Board members warily recalled an effort four years ago to rename city schools. A survey with two possible names for the secondary school was approved, but the effort was quietly dropped amid considerable community negativity over the issue.

The high school name change was the first part of a plan to rename all city schools.

Michael Mansfield, then the superintendent, said in 2022 the school board “expressed a desire to honor some of the people prominent in the district.” However, he continued, the district didn’t necessarily have to honor them with building names — rooms and playgrounds could be renamed, instead.

The school’s Large Group Instruction Room was subsequently renamed for Roosevelt Haynes. No more name changes were made.

OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford The Dunkirk Board of Education sits at its February meeting, held in the cafeteria of P-TECH.

The Dunkirk Board of Education held its February meeting at P-TECH as part of its mission to meet at every district school. P-TECH Principal Jeffrey Teluk gave a short presentation about the school.

The school focuses on computer-aided design, welding, and machining. “If you think robotics, we got it,” Teluk said. There are 32 students currently at the school, which is intended to get people ready for advanced manufacturing careers.

Much of the instruction is project-based. Teluk called it “80% hands-on.” P-TECH partners with Jamestown Community College to offer four degree pathways where P-TECH credits count towards the degrees.

In other business at its February meeting, the Dunkirk Board of Education:

— Approved resolutions of respect for recently deceased former employees. Stephen Sczerbacki, a science teacher for 27 years; Terry (Wolfenden) Clifton, a teacher, middle school principal, and superintendent of schools in his 38-year district career; Cornelia Helwig, an office clerk for 15 years; and George Catalano, a 19-year social studies teacher, were honored.

— Accepted the retirements of four teachers, effective June 30. The retirees are Laura DeBicki, secondary school art teacher; Julie Freling, an intermediate school teacher; secondary school special education teacher Mary Allaire-Gifford; and Jodie Korzenski, a secondary school art teacher.