As the host school, Silver Creek holds home games at its own campus, but this year, Forestville held one of the home games on its campus during an assembly on April 30, against Dunkirk. Middle/High School Principal Dan Grande spoke to the impact the event had at a recent Board of Education meeting.

“Too often in sports, it becomes very cutthroat and we forget about the human side and having fun. That was just a total demonstration of kids having fun,” Grande said.

Grande was so touched by the kindness from the visiting Dunkirk team that he made a point to shake hands with several of the visiting players after the game.

“It was absolutely a tremendous experience for everyone,” Grande said. “… I would love to see that become an annual event.”

Grande insisted that the game be a schoolwide event, with classes in the middle and high school dismissed to attend the contest. Grande said, “Some of the teachers wondered why I insisted that the entire school community go down and experience this, but afterward, everyone got it.”

In other news at Forestville, the district has approved a 2025-2026 budget proposal that includes a 2.3% tax levy increase. The total budget is just over $14.1 million, including a proposed Capital Outlay Project including $100,000 of state-aided improvements. The budget was designed without final state aid figures due to delays at the state level.

Three propositions will be listed on the ballot, including the budget itself (Proposition 1); allocation of $394,701 for gasoline bus purchases (Proposition 2); and a library tax increase of $42,540 to be collected on behalf of the Anderson-Lee Library (Proposition 3), as requested. One seat on the Board of Education is up for election, as well.

The budget vote will be on Tuesday, May 20, from 1 to 8 p.m. in the Hornet Lobby. The budget vote will be conducted by Carol DePasquale, Site Coordinator; Marlene Bradigan, Poll Inspector; and District Clerk Melody Voigt, who will open and close the polls. No public comments were made at a recent public hearing regarding the proposed budget.

Also of note, the district is still evaluating the potential of an air conditioning system at both of the District’s campuses to be funded through the Green Energy Project from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Superintendent Dr. John O’Connor said, “We’re still trying to get this taken care of, but we’re still not positive we’re going to be able to.”

The Board also accepted the resignation of Music Teacher Makayla Coalts, effective June 30, and amended the employment of Brenda Schneider to a 12-month employee, effective July 1. Four substitutes were also appointed, including Marv Cummings, Bus Driver; Deborah Conner, Certified Teacher; McKenna Miller, Uncertified Teacher; and Madeline Payne, Uncertified Teacher.

The Board also approved a list of 2025 Summer Enrichment Instructors, at a rate of $27 per hour; as well as a list of extracurricular advisors and coaches for the 2025-2026 school year. Forestville will share its Boys and Girls Varsity Cross Country Team with Silver Creek and Dunkirk next fall.

The next meeting of the Forestville Board of Education is Thursday, June 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the middle/high school library.