Seated: Vice President Dana Szalay-Delaney, Janet Vogtli and Barbara Weston. Standing: Lynn Guzzetta, President Mark Nephew, David Barnes, and Ronald Cook. Submitted Photo.

GOWANDA — Tensions were high among Gowanda school board members during their last meeting, as discussion of staff lay-offs eventually culminated in a contentious vote, which prompted over 650 district residents to sign a petition for the removal of board members David Barnes and Janet Vogtli.

The petition, which was created on MoveOn.org shortly after the meeting, is well on its way to its goal of 800 signatures. The petition, created by Jennifer Gernatt, states, “In reviewing the Code of Conduct set forth by NYS School Boards Association board members are to act as ‘role model to our students.’ We believe that some board members have gone far beyond not following rules of order.”

During the administrator report portion of the meeting, all three building principals discussed their teachers’ hard work, which includes new instructional methods, various modes of communication and creative ways to engage students at home. Elementary Principal Carrie Dzierba addressed a concern that was raised by board member David Barnes during the last meeting.

“We are not just working two office hours,” she said. “Teachers have been told and are logging their time every single day from 8:30 to 3:30.” According to Dzierba, in addition to contacting students weekly, teachers are also reaching out to them through other mediums including Google Slides, the Remind app, Splice and Facebook live groups. “I could go on forever with a list of things they’re trying to build upon and add to what went home,” she said.

Board member Janet Vogtli asked Dzierba what her expectations were of students’ learning and progress once they return to school. “It’s a mixed bag, to be honest,” said Dzierba. “We are not grading the material that goes home. Truly, it is not explicit instruction. At the elementary level, we need to make sure it is explicit instruction. We can’t give new material because no one is there to provide that instruction.”

“We can’t make them accountable to even do the work because they’re 4 years old.”

She added that the primary purpose of the packets is to make sure that students aren’t losing skills they’ve already been taught and have mastered. Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson said, “I think the goal right now is trying to prevent regression. The problems everyone has are really access or equity issues…If we have an extended close, we’re going to think about how we’re going to handle that. The last two weeks, we’ve been designing programs, delivery, food services and other supports. We’re also concerned about the social and emotional well being of students. It hasn’t been business as usual; these past two weeks have been a challenge that no one has faced before. Every district in New York state is pretty much handling it the same way.”

Barnes challenged, “So we’re doing busy work?”

“I hope it’s not busy work,” Anderson replied. “These should be meaningful learning activities with the caveat that we don’t know what people have at home, in terms of parental support and internet access. It’s not been an easy lift for people.”

Throughout the meeting, Anderson and board members discussed possible decisions regarding staffing if Gov. Andrew Cuomo orders the continued closure of public schools. “I would anticipate, and hopefully not, some formal layoffs for employees,” said Anderson. “We’re getting job titles and seniority and tenure lists for our certified staff to look at layoffs. We want to maintain our programming but obviously conserve our resources and stay within our budget.”

Vogtli asked why the district is paying all bus drivers when only some are working to deliver meals and instructional materials.

“The governor wants to keep people employed as long as possible,” Anderson explained. “If we’re asking for additional resources and money and then cutting all these positions, that may create a reduction in state aid.” He added that he and other superintendents are waiting for additional guidance regarding long-term closure from the governor, which he expects this week.

Barnes objected to the delay in lay-offs. “We have a lot of staff that isn’t essential to what we’re doing that will get 100% unemployment, and we’re still footing the bill and these guys aren’t working,” he complained. “…We need to start making some cuts of what we don’t need!”

Vogtli and Barnes asked what the school secretaries and nurses are doing and where they are working. Anderson explained that part of the response to the pandemic is rotating positions in the building. “We need all the healthy bodies we have right now,” Anderson said.

“We don’t have any unhealthy bodies!” Barnes shouted. “We’re still throwing money down a rat hole with a huge problem coming and no one willing to look at it. We should be acting now instead of a month from now.”

