001E2 Gowanda HS Library: Welcome to… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Hello, and welcome to Meet the Candidates. I'm Jay France. I'd like the candidates to introduce themselves and the platform that they stand for and their qualifications for the job. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I'll start in alphabetical order, so, Amy, if you want to go first. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Sure. E2 Gowanda HS Library: My name is Amy Gurnatt. I, and from… E2 Gowanda HS Library: was raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, so I'm not from around these parts, but my husband is a Gawanda alumni. E2 Gowanda HS Library: We have 3 children that are gonna graduate from this school. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And my platform is to make it E2 Gowanda HS Library: The best district possible for them. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Alright, thank you.
002E2 Gowanda HS Library: Ready? E2 Gowanda HS Library: Hello, my name's Brandon Newell. I am in… E2 Gowanda HS Library: the Army National Guard as a sergeant, and I also am on the board of directors. E2 Gowanda HS Library: At the… go on to Legion, post-409. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And my platform is, just to do everything for the kids, because they're what matter. And… yep. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Thank you very much, Zachary. Hi, my name's Zachary Nobles. I'm currently on the board. E2 Gowanda HS Library: am a transplant myself, originally from Pine Valley. My wife actually was an alum of Kwanda Central. E2 Gowanda HS Library: We currently have two of our kids in Kwanda, and just like some of the other candidates, the primary focus is those E2 Gowanda HS Library: kiddos,
003right? And programming for them. E2 Gowanda HS Library: While maintaining a fiscal responsibility for the fellow community members. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Alright, thank you. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I'm gonna ask the… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Next question, first I'm going to start with Brandon, then if each of you want to address or rebut. E2 Gowanda HS Library: What is the role of the Board of Education? E2 Gowanda HS Library: To help maintain, A good budget, and to… Oversee policies, and… Employment. E2 Gowanda HS Library: at the district. E2 Gowanda HS Library: All right, thank you. Do either of you want to amplify or modify that in any way? E2 Gowanda HS Library: I would… I wouldn't… I don't know how we want to do this, just jump into it. Oh, yeah, so I would
004second that in the fact that we are there fiscally, we are already E2 Gowanda HS Library: body that is supposed to look out for the community and look out for the fiscal liability that the district has, while also being cognizant of what the community wants and what they, E2 Gowanda HS Library: perceive the education to be. E2 Gowanda HS Library: it takes a village, right? It takes a small town to raise the students that we have. That being said, it's certainly a learning curve for myself. When I first got on the board, that we definitely have to stand behind and support that administration, and there's some E2 Gowanda HS Library: Learning curve to that, so… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Amy, is there anything you wanted to add to that? I agree. It's about holding our
005administration accountable, being financially responsible, and making sure that, we're following proper procedures and giving the E2 Gowanda HS Library: Kids in the best opportunity that they can, as well as being a liaison between the community and the school district itself. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Okay. I'm gonna start with Zachary this time. E2 Gowanda HS Library: What do you think… are attributes that make a good member for the Board of Education. E2 Gowanda HS Library: So, a good attribute for a board member would be that open-minded. E2 Gowanda HS Library: element, while still being able to advocate for individual stance. Something that I've had to learn how to do is actually advocate for my position, and not only have the position of my… that I have, or hold my position, rather, but E2 Gowanda HS Library:
006try to bring along other individuals and see… help them see what I see. And, like, that is something that I'm working on and working toward. Okay. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Amy. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I would say some good attributes would be consistency, some transparency, being respectful, and I definitely, agree with Zach about being open-minded. You don't want to come in and E2 Gowanda HS Library: only see it your way. You want to be able to E2 Gowanda HS Library: Actively listen to people and see multiple sides of the story, and kind of… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Make a conclusion based off of all… all of the information provided, not just one One avenue. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Thank you. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Brendan, anything that you want to add? E2 Gowanda HS Library:
007Yeah, I mean, they both said it great. Obviously, Geeing all the information possible. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Before making a decision. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Trying to be as informed as possible. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Because any decisions you make, if you decide that E2 Gowanda HS Library: You know, you got a big, you know. E2 Gowanda HS Library: something big you gotta vote on. You don't want to be going into it with just half the information, or just getting, you know, whether it's the superintendents, or, you know, administration to a teacher's aspect, or somebody random in the community that just brings something to your attention, but you don't have any information that's not… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Obviously a nice structured way to do it, because you want to get all the information and
