St. Bonaventure/Schools
St. Bonaventure Welcomes Largest Freshman Class in 35 Years
St. Bonaventure University welcomed just over 600 incoming freshmen to campus on Move-In Day, its largest first-year class since 1989. New students settled into Robinson, Falconio, Shay and Loughlin halls as part of the university's Welcome Days orientation weekend. Members of the men's and women's rugby teams turned out to help carry boxes and furniture up to dorm rooms. The record class size continues a multi-year trend of growing enrollment at the university.
Franklinville/Schools
Six Franklinville Graduates Awarded Dziekonski, Other CRCF Scholarships
Six recent graduates of Franklinville Central School and Ten Broeck Academy received scholarships from funds managed by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation. Sean Howard and Seirra Lovell were both awarded the $2,700 Walter F. and Julia A. Dziekonski Scholarship, part of the Ten Broeck Academy and Franklinville School District Fund, which favors graduates with strong career goals and can give preference to those pursuing law-enforcement-related fields. Howard plans to study welding and applied science at SUNY Niagara, while Lovell will pursue diagnostic medical sonography at Alfred State College. The remaining recipients were recognized through other CRCF-managed memorial funds tied to the district, continuing a long tradition of local scholarship support for Franklinville graduates.
Salamanca/Schools
Salamanca Students Gain Career Experience Through Summer Workforce Program
A group of Salamanca City Central School District students spent part of their summer in the district's Youth Workforce Development program, working alongside professional staff to explore potential future careers. Participants took on real roles supporting district programs and services, including staffing the school's food truck, giving them hands-on exposure to workplace responsibilities before the new school year. The program is funded through the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and is aimed at building career-readiness skills among local youth. District officials say the initiative gives students practical experience they can draw on as they plan for future employment.
Salamanca/Schools
Salamanca City Schools Set Back-to-School Picnics for Aug. 25-26
Salamanca City Central School District is holding two welcome-back picnics ahead of the 2026-27 school year, giving families a chance to meet teachers and staff before classes begin. Prospect Elementary's picnic runs Aug. 25, followed by a picnic for Seneca Intermediate and Salamanca High School students on Aug. 26, both from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The informal gatherings let students and parents reconnect with school staff over a shared meal ahead of the new year. District officials say families are welcome to attend either or both events regardless of which building their children attend.
Franklinville/Schools
Four Ten Broeck Academy Graduates Receive CRCF Memorial Scholarships
Four recent graduates of Ten Broeck Academy/Franklinville Central School received memorial scholarships managed by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation. Kierra Knobloch was a double recipient, earning the $3,000 Josephine S. Pepper Memorial Agricultural Scholarship, given to students with a background in FFA and agriculture coursework, as well as the $1,200 Kathy Jowsey Spirit Memorial Scholarship for academic effort and school spirit. The other memorial funds recognize graduates for community involvement, career interests and academic achievement. CRCF administers dozens of named scholarship and memorial funds for students across the region, with new contributions accepted year-round through its Olean office.
Ellicottville/Schools
Ellicottville Schools Set Back-to-School Open House for Sept. 2
Ellicottville Central School District has scheduled its Back-to-School Open House for Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., open to families across grades UPK through 12. The evening gives students and parents a chance to meet teachers, tour classrooms and reconnect with classmates before the year gets underway, and the district plans to provide a picnic dinner for attendees. Classes for the 2026-27 school year officially begin the following day, Thursday, Sept. 3. The open house is the district's traditional kickoff to the new academic year.
Gowanda/Schools
Gowanda Schools Board Approves New Spanish Teacher, Nurse Ahead of Fall
The Gowanda Central School District Board of Education has approved several new staff hires ahead of the 2026-27 school year. Lauren Schraft of Silver Creek, certified in Spanish for grades 7-12 and in teaching English to speakers of other languages, joins Gowanda High School as its new Spanish teacher after previous posts at Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School and Global Concepts Charter School. Michelle Gilson was approved to fill a school nurse vacancy this fall, replacing Kristen Pagett, who resigned. The board also approved Sarah Glashauser as a school counselor and Cameron Nagel as an elementary teacher, both on four-year probationary appointments, along with shared athletic agreements with Pine Valley Central School for football, soccer and wrestling.
Alfred/Schools
Alfred University to Lead Development of AI-Assisted Battery Storage, Microgrid Controller
Alfred University's Inamori School of Engineering is partnering with clean-tech startup Ranial Systems Inc. on a project to build an artificial intelligence-assisted controller for grid-scale battery storage, commercial and industrial microgrids, and equipment-manufacturer integrations. Chandan Kumar, an assistant professor of computer science at the Inamori School, is serving as principal investigator on the effort, which got underway in late June. The work is being funded through New Energy New York, a state-backed clean-energy initiative supporting regional research and development. University officials say the collaboration positions Alfred as a contributor to next-generation grid technology as demand grows for reliable renewable-energy storage.
