From left Frewsburg Central School Superintendent honors Transportation Supervisor John Spacht, and Head Bus Mechanic Jordan Chase. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

FREWSBURG –Two members of the Frewsburg Central School staff were honored Thursday by the school board.

Transportation Supervisor John Spacht and Head Bus Mechanic Jordan Chase recently received accolades from New York state.

Spacht received a state Master Instruction Certification and Chase received state Technician of The Year.

Spacht splits his time among the three school districts, working 40% of the time for Southwestern, 35% for Jamestown and 25% for Frewsburg.

“If being newly shared between Frewsburg, Southwestern, and Jamestown wasn’t enough, Mr. Spacht put in the time and effort to also reach the accomplishment of becoming a New York State Master Instructor,” said Dr. Danielle Cook, Frewsburg superintendent.

Cook said Spacht presented his Give Back to the Industry Project, at a state conference, that will be used by the state to help new drivers obtain their Commercial Driver’s Licence (CDL) permit.

“This presentation was the ‘final exam’ for his master instructor certification. There have only been 156 people to date awarded this title. Mr. Spacht is one out of about 45 active master instructors in New York (state),” Cook added.

Recently, Jamestown Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker also recognized Spacht.

“John is an incredibly talented guy and an unbelievably hard worker. He presented a solution, a proposal, to the New York State Transportation Board, and that earned him his master instructor certificate. And that rating is incredibly rare,” Whitaker said.

Spacht was elected Vice President for the New York Association for Pupil Transportation.

“John, on behalf of the Frewsburg School community, thank you for representing in such a positive light at the state level. We are grateful and ‘beary’ proud of your accomplishments,” Cook noted.

Cook also had praise for Chase as he was also recognized at a state conference.

“Mr. Chase was recognized as the statewide Technician of the Year. Out of over 500 school districts across the state, this award is given to one individual who exemplifies the characteristics of excellence and quality and whose work results in a safer school bus and a school bus travel for children,” Cook said.

Spacht said that he has witnessed Chase’s exceptional skills, unwavering dedication and remarkable compassion.

“Words cannot express how incredibly proud we are to have you working alongside all of us at Frewsburg Central School. On behalf of our entire community, we congratulate you on this tremendous achievement,” Cook said.

In other business the board approved a new extra curricular middle/high school Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) Club. In addition, the board also approved the creation of an extra curricular STEAM Club adviser position.

The board also approved the update middle school handbook, and the updated high school handbook.

The board also approved the updated 2024-25 Frewsburg Central School Code of Conduct.