008make a… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Positive decision that helps everybody. E2 Gowanda HS Library: You're mentioning the superintendent, helps segue into the next question. I'm going to start with Amy this time. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Oh. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Similar question, what attributes make for a good superintendent? And I ask that because a significant portion of the job of the board is to interact with, and sometimes hire, the superintendent. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Well, the superintendent, I feel, should be someone that's Willing to go out into… E2 Gowanda HS Library: the district, you know, someone that goes out into the classroom, someone that's interacting with the staff to really get, a good sense of where their morale is. And, again, I'm going to go back to that consistency and transparency. Like, you want someone
009in that position that's going to E2 Gowanda HS Library: have the same results, setting good past practices, but also understanding the staff and where they're at, so that they can… he can… or they can make informed decisions. That's best. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Me too. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Zach, is there anything you want to add to that, or anything that you would modify? I would kind of echo in the E2 Gowanda HS Library: Using the phrase, kind of multi-padded. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Right? A superintendent has a tricky role in the sense that they have to wear or wear multiple hats. Not only are they kind of playing that E2 Gowanda HS Library: Political role of being able to go and meet and greet with students, but they also have to do that with
010faculty and different bargaining units, and then also sit across the table from them. E2 Gowanda HS Library: In a negotiation. So there certainly is a difficulty there, but an awareness and having compassion. E2 Gowanda HS Library: For… for those individuals and community members. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Okay, and… Is there anything that you're going to want to add to that, Brandon? E2 Gowanda HS Library: I mean, they both said it, - great again, E2 Gowanda HS Library: The biggest thing that I feel like a superintendent needs to be is a leader, because you are the main person that everyone looks to at the district. E2 Gowanda HS Library: They may look at principals, they may look at business administrators, but the main person that speaks for the district, represents for the district, is the superintendent.
011And if they're not out there going to sporting events, or… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Going to classrooms, or listening to the teachers, or, you know, the staff. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Or listening to students, or listening to the community, and making those positive judgments, judgment calls and decisions, then… E2 Gowanda HS Library: That doesn't… without that, it doesn't make a good superintendent, so you have to… E2 Gowanda HS Library: You don't have all those attributes. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Thank you. E2 Gowanda HS Library: start by asking Zachary this question, and then if either of you two want to add to it. E2 Gowanda HS Library: How do you think the state-mandated cell phone ban has gone. E2 Gowanda HS Library: So, I think the cell phone ban has had, varying effects, district to district.
012E2 Gowanda HS Library: As such, I think that's… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Evident in the fact that every district is different. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And… having a local stance and having local control and ability is paramount, and I think that's a E2 Gowanda HS Library: Common stance that, or a stance that I kind of hold firmly. E2 Gowanda HS Library: So as far as the cell phone ban, specifically across the state, I think It's… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Difficult to say that it's a success, because there hasn't been any opportunity to do anything other than that. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Do either of you want to add your opinion on what's… E2 Gowanda HS Library: The cell phone ban mandate has been. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Speaking as a parent, I know that my
013child, I… E2 Gowanda HS Library: wipe the fact that they're not gonna have a phone, like, in the classroom. He keeps it in his book bag, in his locker, and it's there for emergencies, and that's truly what E2 Gowanda HS Library: I want it there for, so putting my parent hat on, I do like the ban on cell phones during the school day. I'm sure that there are other aspects E2 Gowanda HS Library: that other parents might feel differently, and I can respect those as well. E2 Gowanda HS Library: But in terms of… E2 Gowanda HS Library: not having it in the classroom and being, a distraction, I do support that. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And coming from being… In an era where cell phones wasn't a thing, really, in school. E2 Gowanda HS Library:
