Gowanda BOE revisiting

search and interrogation policy  

by Richard Westlund

     The Gowanda Board of Education is revisiting its search and interrogation policies in an effort to find the crucial balance between the ability to be thorough in protecting students in a case of possible jeopardy, and at the same time not trampling on the rights of students with overzealous, poorly founded searches.

     Board member Tim McKeever was concerned that the most recent language provided by the school attorney was too vague, leaving a teacher in a difficult situation to know just what was proper. He pleaded to ask the school attorneys to clarify some of the wording. In a three-to-three vote, one member being absent, the motion to accept the present wording was not passed.

     At the recommendation of District Superintendent Charles Rinaldi, the board tabled the scheduled consideration of student members on the board of education until the next meeting, to allow for further research into the proposition.

     Middle School Principal David Smith announced that the middle school student would be presenting their award-winning performance of “Jungle Book” on Wednesday and Thursday, March 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m. They presented a portion of this show during their recent trip to the student music festival in Atlanta, Georgia, for which they received a platinum award (the highest award possible).

     In other matters, the board:

   •  Approved the calendar for the 2005-06 school year, which is in conformity with regional calendars.
   •  Appointed Priscilla Graupman as substitute teacher, effective March 3.
   •  Accepted the resignation of Melissa Ginnitti as varsity softball coach.
   •  Appointed Tim Smith as varsity baseball coach; Scott Barto as boys’ tennis coach; Sean Gabel as varsity softball coach; and Jordan Cooke as JV lacrosse coach.
   •  Approved Doug Hammond as volunteer JV baseball coach; Tina Homan and Lindsey Luther as volunteer track coaches; Melissa Ginnitti as volunteer varsity softball coach; and Joe Bruening as volunteer lacrosse coach.
   •  Appointed Peter Johnson as substitute maintenance/custodian/cleaner, effective March 3.

     The next regular meeting of the Gowanda Central School Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. in the middle school cafeteria.