Photo via screenshot
Ben Shields, Gowanda School Resource Officer, advocated for a second officer to be employed by the Gowanda Central School District. The Board has now approved a second School Resource Officer, Ross Olsczewski, a Deputy of the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department.
GOWANDA — The Gowanda Central School District had already made the commitment to add a second School Resource Officer, but at a recent meeting, the Board of Education finalized its selection.
Ross Olsczewski, a Deputy of the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department, has been approved as the District’s second School Resource Officer for the 2024-2025 school year.
“It’s going to be a great addition. I’m excited for that,” Board of Education Vice President Barbara Weston said of the District’s second School Resource Officer.
Olsczewski joins Ben Shields, who is also a member of the Cattaraugus County School Resource Officer program. Shields urged the District to consider a second School Resource Officer (SRO) earlier this year. Shields noted that adding a second SRO would divide up some of the workload, especially with the Elementary School located down the street from the Middle and High School buildings.
“That would be a huge benefit, to be able to have two SROs that could cycle through and hit all of your buildings multiple times a day,” Shields said.
The District allocated funding for the additional SRO in its school budget vote, which was approved by voters in May. Now with approval from the Board of Education, Olsczewski will be part of the District for the 2024-2025 school year.
Board of Education member John Waterman Jr. highlighted that he often sees Olsczewski at youth football games within the community, which he called “a good head start” to building relationships with the District’s students.
In other District news, Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson shared that installation of the District’s pool tiling is complete. The pool and surrounding area will now be spot-cleaned and allowed to settle before the pool is filled with water and cleared for use. Anderson estimated Oct. 1 as a realistic date for opening the renovated pool.
“It’s moving along. This school year, the pool will be open,” Anderson said.
Gowanda will be joining Eden for Varsity Girls Swimming this year, with Eden serving as the host school.
The District also recently accepted a donation of $2,050 from Tri-State Firearms to benefit the Gowanda Trap Team.