the audience gave Drennen a round of applause, urged by Hahn. Aldrich later addressed Drennen regarding her efforts on the Board.

“The big thing … is what you’ve gained out of this. Your leadership, your understanding of the District … I’m so thankful that you’ve gained that,” Aldrich said. He also noted that several members of the Board were impressed by Drennen’s engagement in a discussion at a recent meeting regarding scheduling changes at the District.

The District will also be undergoing even more staff changes than anticipated, as five resignations were accepted at the final meeting of the school year. Among them were three teachers: Michelle Gerring, Emily Klein, and Erin Henry; a retirement resignation of Teacher Aide Dorothy Johnson; and the resignation of Greg Lauer, Assistant Principal of Fredonia High School and the District’s Athletic Director.

Lauer, a former Physics Teacher and Varsity Boys Basketball Coach before taking over as Athletic Director, is leaving to become the Middle School Principal at the Southwestern Central School District. Fredonia will now seek a replacement for each of Lauer’s roles in the coming weeks.

“He will definitely be missed. We thank him for his service to our District,” Zilliox said.

Henry is resigning from her role as a Special Education Teacher to take a new role as a Sixth Grade Teacher. Klein is moving to a district closer to her family in the Buffalo area.

Zilliox added that Johnson is “somebody who just has a huge heart” and credited her for putting in “a lot of time and energy into creating an experience for students that is both memorable and meaningful.”