014I did fine without it, so did my fellow classmates. E2 Gowanda HS Library: So, at the end of the day, I don't feel like we need it. If you need to make an emergency call, there's phones in every classroom, there's phones in the office, the office staff here is great. E2 Gowanda HS Library: They're more than happy to accommodate if you need to make an emergency phone call, or just to, you know, if you're feeling like you need to talk to mom or dad. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Or whoever your parent is. E2 Gowanda HS Library: But I believe that… E2 Gowanda HS Library: it has made a significant impact, but I believe that, you know, the only way you really know if it makes a big enough impact is if you're E2 Gowanda HS
015Library: You know, maybe sending out a… E2 Gowanda HS Library: You know, a survey, or, you know. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Walking into the classrooms, observing when we had cell phones versus now. I don't know if that's been done. E2 Gowanda HS Library: It'd be interesting to see what the students felt. Yeah. Like… E2 Gowanda HS Library: If now, after a few years, or however long, like. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Do they feel a difference between having access to a phone and not? E2 Gowanda HS Library: make a random survey that they don't need to have their names attached to. Yeah. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Interesting. E2 Gowanda HS Library: This I'm going to open up for any of you, because it's open-ended and may not have an answer. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Not the
016previous question, sir. E2 Gowanda HS Library: implicit answer. Are any of you aware of any potential future mandates coming down the pike, and do you have any opinion on what you may have heard about it? E2 Gowanda HS Library: Well, we were just talking about it earlier was the electric buses, right? That would be a mandate? E2 Gowanda HS Library: Bandy. E2 Gowanda HS Library: We must have been discussing that right before I came to the meeting. Yes, sorry, we were. Oh, I wasn't, but… E2 Gowanda HS Library: So I think that's the next one to come up, and there's a lot of controversy on that, and I really don't have a lot of knowledge on E2 Gowanda HS Library: on that, so I don't want to really… E2 Gowanda HS Library: sage much, because
017I don't… I don't have that. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Education background to say it one way or the other. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I mean, I don't think our infrastructure at this point has the capability to keep up with that. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I mean, Gwanda has a lot of outages, as it is. So, if maybe 5 years down the line, or whenever. E2 Gowanda HS Library: We can get to a point where The infrastructure can hold it. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Sure, entertain it, but right now, we're not even close. E2 Gowanda HS Library: So, in my opinion, I would just… E2 Gowanda HS Library: push it down the road. Yeah, I did notice in the budget that there is an option E2 Gowanda HS Library: to buy buses. E2 Gowanda HS Library:
018And, it doesn't tell you anything about electric buses and that, so… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Sorry. So I guess my stance on that is similar to Well, I guess with these… E2 Gowanda HS Library: along the lines of what Amy was speaking about, in the sense that everyone needs to be informed about it, and, like, it's… E2 Gowanda HS Library: In my opinion, not an appropriate thing to take the largest stance of one way or the other without actually taking that information into effect. E2 Gowanda HS Library: We're taking that data into account. I think making an intelligent fiscal decision, based off of success stories and failures, is the appropriate thing to do, and I think time will tell with that. And we have done studies here, and we can E2 Gowanda HS Library: based
019our decision off of those studies, and off of relevant data. Being a current board member, I don't mean to throw you under the bus here. My understanding is that it was discussed at the board level, and it's not feasible for at least some number of routes in the district. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Yes, so there… I don't have the study in front of me currently, but there was a limited E2 Gowanda HS Library: routes that were available to actually run those electric buses. That said, I haven't E2 Gowanda HS Library: been and seen other reports and seeing other districts have success stories with it, I know that there is possibilities to success stories. E2 Gowanda HS Library: But, again, that's where it's doing our due diligence, just as we have as a board here at
020Gawanda. E2 Gowanda HS Library: To do the research and studies. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Thank you. Anybody aware of any other potential mandates, or have you heard any others coming down the pike? Rumors, something like that? E2 Gowanda HS Library: Just a mandate for the Sabres to win tonight. Yes, we have to all go get out our beer sabers. They're coming back next year, I saw an article on that. Perfect. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Let me start with Brandon on this one. What are things that you think the district excels at? E2 Gowanda HS Library: I mean, I can say one thing after spending the last few days going over the budget and E2 Gowanda HS Library: I spent a little bit more time on it this year than I did in previous years. I
