David Becker

Panama Central School English teacher David Becker has been named the 2021 College Connections Teacher of the Year by Jamestown Community College.

College Connections recognizes a teacher each year who best exemplifies the core program standards. Becker was chosen from among 220 teachers representing 39 partner high schools and BOCES centers.

He teaches English Composition I and 2; and Introduction to Literary Studies to high school students at Panama through JCC. Becker also has served as an adjunct at the college, teaching online sections of English Composition I and II to students at Cattaraugus-Allegany Board of Cooperative Educational Services Centers.

Becker has been employed at Panama Central School since 1999. He began teaching College Connections courses in the fall of 2018.

The state penalized the school district in 2012, by $4.9 million, for missing final cost reports for a 2005 capital improvement project. Former State Senator Cathy Young had secured $3 million since 2013 to help the district pay down the penalty and avoid passing the burden onto taxpayers in the rural school district. The remaining penalty balance was $1.9 million.

State Senator George Borrello stated his deep disappointment in the Governor’s veto, saying, “There is zero justification for diverting critically-needed education dollars away from the classroom to pay a bureaucratic fine from almost two decades ago.”

Borrello said the original fee was instituted because of an “administrative error on the final cost report for a capital project.” Both he and Cathy Young had made statements that the unresolved fine prevented a merger with the Clymer School District.

The suit filed in Chautauqua County Supreme Court states the unnamed victim was sexually abused at the school and other locations by another student, Matthew Sturges, multiple times between 1992 and 1997. The suit says the school district failed to keep Sturges away from the victim after Busti Police recommended that action be taken.

The victim is seeking compensatory and punitive damages in the case. Phillips & Paolicelli of New York City are representing the former student in the case.

Brad Bentley

[MEDIA RELEASE FROM OFFICE OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY EXECUTIVE]

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello has announced the appointment of Brad Bentley as the new Director of the Chautauqua County Department of Public Facilities (DPF).

Bentley will begin his new position on August 17 and he will replace longtime director George Spanos.

Bentley’s career spans over 25 years working for public utilities throughout the United States and most recently the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency.  His work experience includes both management and engineering positions while working for American Electric Power in Columbus, Ohio; GridAmerica in Cleveland, Ohio; San Diego Gas & Electric in San Diego, Calif.; and Eversource Energy in Hartford, Conn.

He started his career as an electrical engineer after obtaining his Bachelor of Science Degree from Clarkson University.   While working for American Electric Power, he obtained his Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University.  Bentley also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut and has been a registered Professional Engineer since 1997.

As the director of transmission system planning in Hartford, Conn., he was responsible for the development of major transmission projects totaling $5 billion across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.  These projects included the design, engineering and construction of major power substations and high voltage transmission lines to reliably serve customers.  His responsibilities included testifying before various state utility commissions and siting boards.  He also served in leadership roles on international committees that ensure power system reliability across the Northeastern United States.

Pictured above, Chautauqua County welcomes its new Department of Public Facilities (DPF) Director. From left to right: John Hemmer, County Legislator (R-Westfield); Brad Bentley, new DPF Director; George Borrello, Chautauqua County Executive; George Spanos, retiring DPF Director; and Paul Whitford, County Legislator (D-Jamestown).

Prior to accepting this position, Bentley worked for the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency where he was the financial coordinator assisting with economic development projects that are contributing to the rebirth that is happening in the City of Jamestown.

Bentley graduated from Panama Central School, returned to Chautauqua County,  and currently resides in Bemus Point, N.Y. with his wife and two children.

“I thank retiring director George Spanos for his 31 years of service to our county,” said Borrello. “He leaves a critical spot to be filled and I believe Brad is the right person to continue to lead our Department of Public Facilities into the future. Brad moved back to Chautauqua County in 2017 to use his experience to be a part of our county’s revitalization. I believe his 25-year career in the areas of management, engineering, and business will be a great asset to our county and I am excited to welcome him to our team.”

