Published: June 11, 2008 12:44 am            

NEWFANE SCHOOLS: Stieffenhofer petition costing district money

NEWFANE — As it often is, money was a topic of conversation at Tuesday’s school board meeting in Newfane.

The district received two grants, but also gave a guess on how much the petition filed by board member Carl Stieffenhofer is costing taxpayers. Stieffenhofer filed a complaint with the state education department against board president Donna Pieszala, and later called a special board meeting that has been since annulled.

“The meeting was pretty inexpensive,” said Superintendent Gary Pogorzelski. “But I think, in total, we are broaching $5,000 to $10,000.”

Pogorzelski made it clear it was a guess, but said school attorney Karl Kristoff has been “intimately involved with things related to the petition.” He said the district received a bill from Kristoff for April which was for $2,500 in expenses.

“I’d rather spend it on the kids,” Pogorzelski said, while imploring the board to look at using workshops or a retreat to help solve differences.

“We can’t spend money like this,” said board vice president Gretchen DeWitt.

In other board news, Pogorzelski said Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte awarded the district $100,000 to be used for various projects. The board will determine how the money will be used later this summer after hearing recommendations from the district’s administrators. Pogorzelski thanked acting superintendent Christine Tibbetts, board president Donna Pieszala, high school principal Steven Burley, director of special education Jennifer Bower and business administrator Bart Schuler for their work in obtaining the funding.

The grant was brought to the district’s attention by resident Tom Callahan at a previous school board meeting.

With the help of state Sen. George Maziarz, Newfane also received a grant for $70,000 toward playground equipment.

Pogorzelski also said the installation of broadband has been completed in the district. The installation is needed for Newfane to be compliant with state regulations by 2010, and provides increased speed and capabilities for the schools’ computers.

Contact reporter Joe Olenick

at 439-9222, ext. 6241.

        

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