021believe that E2 Gowanda HS Library: You know, we've done a decent job at planning ahead. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And keeping money set aside just for potential things, versus… Reacting. E2 Gowanda HS Library: So it's been pro… the district's been… Proactive in that aspect. E2 Gowanda HS Library: D… Main thing, I believe, is, you know. E2 Gowanda HS Library: The sports program here has always been good. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And I've had the opportunity to coach some of the kids, I've had the opportunity to work with some of the other coaches. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And… Our athletic director is fantastic. I believe that she has made a very safe and positive E2 Gowanda HS Library: Opportunities for kids to be here. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And we've had a lot of, scholarships come
022out of it. E2 Gowanda HS Library: So, it's nice to see… E2 Gowanda HS Library: you know, our athletics program exceeding, and then on top of that, we have, you know, in the budgets, set for a new turf field for lacrosse. That will… that'll be insane. That'll be great, because obviously Hillis is in a… E2 Gowanda HS Library: potential flood zone still. So, it's nice to be able to have that, because when we, you know, when I've coached lacrosse, I've watched you go play on grass versus turf, and it is a E2 Gowanda HS Library: astronomical difference. It's a lot easier, kids enjoy it, and E2 Gowanda HS Library: No matter if it rains or not, you're not worried about playing in the mud. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I mean, it's fun, in my opinion,
023but… E2 Gowanda HS Library: But, yeah. I think that, those are the few things the district excels at. Alright. Take care, Amy on that second question. E2 Gowanda HS Library: So I know that… E2 Gowanda HS Library: the district has a lot of community ties. I know that our PTO at the elementary school does E2 Gowanda HS Library: so much for those kiddos over there. And so I think the district does a really good job at E2 Gowanda HS Library: Working with those community organizations. E2 Gowanda HS Library: The boosters is another one, which… E2 Gowanda HS Library: They do a lot of scholarships for class nights, and they provide a lot for the staff at certain times throughout the year. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And, to reiterate Brandon's point, our athletic program is… does
024do very well. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And I… Do think that we do a great job at Saving money in our reserves. E2 Gowanda HS Library: To be proactive. E2 Gowanda HS Library: again, to reiterate Brandon's point, instead of being reactive, we have that savings, and Barb does a great job at understanding when to use those reserves and when not. E2 Gowanda HS Library: So I think I would like to continue those… building those community… Relationships. Strengthen… strengthening them. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Exactly. So, I would say that we're trending in the right direction throughout our buildings, and I think that's a, something pretty awesome to hang our hat on. Be it in our elementary school, in our E2 Gowanda HS Library: level of our students when they're coming in compared to when they're exiting,
025is doing great from elementary, middle school, high school. E2 Gowanda HS Library: As well as the fiscal piece, right? So, again, back to the board element and board, responsibilities, we have to do that while maintaining a fiscal budget that's appropriate. E2 Gowanda HS Library: The district has done a great job of doing that, to the credit, and to some credit to the community of passing budgets, so… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Just have a nod to all the community members out there that have voted yes on the budgets as they've come across. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Now, to be a little unfair, go back-to-back questions. Same question for the opposite. What are things that the district could do to improve E2 Gowanda HS Library: So… I think there's an opportunity there for expanding, on some E2
026Gowanda HS Library: some programming, possibly. Is being that we have been so financially, E2 Gowanda HS Library: sound. I think there is some opportunity to expand on some, maybe some technical sides. I know we do a great job when it comes to our sports, when it comes to our arts, and again, it's kind of a selfish vendetta, if you will, being that I was a… E2 Gowanda HS Library: technology teacher from the CTE, world. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I'd love to see that programming kind of be in-house as much as money. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Two very big things that I've paid attention to a lot more, being on the board of directors of the Legion, I'm there. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Quite frequently, and a lot of the bus drivers come in E2 Gowanda
027HS Library: And, one's a personal good friend of mine. He's actually taught me everything I know about pool. E2 Gowanda HS Library: But… I believe that when it comes to sports runs and things like that, their normal pay E2 Gowanda HS Library: is good. I believe it could go up more, and I believe we have the room to do it. But I know sports runs are long. E2 Gowanda HS Library: You're waiting a couple hours at a time. Depending on the situation, you might be, if it's tournaments, you might be there for 6 to 8 hours. And to sit there for basically minimum wage, or a little higher. E2 Gowanda HS Library: In my opinion, for somebody who's a skilled. E2 Gowanda HS Library: At keeping our kids safe, but also have been in the
