SHERMAN — Sherman Central School District Board of Education members learned at their meeting in December, that the district is currently the only one in the area without either a School Resource Officer or a School Safety Adviser.

District Superintendent Carrie Yohe told the board that there are three options open to the district. “The first option would be a full-time SRO through Chautauqua County at an estimated cost of $120,000,” she said. Yohe noted that Panama has chosen this option.

Yohe told board members that Clymer and Chautauqua Lake have opted to have School Safety Advisers. “This is a civil service position where an individual needs to have 60 semester credit hours in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement Administration, or a related field, and five years of paid full-time experience in law enforcement.” she said. The contract would be directly with the district, providing the district with more control over the salary compared to an SRO arrangement, she added.

The third option, Yohe said, is to have event-based law enforcement coverage provided through the county. “This option would not provide daily coverage and would only supply officers for specific events upon request,” she said. Furthermore, the officer could vary each time, and availability would depend on staffing, she added.

The discussion stemmed from a Nov. 25 budget workshop with district business administrator Kim Oelhbeck, Yohe said. Also from that meeting, board members were presented with a budget timeline which they later approved.

Also in her report, Yohe told board members that she attended the Blue Ribbon Conference. At the conference, Yohe said she learned more about expanding internship opportunities for students in rural communities. She said that she and principal Leslie Melquist also attend workshops on increasing parent involvement in the building.

Board President Teresa Guzman reported that the CCSBA Legislative Breakfast was held on Nov. 15. “Although the legislators were unable to attend, there were productive discussions regarding budgets,” she said.

Guzman also told the board she and Yohe met earlier that day with White & Partners, the firm that will be conducting the feasibility study regarding a potential school district reorganization; She mentioned that there will be a public meeting on Jan. 8 to kick off the study, with the time and location to be determined.

Guzman also reported that on November 13th there was a Capital Project Committee meeting attended by Joe DeLellis and Brooke Long. DeLellis noted that the project appears to be on schedule and under budget, which may allow the district to add alternates such as air conditioning in the cafeteria. He also stated that they were able to help select the brick for the project, she said.

In other business, Student Ex-officio Board Member Brookelynn Wright reported she attended the CSP meeting on November 13. “Both groups were very detailed and appeared focused on achieving the best possible outcome,” she said.

Wright noted there has been a longstanding concern among students regarding school lunch portion sizes. While she understands this is not an issue directly controlled by the district, she asked the Board to advocate to the state for potential changes.

Board member Emily Reynolds noted that, through Cornell Cooperative Extension, she has worked with districts to develop more nutritionally fulfilling meals. She also reminded the board of New York State’s 30% Initiative, which encourages districts to use more locally sourced foods in school lunches. Guzman suggested that Yohe might look into the matter further.

In her report to the board, Oehlbeck, reviewed the 2026-27 Budget Calendar in detail. She then noted that the budget will become available to the public on May 4, 2026, followed by the Budget Hearing on May 11, 2026. Budget notices will be mailed out on May 12, 2026, and the Budget Vote will take place on May 19, 2026. May 4, 2026,

Regarding the upcoming feasibility study, board members passed a resolution which states that “Sherman, Clymer, and Panama Central School Districts are exploring a potential merger to improve educational opportunities, fiscal efficiency, and long-term sustainability.”

The resolution authorizes participation in a joint application with the Clymer Central School District, Panama Central School District, and Sherman Central School District for the Local Government Efficiency Grant Program.

The resolution also designates Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES as the Lead Applicant for the administration of the grant; authorizes the Sherman Central School District to contribute a local cash match toward the study, not to exceed $20,000; and authorizes the Superintendent to execute all necessary agreements, and to work collaboratively with partner districts and consultants to prepare and submit all required documents via the NYS Consolidated Funding Application.