Gowanda school board did not do anything wrong in defeating a petition calling for a decrease in members from seven to five last week. However, in rejecting the proposal, they went against the intentions of those residents in the district who were filing.

School district attorney Jeff Swiatek pointed out the petition made note of an improper education law that was cited before the board voted. “I have viewed the petition and the one thing that immediately leaped out … the petition refers to education law section 2502,” the attorney said. “The Gowanda Central School district is governed by an entirely different law, and the process by which board members can be reduced … is found in entirely different sections of law.”

Legalese aside, the intent was clear: a reduction in the number of representatives. School board members, who are unpaid, make mistakes that can often be cleared up by passing a new resolution.

In this case, work done on the petition — that took some time — was disregarded in minutes. Residents deserved better than that — even if they were not entirely correct in presenting their case.

Realistically, what they have asked for is simple. At least member Mark Nephew, who was the lone vote to accept the petition, understood the will of the people. Isn’t that what matters most?