028district for however long, you know, if they've been there for 5 years, or 10 years, or 20 years, they should get paid at court. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Their patient dropped just because they decide to pick up more work. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And that's… In my opinion. E2 Gowanda HS Library: We want somebody to take as good of care of our kids. E2 Gowanda HS Library: pay them not saying that that's hindering what they do on their bus runs, but… E2 Gowanda HS Library: He'll entice more people to want to become bus drivers here, stay in the district, You know, and also. E2 Gowanda HS Library: ye… E2 Gowanda HS Library: In a position to want to pick up those runs so that, you know, our athletic director's not scrambling to find somebody to
029take, you know, the lacrosse team over to. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Wilson, or whatever the case is. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And then, the other thing that I feel like is, something that they can improve on is, once upon a time, they had a program where, I think it was K-12, where E2 Gowanda HS Library: and I know it's big in the elementary, it was, you know, all the way up till 8th grade, was extending. E2 Gowanda HS Library: into the next grade. So, like, if… E2 Gowanda HS Library: A 7th grader was excelling in math, they could kind of push into 8th grade math. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Or, you know, if they were in 3rd grade, they could E2 Gowanda HS Library: you know, science was their subject, they could excel in that,
030so that they could kind of help skip into the next grade and not have to worry about E2 Gowanda HS Library: Box. E2 Gowanda HS Library: like, taking 8th grade all over again. The district cut that, and it wasn't like it was gradually cut. They cut it, like. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Write that and there, all at once. And then there were all these kids that had already pushed into the next grade level. E2 Gowanda HS Library: They're retaking the same exact thing all over again. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And to me, that's a waste of time, it's a waste of resources, and a waste of money. And also a waste of the kids' knowledge. E2 Gowanda HS Library: and their efforts. E2 Gowanda HS Library: So… Pleasure. E2 Gowanda HS Library: So I think
031that there are some opportunities, to strengthen the districts… E2 Gowanda HS Library: employees themselves. So when you think about the students. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And what you want for those students, you want them to have the best educators, the best staff, you want them to feel safe. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And how do you get them… how does that happen? Well, you want to empower those employees. And so I think strengthening E2 Gowanda HS Library: The staff morale, and maybe looking at more professional development and growth opportunities. E2 Gowanda HS Library: So you hire someone at a… in the… E2 Gowanda HS Library: cafeteria, but what can they… where can they go from there? What opportunities are there? What are you going to encourage them to put forth their best effort? And in turn,
032that would help those students. E2 Gowanda HS Library: So, that would be one area where I would want to see strengthened. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Thank you. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Sorry, Brandon, on this one, how would you handle a complaint from a parent? E2 Gowanda HS Library: With respect to something that teachers can do. E2 Gowanda HS Library: If it's something that a teacher's been doing, I would… Take all their information in. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Listen to what they have to say, because that's the biggest thing of what a board member should be doing. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Take all their information in, Listen to them, make them feel heard. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And acknowledge what they're saying, whether it's, you know, acknowledge it in a neutral way, so that you're not
033taking sides on either end. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Attempt to get some more research yourself, but… E2 Gowanda HS Library: That's a superintendent situation, more or less, than the board. Obviously, the board should follow up on it. E2 Gowanda HS Library: It was brought to a board member, then… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Make sure the superintendent is looking into it, and ask follow-up questions, to make sure that they E2 Gowanda HS Library: fix the problem, or figure it out if it was a problem, or for what, you know. And then, E2 Gowanda HS Library: make sure I would reach out back… I would reach back out to that parent, and… E2 Gowanda HS Library: let them know that, you know, I did everything I could to… facilitate that. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I'm just gonna
034ask if either of you want to add or contribute anything to that significantly, since I think that pretty much nailed it. Not to say something judgmental, but we've had that question in the past. E2 Gowanda HS Library: covers pretty much the gamut. Yeah, I think you want to follow the proper channels. So, you know, did that parent have conversations with the teacher, the principal, you know, there's levels to… that you would want to make sure that they have followed, but actively listening to them and make sure… make sure that they feel heard. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And then, the follow-up. So, yeah. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Very good. Said very well. Perfect. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Oh. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I'll start with Zach on this one. I can start with you last time.