Olean/Schools
Olean's Summer STAR Program Wraps Up With 'Seussical Jr.' Performance
Nearly 200 students from pre-kindergarten through seventh grade capped off Olean's Summer STAR enrichment program with a performance of "Seussical Jr." in the high school auditorium. The show marked the culmination of weeks of rehearsals during the district-run summer program, giving younger students their first taste of staging a full musical. Families filled the auditorium to watch the cast bring Dr. Seuss characters to the stage. The program is part of the Olean City School District's broader summer offerings for elementary and middle school-aged children.
Belmont/Schools
Rooted in Nature Launches Forest School Program in Belmont
Rooted in Nature NY, led by New York State certified teacher and certified Forest School director Rebecca DePue, is opening a Forest School offering child-led, nature-based learning at its outdoor site in Belmont. The program lets children climb, explore, solve problems and gather around a campfire as a hands-on alternative to a traditional classroom. Families can preview the approach at an 'Explore Rooted' open house on August 13, where they can meet DePue and tour the forest learning space. Early Bird registration for the fall Forest School season is open through August 15.
Salamanca/Schools
Salamanca Schools Pause Humanoid Robot Program Amid Privacy Concerns
Salamanca City Central School District put its plan to deploy a nearly $60,000 humanoid robot, nicknamed 'Sally,' on hold after state officials and the statewide teachers union raised objections. The robot, built by Nevada-based Realbotix, was intended to support high school robotics and technology students rather than replace a classroom teacher. State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa flagged unresolved student data-privacy questions and pushed back on characterizations of the robot as a 'tutoring platform,' while New York State United Teachers criticized the vendor's ties to adult-product manufacturing. The district announced Friday, July 24, 2026, that the pilot would remain paused while it works out enhanced data-privacy agreements with the state and hears from the community.
Canaseraga/Schools
Canaseraga Central School Superintendent Josie Steiner Resigns
Canaseraga Central School announced that Superintendent Josie Steiner is stepping down effective this August, less than a year after she took the post on January 1, 2026. The district said Steiner is pursuing a position better suited to her family's needs during this stage of life. The Board of Education has put a transition plan in place, including naming an interim superintendent while it runs a formal search for a permanent replacement. The board is working with GST BOCES District Superintendent Stacy Saglibene, who brings experience in superintendent recruitment, and has pledged to keep the community updated through the summer and fall.
Bolivar/Schools
Bolivar-Richburg Yearbook Earns National Excellence Award
Jostens named Bolivar-Richburg Central School's yearbook a 2026 National Yearbook Program of Excellence honoree at the Gold Level, recognizing student publications that engage a broad cross-section of the student body. The staff's book included more than 1,500 photographs and represented over 90 percent of students in grades 6 through 12. Co-advisors Mary Hirsch-Schena and Kelly Smith presented the award to students during an end-of-year assembly at the school, located at 100 School Street in Bolivar. Hirsch-Schena said the staff worked together to produce a book that "perfectly represented" the 2025-26 school year.
Friendship/Schools
Friendship Central School Sends Off Class of 2026
Friendship Central School held commencement on June 27, awarding diplomas to 27 graduating seniors. Valedictorian Madison Rondeau and Salutatorian Charles Taylor addressed classmates, families and faculty during the ceremony, and guest speaker Jacqueline Dent offered remarks to the graduates. Scholarship awards were also presented as part of the event, recognizing students' academic and community achievements over their high school careers. The small rural district, which serves roughly 288 students total, marked the milestone as its graduates prepare for college, careers and military service.
Portville/Schools
Portville Central School Sends Off Class of 2026
Portville Central School held its commencement ceremony on a Friday evening in late June 2026, formally graduating its Class of 2026. Valedictorian Aidan DeFazio urged classmates to embrace uncomfortable, growth-oriented moments rather than settle into complacency as they move on from high school. Graduates received diplomas and scholarship awards during the ceremony, which capped a year of academic and extracurricular achievement for the district's seniors. The event drew families and community members to celebrate the milestone alongside district staff.
Allegany/Schools
Allegany-Limestone Schools Advance New Bus Entrance Project
Allegany-Limestone Central School District is moving forward with plans to build a new, dedicated bus entrance and exit off Five Mile Road at its middle/high school campus. District officials say the second access point is intended to separate bus traffic from car and pedestrian traffic during morning drop-off and afternoon dismissal, improving safety and easing congestion around the building. The project is part of the district's ongoing capital improvements at the Five Mile Road campus. No firm construction start date had been announced as of late June 2026.
