“It is not paused,” said FCSD Board of Education President Michael LeBaron on Thursday. “The board does want the public to know that we are working and it’s continuing, and we are hopeful for a resolution soon.”

In June, the school board suspended, with pay, Dr. Danielle Cook, and John McLaughlin, district buildings and grounds maintenance supervisor.

Cook came to Frewsburg after being superintendent of the Randolph Academy Union Free School District, and a principal at Panama Central School.

A graduate of Penn State Behrend, Cook earned her B.A. in psychology and earned a M.Ed. in Educational Psychology, and Ed.S. in School Psychology from Edinboro University, now known as Pennsylvania Western University, Edinboro.

From left, Frewsburg School Board Vice President Polly Hanson, acting superintendent Tiffany Frederes, and President Mike LeBaron conduct business Thursday. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

Also in June, Tiffany Frederes was appointed acting superintendent and continues in that role.

At its meeting Thursday, the board approved the sports girls varsity wrestling, boys tennis, boys bowling, girls bowling, and girls varsity flag football in the shared athletics program with the Southwestern Central Schools District.

In a related matter, girls varsity flag football Coach Trent Gray gave an update about the program. Gray has been teaching in the district for about four years.

“I’ve coached football pretty much my entire career here at school,” Gray said. “I played football here. I’ve been a part of football pretty much my entire life. And it’s safe to say I haven’t had a group of students so passionate about playing football before.”

He added that, the girls from both SWCS and Frewsburg, continue to show and want to play the sport.

“I was able to witness as a coach, girls seemed to really love it (flag football) every day. They were very receptive. There was always positive conversations (going on),” Gray noted.

Besides practicing for games, Gray said, he has been working on character development with the girls.

“We worked on improving our skills in playing football, and really just trying to have fun, and trying to create a good mesh with that other school. Working with (other) coaches was a real pleasure,” Gray said.

The coach said that some of the character-building activities included a bowling trip to Frewsburg Lanes, and an ice cream outing.

Gray noted that some of the Frewsburg girls had told him how much they enjoy playing flag football, and should continue the merger with SWCS. One Frewsburg girl, he said, told him that by being on the team, it allowed her to meet and play with girls she may not have had the chance before the merger.

And Gray said he is ready for another season.

“But overall, from my perspective, I really did love coaching flag football,” Gray said. “It’s been a really new adventure, a lot of differences, but I really. Love the experience and look forward to continuing with everything the future holds.”

In other business:

The board heard a presentation from registered dietitian Carrie Skelton. Skelton spoke about the future of child nutrition programs in the district.

The board also heard a presentation from Christian Hy of the Erie 2 BOCES Hewes Center in Ashville. Hy explained about how the school’s career and technical education programs are bridging gaps between labor shortages, and said about 2.7 million skilled trade positions will be vacant by 2030.

“So the demand is high. A lot of our students go from our programs right into a work shortage,” Hy noted.

Some of the programs include auto body repair, cosmetology, and food services.