035E2 Gowanda HS Library: Do you have any personal or professional conflicts of interest in terms of being a board member, and how would you address those conflicts? E2 Gowanda HS Library: I do, actually. I've had several over my, E2 Gowanda HS Library: time on the school board, and I've been sure to address those immediately. I've been… life is… E2 Gowanda HS Library: employee of the district. I do make that apparent. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Just like right now. I've worked for several industries, or worked in industries that are E2 Gowanda HS Library: Sold equipment, or if… do work at the district, so I do disclose that immediately. E2 Gowanda HS Library: With the exception of this last, E2 Gowanda HS Library: passing, I did end up having to… Kind of. E2 Gowanda HS Library: retract
036a vote, or at least make it clear it didn't have any sort of lasting effect on the decision or the situation that it was, but I do try to make that clear and evident that I can hypnotize. E2 Gowanda HS Library: No, you typically abstain from anything that… Would be a template. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Second. E2 Gowanda HS Library: As many people… No, obviously, I have a conflict of my wife's the high school principal, But… E2 Gowanda HS Library: No different than, you know, separating work life and home life. E2 Gowanda HS Library: We don't talk about it. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Doesn't need to be talked about. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Obviously, we all have our feelings, we all have our opinions, but… E2 Gowanda HS Library: If I'm voted in as a
037board member. E2 Gowanda HS Library: What's talked about here, especially, or in executive sessions, those are private. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Those are not meant for anybody else's ears. That's why it's an executive session. E2 Gowanda HS Library: But… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Other than that, I don't have any conflicts, and it wouldn't even be a conflict, because we keep it separate. E2 Gowanda HS Library: It's healthy that way. Thank you. I don't really see any conflicts that I would have. Okay. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Fair enough. E2 Gowanda HS Library: We'll start with Amy on this one. E2 Gowanda HS Library: How do you balance the quality of educational content versus the cost for the district? E2 Gowanda HS Library: So, there's a balance between what we want to offer the kids and the
038cost for it. So, you… E2 Gowanda HS Library: I think… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Gather as much information as you can. You know, are there alternative options? Are they as good of quality as those alternative… as the original option? E2 Gowanda HS Library: So just… trying to… have… You know, what you want. E2 Gowanda HS Library: How much that costs, and then maybe some other possibilities, and compare those in contrast to that first option, and make a sound decision that is going to be best for those kids. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Thank you. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Zach. E2 Gowanda HS Library: So not to be too nitty-gritty about it, but I guess just to quantify it as best as possible. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Sadly, when you're talking about individual students and… and having
039two myself in the district, it's hard not to get emotional. But if the… E2 Gowanda HS Library: If the outcome isn't there, if the outcome's not quantifiably E2 Gowanda HS Library: gonna pay off or have a return on investment, it's hard to move forward with something that may cost an exponential amount of money to the community. With that said, if it does appear as if it will pay off for the greater number of students, then I certainly would go all for it. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Thank you. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Right. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I mean, I believe that no amount of money is ever too much for our kids' education, but obviously there is a… E2 Gowanda HS Library: There's obviously a budget you have to stay in. E2 Gowanda HS Library:
040making smart decisions, you know, as Amy said. E2 Gowanda HS Library: You take all the information you have. E2 Gowanda HS Library: You try to pick the best options, and you try to pick a few. E2 Gowanda HS Library: You pick the one that's gonna benefit the district, all the way around the community, the kids, the teachers, you know, the money that we have, and just kind of balance it from there. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I'll start with Brandon on this one. How can the board facilitate an appropriate amount of parent involvement? E2 Gowanda HS Library: Kinda, as I said earlier, Focusing on the… E2 Gowanda HS Library: You know, if there's complaints, or there's positive stuff, Take the information in, and… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Pass it through the correct channels, and obviously just…
041I'll forget. E2 Gowanda HS Library: the community has something to say on a matter that is, you know, at the board level. I encourage them to show up to the board meetings. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Obviously, there's seats there for, for a reason. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Make their voice heard. E2 Gowanda HS Library: A closed mouth doesn't get fed. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And that's something I was always taught, my dad taught me. E2 Gowanda HS Library: you know. E2 Gowanda HS Library: If you want, if you want your voice heard. E2 Gowanda HS Library: You know, bring it to the school's attention, but do it in the right way, do it respectfully, and… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Make sure that you're making the impact that matters to not only E2 Gowanda HS Library:
