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GOWANDA PRESS
The preferred local newspaper of the Gowanda Area Chamber of Commerce September 29-October 5, 2017
Local impact for GCS capital project dependant on state aid By Rich Place
Managing Editor
GOWANDA — The Gowanda School Board last week heard a second presentation concerning its potential capital project and plans remain on track for a mid-December referendum for the public to vote on the project’s overall spending plan. Currently estimated at $33.6 million – down from an estimate of $38 million
in May — the project would include upgrades to both educational campuses, move the track away from the floodridden Hillis Field, upgrade baseball and softball fields and the tennis courts and replace the Panther Drive bridge. The cost to district taxpayers remains uncertain because of unknowns in regard to how New York state will aid the track’s move from Hillis Field to property adjacent to Aldrich Street Elementary School. The best case scenario includes no
tax impact over the 16-year life of the project’s bonding period, according to Maggie Augugliaro, an associate with Municipal Solutions. With a conservative estimate regarding interest over the bonding period, the total project cost is an estimated $41.6 million over those 16 years, she said. Augugliaro also presented a “worst case scenario” of $932,058 that would be covered by the local share over that period.
The difference between the two scenarios, as Augugliaro essentially outlined to the board during the first capital project presentation in May, is whether the state is willing to reallocate the maximum cost allowance — that’s the maximum amount of money the state is willing to aid, with a specific amount designated to each building — from the middle/high school to the elementary school. See Project, Page 18
Exploring new horizons By Rich Place
Managing Editor
GOWANDA — As many of her classmates were enjoying their summer vacation, Serena Emery was hard at work preparing for college in a program designed specifically for Native American high school students. Serena, who is now a senior at Gowanda Central School, spent a week in mid-July at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., as part of the College Horizons program, and learned about the college admission progress while
also meeting other Native Americans and learning more about their cultures. “I think it broadened my horizons – pun intended – in a way I don’t think I would have had any other chance to do,” said Serena. Although the experience itself was full of information, the process to actually be admitted was a feat onto itself. Jennifer Mattimore, a guidance counselor at Gowanda, said Serena had to complete 10 essays of at least 250 words each just to be considered for admission. “She stayed after (school) with
me every week for eight weeks right after Thanksgiving,” said Mattimore. “The application process was insane.” Mattimore said admission to the program isn’t for everyone — in her 12 years at the district Serena was only the fourth student to be admitted. Serena took her first trip outside the state – and her first time on an airplane – to Walla Walla in July. Then it was five days full of information about college preparation with a mix of learning about different cultures. See Horizons Page 18
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