The issue was discussed recently by Frewsburg school board members. Following several months of fact finding and an informational gathering process, Dr. Danielle Cook, Frewsburg superintendent, requested a special meeting be scheduled to formally vote on a potential merger with Southwestern Central School District’s athletic program.

“I am going to request that we schedule a special board meeting, at the end of the month, to vote on the merger of some fall 2025 sports programs -really- just focusing on the fall, and I’m asking that you send your availability to Laura (Smith, district clerk) for the last week of March so we can get a special meeting scheduled,” Cook said.

Cook said her recommendation was that the district keep all of the modified sports separate, with only Frewsburg athletes, and that the district look at merging with Southwestern for football, cheerleading, soccer and tennis this fall.

Frewsburg and Southwestern are sharing a girls varsity flag football team. Frewsburg hired Trent Gray as its girls varsity football coach while Jake Burkholder, who also coaches the Southwestern varsity football team, is the coach of the Southwestern girls flag football team. Practices for the spring sport began Monday.

Students from Robert H. Jackson Elementary Elementary school’s music program members and band, performed for the Frewsburg Central School Districts Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Daniel Cook at a board meeting held Thursday. From left, Petra Dahlin, Greta Roushey, Cordelia Dahlin, Peyton Brady, Teacher Drew Minton, Jackson Brady, Ethan Ecklof, Jackson Levandoski

In addition, Cook said that while there are more students who are signed up for sports with Frewsburg now than in the previous 10 years, the school district is still having issues filling the various team rosters for a variety of sports. The lack of athletes in the district is being caused by decreases in the number of students attending Frewsburg.

The proposed merger of sports with Southwestern isn’t as large as had been previously discussed. In February, fall sports that were included in the merger also included boys and girls cross country as well as girls volleyball.

In other business:

– Board members are looking at two options for its 2025-26 school budget. One plan calls for a $23,433,387 budget with no increase in the tax levy, though the district needs to find $571,060 in spending cuts to avoid a tax increase. A second option calls for a $25,593.680 budget with a 2.58 percent increase in the tax levy. The district would still need to cut an additional $410,767 in expenditures to meet the state’s 2% tax cap.

Cook also highlighted two other possible revenue streams to possibly add to the budget.

“Possible additional revenues we could receive is excess from BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) of $350,000, and the additional tax levy at 2.58% would raise $160,293,” she said.

No further action was taken.

– Cook reported that she attended a convention for New York state school superintendents from March 2-4 hosted by the New York Council of School Superintendents (NYCOSS.)

“The tone set from the commissioner of education for New York state was that regardless of what is going on nationally, we are still New York state, and she expects that we will educate all our students,” said Cook. “A theme she really stressed is affordable education. She also stressed the importance of continued support for mental health with funding, and continued request for funding with special needs education -which typically isn’t a public mandate. I was also able to attend some sessions which focused on leadership.”

– Board members were treated to a musical variety performance from fourth through sixth graders in the Robert H. Jackson Elementary Elementary school music program and band.

“Our students are working very hard and have made tremendous gains,” said Music Teacher Drew Minton. “We use a color-coded award system, kind of like a karate belt or martial art system, to signify advancement in our program.”

Students who performed for the board consisted of Petra Dahlin, Greta Roushey, Cordelia Dahlin, Peyton Brady, Jackson Brady, Ethan Ecklof, Jackson Levandoski. The students used a variety of instruments during their performance such as a recorder, drums, trombone, saxophone and clarinet.

– The board appointed Sarah Olson as the new principal for Robert H. Jackson Elementary School. The appointment is for a four-year term, starting on July 1, 2025 and ending on June 30, 2029.

– The board also approved a driver’s education class which will consist of two sessions. Session One: – July 9, 2025 – July 30, 2025, and session Two: – July 31, 2025 – August 18, 2025.

– The board approved the creation of a Travel Club and for a staff position to supervise it. The board also approved for Cook to execute a memorandum of agreement with the Frewsburg Faculty Association to fill this position.

“The club is currently running under the Spanish club (2024- 2025), and we’d like to make it its own stand-alone activity,” said Cook.