042The district, the school, you know, the kids, E2 Gowanda HS Library: But just mainly be respectful about it. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Thank you. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Amy, same question? Helping the board facilitate, and I'm making this gesture on purpose, an appropriate amount of parent involvement. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I think getting out in the community and, you know, talking with the members and just feeling what they value. E2 Gowanda HS Library: having that open line of communication, you know, I know that, like, the contact information is posted on the website to get ahold of each of the board members. I don't know if that's used, I don't know if people actually do reach out to board members, but… E2 Gowanda HS Library: you know, putting that information out there, that… I want to
043hear from you guys, I want to know… E2 Gowanda HS Library: What you value, what you're looking for, what you're unhappy with, what you are happy with, and just… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Opening that line of communication, E2 Gowanda HS Library: I would welcome anyone to come and talk to me, and I would actively listen, and… share what I… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Share what I have learned. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Thank you. Zachary? E2 Gowanda HS Library: So, I'll be honest, I'm fortunate that I'm going third on this one. When you first asked the question, I realized that was a tricky one. E2 Gowanda HS Library: But I think the other candidates hit it on the head in regards to appropriate actions, as long as the community members and the parents are actually following
044through the proper procedures and process, I think that's great, and being open ears and, open-minded to listening is a great answer, so… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Thank you. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I'm gonna go in reverse alphabetical order for the last one. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Starting with Zach, closing remarks. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Nope. Just open-ended. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Alright, well, so I guess that this was an interesting experience, this was my first time doing this, so I certainly appreciate everybody that's done, that's taken the time to do this and put this on. Thank the Kiwanis Club and organization for that. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And I hope that, just like your last question alluded to, I hope we do get the appropriate engagement from the community and parents, and get out, everyone
045gets out to vote. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Thank you. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Brenda? E2 Gowanda HS Library: Yeah, I just want to thank you guys for doing this and setting this up. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I thank the district for making this happen. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Mainly thank the community for their involvement in… E2 Gowanda HS Library: the opportunities for us to be able to do this every day. And… E2 Gowanda HS Library: Want to just make sure everybody gets out and votes accordingly, to whatever their interests and beliefs are. E2 Gowanda HS Library: And so… Let's make the district attorney again. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Continue. E2 Gowanda HS Library: Thank you. Well, thank you for moderating, and the district for putting this together. I appreciate it, because I know that not
046everyone may know who I am, so it's an opportunity for them to get to know me. E2 Gowanda HS Library: like my candidates have said, well, we want you to come out and vote and be heard. E2 Gowanda HS Library: part of the reason why I'm running is for that reason. I want to make a difference, and I'm not going to make a difference by sitting at home not doing anything. I want to be here and be actively involved, and hearing all the information, and that way I can make a sound decision on things, and… E2 Gowanda HS Library: So… I want everyone to do the same. Thank you. E2 Gowanda HS Library: A couple of things I would like to also say thank you to the school for assisting in the… having this put
047on. I think it's important for the candidates to speak, but I also think it's important for the voters to get a good chance to actually see their candidates. I want to thank the folks for coming. E2 Gowanda HS Library: and actually putting their time into this, and I'd like to thank the voters for putting some time into considering your candidates. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I would like to shamelessly plug Kiwanis. It is our 90th anniversary, is that correct, Jerry? 90th anniversary for the Kiwanis in Kowanda. I would encourage you to please buy our chicken dinners in November on election day. E2 Gowanda HS Library: I've heard very good things from my family, but I didn't get it last year. And before Mother's Day, please order your geraniums. E2 Gowanda HS Library: The election is on
048May 19th. Please turn up and vote. Thank you very much.