Anderson explained that once guidance from the governor is received, the district can make decisions regarding lay-offs. “I know it’s not a popular decision, and I understand what you’re saying,” Anderson said. “…We have to maintain executive orders on three things: food, continuity of education and employees to take care of that.”

Vogtli agreed with Barnes and said lay-offs should be considered now, not later. Board president Mark Nephew asked Barnes and Vogtli if they intended to make a motion to lay people off.

Barnes replied, “I’ll make a motion to reduce nonessential staff that isn’t working to maintain continuity in two hours a week. I’ll make that motion.”

Vogtli seconded the motion. Altogether, Barnes, Ron Cook and Vogtli voted “aye.” Lynn Guzzetta and Nephew voted “nay.” Following the vote, Barnes angrily muttered about “pissing money away,” and “talking about (expletive) leadership…”

Because two members were absent from the meeting, Nephew concluded, “For now, we’re not laying off people based on the vote of the majority of the board.”

Following the negative vote, Vogtli inquired about the work that curriculum coordinator Dr. Sandra Cimbricz has been doing. Cimbricz said, “The past two weeks have been about getting resources and support to teachers directly — sharing and disseminating resources.” She added that she has facilitated online meetings with administrators and technology support staff to ease the transition. She’s also helped wherever necessary in the building, even helping make lunches in the cafeteria.

Vogtli said, “We have a lot of other people that we’re not paying this amount of money who can make lunches.”

Cimbricz replied, “Are you going to argue with me or are you going to allow me to speak? I’ll entertain questions in a minute. It just seems like you’re already talking about what I do, should I be let go or laid off. That’s really pretty inflammatory, so if I could just answer first, I’d really appreciate it.”

Cimbricz went on to explain that she received information from the state education department just hours before the meeting. “We’re unable to teach anything new unless there’s direct support provided,” she explained. “Direct support is challenging when 70% of our students have reliable or access to internet. We can’t necessarily provide anything new unless we can guarantee that happens for 100% of our students. … It’s hard to come into a conversation when the first question is ‘What do you do and can we lay you off?'”

Vogtli interjected, “Nobody said that!”

Barnes answered, “I did!”

Vogtli followed up, “We hired you for curriculum, and I want to make sure that’s being done. When you say you’re doing lunches, we’ve got a lot of people who can do that.”

Cimbricz said, “I do whatever is necessary, whatever my role is.”

Barnes continued to press Cimbricz about curriculum now that the transition to at-home learning has been made.

“We have to be really conscious of access equitability,” Cimbricz emphasized. “If students can’t complete (work) independently with minimal resources, we can’t hold them to learning anything new. It’s not as if we can just say, ‘OK kids, you’re on your own. And then we’re going to grade you, to boot.’ Our hands are somewhat tied by what we’re expected to do by New York state. That’s not just Gowanda, but everywhere.”

Despite several tense conversations, there were some positive comments shared by board members. Dana Szalay-Delaney, who logged in later to the Zoom meeting said, “My day to day experience is with different school districts. The things you are all doing– reaching out to students, showing different assignments, reaching out for CSE meetings– it really goes a long way. Everything is so different right now, and you’re all so adaptable. I think it really is an all-hands-on-deck situation for everyone,” she said, addressing the teachers, staff and building administrators who were either part of the Zoom meeting or watching at home.

Many residents who watched the meeting at home were disgusted by some board members’ behaviors. “Watching the board meeting was a disgrace,” said Jill S., a petition signer. “Seeing those members who are supposed to be advocating for students during this difficult time only care about money and badgering administration…”

Christian D. said, “Janet and Dave’s behavior is atrocious.”

Others, including School Resource Officer Ben Shields, have spoken out in support of teachers, administrators and staff. “The district and Dr. Anderson are doing a great job, and that’s my opinion as a parent, not just the SRO,” Shields told the OBSERVER.

The next meeting of the Gowanda Board of Education is scheduled to take place via Zoom on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be live-streamed on gowcsd.org.