Bemus Point Central School District Board of Education members Vincent Horrigan, Kathleen Collver, Megan Kent, Shawn Hricko, President Lauren Ryan, School Superintendent Joseph Reyda, Elizabeth “Betsy” Healy, and Vice-President Dr. Margaret Spence conduct school board business, Monday, at Bemus Point Elementary school, located at 41 Liberty St. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

BEMUS POINT- There was significant pushback from community members regarding the potential tenure and appointments of a principal and the student programs director in the Bemus Point Central School District.

During a meeting of the school board Monday Board President Lauren Ryan had to intervene and halt several individuals from speaking during the Recognition of Guests segment of the meeting, citing specific reasons. The vote regarding Julie M. Verdonk for the tenure area of Director of Student Programs has been postponed for future discussions. Similarly, the vote for Christopher Padd in the tenure position of Secondary Principal will also be deferred for further consideration.

“This portion of the meeting is designated for citizens to address the board, but we will not entertain discussions about staff, students, or personal issues,” stated Ryan.

“It’s important to clarify that while we value your input, there are specific times and places to address those concerns. This is not the appropriate venue for such discussions.”

On at least three occasions, Ryan was required to intervene to realign the meeting’s focus and ensure it remained on pace and track.

Several attendees of the meeting, who spoke to The Post-Journal under the protection of anonymity due to concerns about potential repercussions for their children, expressed their deep frustrations. These individuals described their emotional turmoil and fears regarding the impact of recent decisions on their families. They shared specific instances that highlighted their worries, revealing a profound sense of helplessness in the face of the situation.

“I was met with silence from both Principal Padd and the superintendent on multiple serious matters,” wrote one parent. “What exactly does the board consider before granting tenure? Is there a checklist or formal review process that includes community input, staff feedback, or parent concerns? Or is the decision based solely on the superintendent’s recommendation? I believe the board owes it to the district to take a comprehensive look at the impact a principal has had – not just on test scores or formal evaluations, but on trust, transparency, and support for students and families,” wrote a concerned parent. “I was forced to contact both the New York State Education Department and the Office for Civil Rights regarding failures in honoring my other son’s 504 Plan for his medical disability. This administration failed to meet its legal obligations until outside agencies got involved. No family should have to fight this hard for what the law already guarantees their child,”

Echoing the previous parent’s thoughts, another parent, in an email to The Post-Journal, wrote, “In my perspective, many parents choose not to speak up – not because they aren’t concerned – but because they fear it could negatively affect or embarrass their child,” said another parent.

Ryan said she firmly believes that there is an appropriate time and place to address personal issues, and a public business meeting is not the right setting for such discussions.

“Let me state it again,” she said. “We (the BPCSD, BOE) want to hear our concerns about issues that our students, parents, or community members have. We want to be proactive and not reactive. But there is a time and a place for airing such grievances. A school board meeting, which is open to the public, is not the proper place -it’s for conducting school business. For those who wish to speak at greater lengths about issues or concerns they are having, they can fill out a red form here at the meeting, email or call a board member, or go directly to the superintendent of the school district.”

A vote was conducted to approve the recommendations put forth by Superintendent Joe Ryda regarding the tenure and roles of various staff members. The proposal received a range of reactions from the board members, reflecting differing opinions on the recommendations.

In contrast, the vote for Magan N. Klice in the tenure area of Elementary was unanimously approved. Additionally, the votes for Ardelle B. Rambacher in the Special Tenure area of Physical Education and Marie L. Vanderhoof in the Special Tenure area of Students with Disabilities both received unanimous approval. Finally, the vote for Kathy Burnett as Athletic Director for the 2025-2026 school year has been tabled.