Gowanda Central School District to refinance debt

Meaghan Smith from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), addressed the Gowanda Central School Board of Education Wednesday evening, explaining that the opportunity to refund a bond obligation entered into in 2002 could now be refinanced to take advantage of the lower interest rates currently in effect. The school district is presently paying about 5.25 percent and in refinancing, it would lower to about 3 percent, and save about $140,000 over the next seven years left in the obligation. She stated that about 50 school districts across the state are taking advantage of this opportunity.

Principals Dr. Anderson and David Smith reminded everyone that the Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Forum for parents is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 28, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. If anyone has attended it previously another attendance is not required. It was assured that while the class may be inconvenient, attendees will certainly learn a few things they were not aware of.

Jennifer Gernatt addressed the BOE again as requested, with more specific plans for recognizing athletic champions with signage at Hillis Field, and also a memorial bench that Little League Football wishes to purchase to honor Wayne Cross, EMT, who has unfailingly made himself available at their games for some 40 years.

The board will study the project to ensure all the bases are covered, but Board President Mark Nephew assured Gernatt that they were behind her project.

The new tax warrant for the coming year was presented at $4,702,947, which will give an individual rate of $14.68 per thousand of true value.

The BOE approved continuing to pursue the transfer of the 25-foot-wide property along the Cattaraugus Creek from Aldrich Street to Water Street to the village of Gowanda.

District superintendent gave a list of various items that are expected to be finished in time for the new Science wing to be ready for use when school opens.

The board discussed briefly setting a policy covering remote access to meetings by persons unable to attend, but decided not to do anything at least at the present time.

In other matters the board:

• Approved the amended employment contract with Susan Rebmann, Payroll Benefits clerk, for the period starting July1, 2012 to June 30, 2015.

• Approved the liberty partnership Program 2012-13 staff consisting of Andrew Bobseine for the high school and Molly Dalimonte for the middle school.

• Approved Chandra Beaver, Cattaraugus County truancy officer, to work in the Gowanda School District for the 2012-13 school year at no cost to the District.

• Approved the Cattaraugus County social worker, Kryn Palmquist, for the 2012-13 school year assigned to the Gowanda School District.

• Approved the Seneca Nation of Indians Johnson O’Malley 2012-13 staff, consisting of: elementary teacher Faith Stewart; elementary teaching assistant Barbara Weston; middle school teacher Darlene Pfaffenbach; teaching assistant Amanda Hillebert; and high school teacher Charity Hill.

• Approved the SUNY Fredonia Campus & Community Children’s Center-UPK program 2012-13 school year staff, consisting of teachers Kathleen Siragusa and Karin Bardo; teaching assistants Dawn Valentine and Suzanne Visciano; and part-time teaching assistant Dorcus Mohawk.

• Approved the Tax Warrant in the amount of $4,702,947 for the 2012-13 school year.

• Agreed that the Gowanda Central School District forward a letter to the Village of Gowanda expressing the BOE’s intent to transfer District-owned property along the Cattaraugus Creek from Aldrich Street to Water Street, measuring approximately 25 feet wide, to be used as public space commonly referred to as the Riverwalk.

• Awarded bid #873 for special needs transportation as follows: Run 1 (A) Stanley Falk School, 1 Cambridge Ave., Buffalo, to Carrier Coach for $300 per day, and Run 1(C) Stanley Falk School Rosseler Ave., Buffalo, to Carrier Coach for $270 per day.

• Approved a refunding bond resolution implemented by DASNY, enabling the district to refinance certain outstanding long-term obligations of the District to achieve future debt service savings, and avoid future additional costs to the District, and further authorizing the District to enter into a financing agreement with DASNY relating to the implementation of the program.

• Appointed Barbara Dempsey, Amy Cassidy and Heather Rydzik as teacher mentors for the 2012-13 school year, as needed for new employees.

• Terminated, due to their unavailability the following substitute teacher employees: Celeste Allen, Stephanie Aselin, Melissa Bielli, Suzanne Criminesi, Shauna Condon, Joanna Connolly, Daniel Cooper, Eric Fassel, Ryan Gerwitz, Stacey Gibbins, Samantha Graf, Tracy Grimm, Renee Johengen, Evan Kiernan, Jamie Krajewski, Kayleigh McAllister, Elissah McCann, Ashley Murawski, Mary Opielia, Amphavanh Philarom, Kari Tarnowski, Matthew Tomani, David Tonello and Anne Wiens.

• Appointed the following positions for the 2012-13 school year: HS music director Robin Smith, volunteer music boosters Robin Smith, and school store Paula Ondus.

• Created three full-time teaching assistant positions.

• Accepted, with regret, the retirement resignation of Pamela Dispenza as a teaching assistant, effective Aug. 28.

• Appointed the following people to the position of teaching assistant, effective Aug. 29: Sean Gabel, filling above resignation, and for the three new positions: Brenda Himes, Jenna Dispenza, and Geraldine Kelly.

• Appointed Jennifer Clark as a provisional employee in the full-time position of keyboard specialist 1, effective Aug. 29. A 52-week probationary period to begin Aug. 29.

• Appointed Jacqueline Emborski as a probationary employee in the full-time position of account clerk typist, effective Sept. 7, 2012, with a 52-week probation beginning on that date.

• Due to the consolidation of bus routes, abolished two bus driver positions, which will excess the least-senior bus drivers, Jeffery Enser, and Ronald Russell, effective Aug. 23. Enser and Russell will be placed on the preferred eligibility list for 12 months.

• Abolished one position as school monitor, which will excess the least-senior school monitor, Debbie Wells, effective Aug. 23. Wells shall be placed on the preferred eligibility list for 12 months.

• Terminated the following persons, effective Aug. 23, due to their unavailability, who have been in various substituting positions: Celeste Allen. Margaret Annarino, Keri Campbell, Daniel Cooper, Tracy Grimm, Harris Michael, Sandra Miller, Linda Rak, Jeffery Rozler, M. Ann Snyder, David Tonello, and Charlene Tretyak.

The next regular meeting of the Gowanda Central District BOE will be on Wednesday, Sept, 5, at 7 p.m. in the middle school library.