Cuba/Schools
Cuba-Rushford Graduates 53 Seniors in Class of 2026
Cuba-Rushford Central School District celebrated commencement for 53 graduating seniors. Joseph Wojciechowski was named valedictorian with a weighted GPA of 99.95, and Peyton Joy was named salutatorian with a weighted GPA of 99.67, both recognized earlier in the spring for their academic records. The ceremony capped a school year that also included an academic awards night honoring honor-roll students and four-year high-honor-roll seniors, along with several scholarship presentations. District officials and family members gathered to send off the class as students move on to college, trade programs and the workforce.
West Valley/Schools
West Valley Central School District Budget Fails Second Vote
Voters in the West Valley Central School District rejected the district's revised budget for a second time on June 15, by a margin of 243-161, joining Randolph and Lyndonville among Western New York districts whose budgets failed revotes this spring. A related proposal to purchase a mini-van also failed, as did a plan to establish a 10-year capital reserve fund of up to $1.5 million. With the second vote unsuccessful, the district must move to a contingency budget for the coming school year. Superintendent Dan Amodeo said the district intends to keep engaging the school community and work toward more collaborative conversations with stakeholders going forward.
Hinsdale/Schools
Hinsdale Nursing Student Wins Statewide SUNY Chancellor's Award
Alexandria Goodyear of Hinsdale, a nursing student at SUNY Jamestown Community College's Cattaraugus County Campus, was named a recipient of the 2026 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence, one of the system's highest student honors. Goodyear graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA, earned a spot on the All-USA Academic Team, and led the campus chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, where she started a second-hand Christmas cart to help fellow students during the holidays. She also worked as a peer tutor across several subjects and spent two weeks in Guatemala in 2025 volunteering with children facing health challenges. Goodyear was honored at a statewide ceremony in Albany and plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in nursing and later certification as a registered nurse anesthetist.
Olean/Schools
Olean Schools to Add 15 Minutes to the Student Day This Fall
Olean City School District Superintendent Dr. Genelle Morris told the Board of Education that the student school day will run 15 minutes longer starting in September, a change tied to the district's new staff collective bargaining agreement. District officials framed the extra time as an opportunity to build in additional instructional or support time across buildings. The change comes as the district also finalized a 2026-27 budget proposal with a modest levy increase. Registration for new students was set for early August ahead of the schedule change taking effect.
Andover/Schools
Andover Central School Names Top of the Class of 2026
Andover Central School named James Miller-Young as valedictorian and Naudia Pierson as salutatorian of its Class of 2026. Principal Molly Turner credited Miller-Young, a multi-sport athlete and National Honor Society member, with challenging himself academically through the New Visions Health Professions program; he plans to study biology at St. John Fisher University with an eye toward medical school. Pierson, also a National Honor Society member and multi-sport athlete, has been active in the school's PAWS after-school mentoring program and plans to pursue a finance degree in college. The announcement highlighted both students' combination of academic achievement and community involvement ahead of graduation.
Richburg/Schools
Bolivar-Richburg Inducts 15 New Members Into National Honor Society
Bolivar-Richburg Central School inducted 15 juniors and seniors into its National Honor Society chapter in a ceremony held March 4, 2026. To qualify, students needed a cumulative average of 91 percent or higher along with demonstrated character, leadership and service. New inductees included Arlianna Gaston, Savannah Shelley, Elizabeth Learn, Madyson Stanton, Lindsey Greeson, Sydney Faulkner, Braden Zilker, Madalynn Woodworth, Ren Button, Owen Unfus, Carson Lipyance, Tytan Smith, Autumn Cicarelli, Addison Amidon and Lyla Fanton. As part of the ceremony's tradition, senior NHS members dedicated the event's floral centerpiece to English teacher Mrs. Peterson in recognition of her embodiment of the society's ideals.
Franklinville/Schools
Franklinville Schools Seek Bids for Multi-Building Capital Project
Franklinville Central School District advertised for construction bids on a capital improvement project covering Ten Broeck Academy, Franklinville Elementary School, the bus garage and a new transportation facility. The work is split into seven separate contracts spanning site work, general trades, roofing, plumbing, mechanical, electrical and window-replacement, with sealed proposals due April 9, 2026. A pre-bid conference and walk-through for contractors was held in mid-March at the elementary school. The project follows voter approval of a district capital plan and is expected to modernize aging school facilities.