Dr. Joshua Liddell with Bemus Point elementary students who came over to swim at Chautauqua Lake as part of the new shared swimming program. Submitted photo

BEMUS POINT – Since the Bemus Point and the Chautauqua Lake school districts decided to announce a shared superintendent late last year, Dr. Joshua Liddell has been learning to manage the two different districts.

Despite unique challenges, Liddell said he has seen a smooth transition into the new role of Bemus Point Superintendent and continued to focus on the needs of both districts. One example of this is the new push to add a swimming program for younger grades at Bemus Point Elementary School. The new program focuses on students in second through fifth grades, and offers the chance for students to use the Chautauqua Lake facilities for practice.

Combining the superintendent positions has also allowed the districts to expand special education resources through both district’s staff exploring combined learning efforts. While still very early on in the process, Liddell noted that these staff members hope to create a more inclusive and comforting environment for students with special needs.

“These first weeks of the shared superintendent experience have been amazing. Returning to Bemus Point feels like a true homecoming, surrounded by a great faculty and staff whose care for the school — and above all for the students — has been evident every day. I have been inspired by the kindness and enthusiasm of the Bemus students, many of whom I have been fortunate to already know through raising my family in the district,” said Liddell. “I look forward to continuing to lead by building trust and fostering optimism, with a focus on doing what’s best for all our students, no matter which district they call home. I couldn’t be more grateful for the warm welcome, and I am incredibly excited about what the future holds for both districts as we continue to work together.”

Leaders from Bemus Point Elementary have also begun partnering with staff from the Chautauqua Lake district to learn, and enact, a new learning framework. The Positive Behavior Intervention and Support framework is designed to focus on encouraging positive student behavior, rather than explicitly punishing negative behavior. The Chautauqua Lake school district has utilized the framework for six years now, with staff having noted the positive and supportive student culture that has grown as a result.

“In just his first 60 days, Dr. Liddell has made a strong and meaningful impression across our schools. From all observations and reports from staff, he has done an outstanding job–listening, engaging, and leading with genuine care for students and educators alike,” said Lauren Ryan, Bemus Point District board president. “He has brought a fresh perspective, deep knowledge, and a collaborative approach that is already improving operations while opening new doors for student opportunities. We are truly excited about the future of our district and the opportunities ahead.”

Various additional activities are looking to be combined between the district, not only to expand the total resources available, but also to allow for new possibilities. The Battle of the Books is one effort that is being expanded through collaboration. This battle required students to read as many books as possible in competition with others, which will culminate with a face-off between the two districts in May. Once the warm spring weather begins to emerge, students from Bemus Point Elementary will also travel to Chautauqua Lake to participate in a combined program. Students will be participating in the maple syrup/sapping program, which will teach students how to tap trees and boil the sap into syrup.

“The transition to Dr. Liddell’s leadership has been extremely smooth. From the very beginning, he has brought an open and welcoming demeanor that puts people at ease. He takes the time to truly listen, and his depth of experience allows him to thoughtfully navigate even complex situations,” said Bemus Point Elementary Principal Sonja Dubois. “Much of this success comes from the fact that Dr. Liddell genuinely loves the work he does. His passion for both Bemus Point and Chautauqua Lake enables him to balance the shared superintendent role effectively. In a short time, we are already seeing meaningful collaboration between our districts. From Bemus Point elementary students swimming at the CLCSD pool to joint participation in the Battle of the Books literacy program, and shared organizational ideas and initiatives. Our administrative team and faculty are energized and excited about the many possibilities ahead.”