“I am excited to join the Department of Public Facilities team and look forward to working with the department staff, George, county legislators and other stakeholders,” said Bentley. “Since I grew up in Chautauqua County and worked in many different parts of the United States, I have gained an appreciation for what Chautauqua has to offer to its residents and visitors.  In this role, it is important to build upon the wonderful efforts of George Spanos and ensure that we are maximizing our area’s potential.”

The selection of the new public facilities director was made through the help of a bi-partisan search committee, which selected its top candidates for Borrello to interview.   Members of the committee included: John Hemmer, Legislator (R-Westfield); Dave Sanctuary, retired Chautauqua County Airport and Parks Director; Christine Starks, Legislator (D-Fredonia); and Brad Walters, Executive Director of Builders Exchange of the Southern Tier.

Senator Catherine Young (R-Olean)

[MEDIA RELEASE FROM SENATOR CATHERINE YOUNG’S OFFICE]

OLEAN – Senator Catharine Young (R, C, I – 57th District) has announced another round of $500,000 in state funding to cover the cost of Panama Central School District’s penalty payment to the New York State Education Department.

Young spearheaded the effort with Assemblyman Andy Goodell, (R, C, I – 150^th District) who advanced the measure in the Assembly.

The state penalized the school district in 2012, by $4.9 million, for missing final cost reports for a 2005 capital improvement project. Senator Young has secured $3 million since 2013 to help the district pay down the penalty and avoid passing the burden onto taxpayers in the rural school district. The remaining penalty balance is now $1.9 million.

“This funding ensures that Panama Central School District taxpayers do not have to shoulder an undue tax burden caused by circumstances beyond their control,” Senator Young said. “The district faced severe financial hardship which was caused by simple human error.”

In addition to the strain on the district’s budget, Senator Young added that the penalty payments also prevented a proposed merger between Panama Central School District and Clymer Central School District.

“The Senate included impact grants in the state budget to help districts like Panama that face significant financial hardships,” Senator Young said. “Because this was caused by a mistake, the Senate fought hard at the budget negotiating table in 2012 and 2013 to fully pardon the penalty, but the Assembly Speaker and Governor would not agree.”

Legislation sponsored by Senator Young to forgive Panama Central School’s full penalty was approved by both the state Assembly and Senate in 2018, and is awaiting Governor Andrew Cuomo’s signature.

“This is an injustice,” Senator Young said. “Absent full penalty forgiveness, the students who attend Panama Central School and the district’s taxpayers are left holding the bag for administrative oversights from nearly a decade ago.”

Senator Young vowed to continue her efforts to protect Panama Central School taxpayers and ensure the district continues to have the resources it needs to provide students with the best education possible.

a paperwork error may end up costing the Panama Central School district nearly $5 million over the next 10 years.

According to a statement from the school, state education officials informed Panama last November that it was listed on a state aid website as being delinquent in filing required financial cost reports for two building projects. The projects were completed in 2002 and 2005, respectively.

The state Education Department has notified the district that under state law, the penalty imposed on the district will be $4.9 million.

Since December, district officials have been working with the state, through Senator Cathy Young’s office, to address this error and has obtained an agreement from the education department to spread the payment of the amount over a 10-year period. Also, the district will receive a $500,000 grant to assist with the first year’s payment.

According to the Post-Journal, about a dozen students suffered minor injuries but none were immediately sent to the hospital, although two were later taken to a family doctor and state police said one female student may have suffered a concussion.

The school bus driver’s name was not released and no charges were reported, but state police in Jamestown are investigating the crash.

The crash took place following an early morning snowfall that dropped between 1 to 3 inches of snow on the area. At least one other accident took place Wednesday morning when a tanker truck reportedly went off Peck Settlement Rd. in the town of Ellicott just before 6 a.m. No other information into that accident iss immediately available.

According to a statement from the school, state education officials informed Panama last November that it was listed on a state aid website as being delinquent in filing required financial cost reports for two building projects. The projects were completed in 2002 and 2005, respectively.

The state Education Department has notified the district that under state law, the penalty imposed on the district will be $4.9 million.

Since December, district officials have been working with the state, through Senator Cathy Young’s office, to address this error and has obtained an agreement from the education department to spread the payment of the amount over a 10-year period. Also, the district will receive a $500,000 grant to assist with the first year’s payment.