Photo courtesy of the Gowanda Central School District
Pictured from left to right: Gowanda Board of Education members Max Graham, President; Zachary Nobles; Susan Bettker; Crista Monat; Barbara Weston, Vice President; Mark Nephew; and John Waterman Jr.
GOWANDA — Although it played out as nothing more than a formality, Max Graham reclaimed his seat as the President of Gowanda’s Board of Education at its recent organizational meeting.
Graham was the only candidate nominated for the position and received unanimous support from the Board. Mark Nephew and John Waterman Jr. each voiced their support for Graham to reclaim the role.
Graham was reelected to the Board of Education in May with the most votes of all five candidates running for three open seats.
The office of Vice President was less of a formality, as two members of the Board received nominations. Nephew nominated Zachary Nobles for the role of Vice President, while Waterman nominated Barb Weston.
Nobles said, “I appreciate the honor and trust that you have in me to nominate me, Mark. If that’s the way it goes, I’ll do my due diligence to serve the Board and the community as best as possible.”
Weston, a longtime member of the Board, joked after receiving the nomination, “I wasn’t ready for all that.” After the Board collectively laughed, Weston said, “Either way it goes, I’m honored to be nominated.”
The vote could not have been any closer, as Weston came away with four votes, while Nobles received three. Each candidate voted for themselves, while Graham and Crista Monat voted for Nobles. Waterman, Susan Bettker, and Nephew voted for Weston, despite Nephew’s nomination of Nobles.
“If it doesn’t go so well, Zach, you’re up,” Weston joked.
The Board also welcomed its two new members to join the Board of Education, Bettker and Monat. They fill the seats formerly held by former Vice President Dollene Christopher, who chose to not pursue another term on the Board, and Shauna McMahon, who left to focus on her role as Forestville Elementary Principal before being replaced by Jennifer Gernatt on an interim basis.
Kathy Ferneza, Secretary to the Superintendent, was reappointed as District Clerk. Barb Smith, Business Administrator, was reappointed as Deputy Clerk.
The next Gowanda Board of Education meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the High School Library.