GOWANDA At recent Gowanda Board of Education meetings, the district has discussed the potential of waiving tuition costs for the children of district employ
GOWANDA Gowanda Business Administrator Barb Smith celebrated her birthday by presenting the 2023-24 budget at a recent Gowanda Board of Education meeting
adolce@observertoday.com
GOWANDA Despite some empty seats on the school board, remaining members and newly elected President Dana Szalay are ready for a new chapter that does not include as much controversy and in-fighting.
During an earlier meeting this month, the board officially voted Szalay as president. The board had been without an official leader since Ron Cook resigned from the board in November while seats held by both Janet Vogtli and David Barnes, who both resigned last month, remain open.
Szalay hopes the changes can begin a healing process. “There are some things shared in the public, and people can say whatever they want to the public, but that doesn’t make it true,” she said. “We really want the employees of the district, people in the community, and students to know that we truly are there for them as support, and we encourage folks to come to any one of us with positive stories, concerns, or other ideas. It’s unfortunate that some folks may only share
John Whittaker
Pictured are some police officers and municipal leaders in Chautauqua County giving their support to Sheriff James Quattrone and his efforts to address on Executive Order 203 â Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative.
Editor’s Note: Today, the OBSERVER continues its look back at the top stories of 2020 and the way they will shape the coming year. Today, 20 for 2020 looks at the municipal matters that were among the most-read stories in the newspaper this year.
The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office is working on its New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative plan due to the state by April 1.
Anthony Dolce
GOWANDA Following months of tension on the Gowanda Central School Board of Education, two of the most outspoken and controversial members handed in their letters of resignation last week.
On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.., the board confirmed the resignations of members David Barnes and Janet Vogtli during its most recent meeting. Both Barnes and Vogtli cited their views that members of the board are operating without cooperation from the rest of the board, with one instance being cited in particular.
During the Dec, 2 board meeting, member Jim Hotnich proposed a one-year extension of Gowanda Superintendent, Dr. Robert Anderson. The motion to extend Dr. Anderson was not on the agenda for the meeting, causing Vogtli to fight against the extension, which inevitably passed. Dr. Anderson’s extension was a primary reason for both Barnes and Vogtli’s resignation.