OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston, left, recently presented Sharon Huff with flowers in recognition for all she has done for the district in a variety of roles this school year.

SILVER CREEK — Throughout a year of transition in several administrative roles at the Silver Creek Central School District, Sharon Huff’s experience and her willingness to help wherever she was needed made her a tremendous asset for the district. Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston singled her out at a recent Board of Education meeting before saying goodbye.

Ralston said Huff was “exactly who we needed at every turn.” She didn’t just figuratively give Huff her flowers, she also did so literally.

As Ralston presented Huff with flowers and a hug, Huff thanked Ralston, the other administrators, and the Board of Education for their support throughout the year. She spoke fondly of returning to the classroom after two decades in administrative roles.

“At no point did Sharon hesitate to step up and step in. It made it seamless,” Ralston said. “Every role that she stepped into was taken care of. We didn’t have anything to stress or worry about.”

Huff is a former Superintendent at the Pioneer and Cattaraugus-Little Valley districts before her retirement. She began this school year as a long-term substitute teacher at Silver Creek High School for a teacher out on maternity leave. Then, after the district’s separation agreement with former Middle School Principal Bethany Brown, Huff was named as a substitute Middle School Principal. Once that role was filled by Sydney Neubauer, who was the Elementary Assistant Principal at the time, Huff filled that role until Josh Case was hired for the role. As Case starts this month, Huff is finally ready to take some time off.

“I look forward to being Board approved again as a substitute teacher soon,” Huff joked.

Also of note at the recent meeting, the Board of Education approved the bond resolution for the financing of the district’s $36.1 million Capital Project that was approved in December. The project itself carried no additional tax increase to district taxpayers.

The Silver Creek Central School District has proposed a 2025-2026 school budget of $32,177,552. The estimated total school tax levy is $6,469,605, representing a tax increase of 1.97%. The increase is well below the 2025-2026 tax cap of 4.125%.

The district plans to utilize just over $2.7 million of reserve funds and more than $750,000 of appropriated funds to balance the budget. The Board of Education also approved the appropriation of $21,968.75 from the Employee Accrued Liability Reserve (EBALR) to the General Fund to be expended for accrued employee benefits upon the retirement of employees in the 2024-2025 school year.

There will also be a proposition on the ballot to authorize the purchase of school vehicles utilizing funds from the capital reserve for vehicles in the amount of $684,000. Another proposition on the ballot will be to dissolve the Capital Reserve created in 2017 and use the remaining balance to pay for balances owed for bonded indebtedness in the 2025-2026 school year. Finally, a proposition to allow for the library tax increase of $127,110, as requested by the Anderson-Lee Library, will be listed on the ballot. A similar proposition in the amount of $42,540 will be listed on the Forestville school budget ballot.

Incumbent Board members Scott Pulver and Jerry Cross are running unopposed to retain their seats on the Board of Education.

At the recent meeting, Silver Creek resident Anna Frederickson criticized the district for proposing a tax increase for its 2025-2026 budget. Frederickson noted that while the village’s tax rate is set to decrease, an increase to water rates and debt service charges added to water and sewer bills make it hard for residents on a fixed income, like Frederickson is, to approve a school tax increase. The district did not raise taxes a year ago and did not require an increase to fund its capital project.

Frederickson urged the Board to lower the tax levy increase to 0%, despite the budget’s prior approval by the Board at an earlier meeting. She said, “You need to sharpen your pencils.”

At the recent meeting, the Board also accepted the resignation of Varsity Softball Coach Justin Cerne. He has been replaced by Assistant Coach Shawn Kelly, Jr., for the remainder of the season. Sean Helmer, Athletic Director, will coach the Modified Baseball Team. The resignation of Kenneth (Wes) Bolton as Middle School Secretary was also approved. In a letter attached to his resignation, Ralston implied that Bolton is seeking another position within the district.

A memorandum of agreement between Mathematics Teacher Jonathan Pulver and the district to extend Pulver’s probationary appointment through the 2025-2026 school year was approved by the Board, with Scott Pulver abstaining.

Two conference requests were also approved by the Board – for Jennifer Pagano to attend the Ignite to Write conference in French Lick, Indiana, June 17-18, and for Ralston to attend a Superintendents’ Leadership Retreat in Ellicottville, June 5-6.

The district also received a $1,000 grant on behalf of the Buffalo Bills and Wegmans grocery stores for the district’s participation in the Play 60 Charged Up By Wegmans program. The funds are directed for equipment and enhancements to the Silver Creek Athletics Department.