New York State is pinching pennies, affects Gowanda School District

At the Feb. 6 meeting of the Gowanda Central School Board of Education, District Superintendent Charles Rinaldi stated that the NYS Division of Budget has been delinquent in releasing funds for schools contracted to cover the tuition of Native American Students. This is apparently a statewide issue at schools where numbers of Native Americans are enrolled.

The Gowanda school district has yet to receive half of what it is due for the 2010-11 school year, and nothing yet for the 2011-12 school year. The monies have been approved and allotted, but the state Division of Budget has not yet released them.

Rinaldi stated that the school has been working with various state legislators for action. Meanwhile the district is shuffling funds from one account to another to meet its responsibilities.

Rinaldi also said that meetings and discussions are continuing regarding increasing the safety of students while in school. Building audits are being done, solicitation of suggestions from staff, and planning of drills supervised by law enforcement are being planned.

In being asked if operational costs couldn’t be reduced by cutting down on the number of lights used every night around the school buildings. Rinaldi stated that the lighting was dictated by New York State Code.

Business Executive Joelle Woodward explained the benefits of an Energy Conservation Efficiency capital project, wherein the costs would be covered largely by various state and other aids available, and the district benefits from the decreased costs resulting from the energy-saving improvements made. Qualifying data must show enough cost reduction to make expense of the project redeemable within 18 years.

Woodward also reminded everyone that applications for STAR and disability exemptions on tax bills by qualifying people are due no later than March 1.

A policy covering procedures for recognition of people by honorary naming of things for them was introduced for consideration.

In other matters. the board:

• Agreed to declare as surplus one Coats Wheel Balancer model 1175, and awarded a bid for it to Professional Technicians & Equipment Service & Support for $755.

• Declared as surplus one 2010 Ford Expedition Sport Utility Vehicle and awarded a bid for it to Sulli Motors for $6,210.

• Awarded bid #880 for athletic materials and supplies to BSN Sports, Passon’s Sports, US Games in the amount of $1,047.63; Laux Sporting Goods in the amount of $1,709.28; and MF Athletic (MFAC, LLC) in the amount of $735.35.

• Awarded bid #881 for Special Needs Transportation Services to Carrier Coach for $325 per day.

• Awarded the bid for Surplus Generator Model #125GGKD to the Town of Eden for $10,350.

• Appointed Ashley A. Tyson as a substitute teacher, effective Feb, 7.

• Appointed the following positions for the 2012-13 school year: Varsity Track (boys) Joshua West; Varsity Track (girls) Peter Palmer; Assistant Track Robert LeMere; MS Head Modified Athletics (Track) Kimberly Schon; MS head Modified Athletics (Baseball) Sean Gabel; MS Assistant Modified Athletics (Baseball) Anthony Puntillo; Varsity Softball Darlene Pfaffenbach; Assistant Varsity Softball Lisa Maybee.

The next regular meeting of the Gowanda Central School BOE will be on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in the middle school library.