Community News

Crouse voted in to the SCCSD Board of Education

By Tami Watt, Editor

Above: Jessica Crouse sworn in as newest Salamanca City Central School District Board Member

On Tuesday September 14th, the Salamanca City Central School District’s (SCCSD) Board of Education (BOE) unanimously voted in Jessica Crouse to the vacant seat of Dr. Meghan McCune. Ms. Crouse will serve the vacant seat until re-elections in May 2022.

Crouse joining the BOE marks the first time two Seneca members have been elected to the board simultaneously, a milestone for the Seneca community and students. In the past, Maxine Dollar served 5 years from 1999-2004 and Candace Miller served from 2004-2009.

Kerry John was recently voted in as the Vice President of the BOE in July 2021. John has been elected to the board twice and has served six and a half years. He initially joined the BOE in 2015 to play an active role in improving the education of SCCSD students and get the district on track to increase graduation rates and higher education success.

A Salamanca alumna, Crouse has strong ties to the community and has continued her education at Vermont Law School, achieving a Master’s of Food and Agricultural Law. As a parent, she is fully invested in her son’s education at Seneca Intermediate and has held a seat as the Vice-Chair for the Title VI Indian Parent Committee since 2019. Crouse will continue to serve on the Seneca Nation’s Climate Task Force, the Natural Resources Committee and as Executive Director for the Cannabis Regulatory Authority. She even has some teaching experience as an adjunct instructor at Jamestown Business College.

“I am deeply humbled and I believe with my experience, commitment, and community ties that I would serve in a manner that will benefit our district. I look forward to working diligently with the present board members on ways to continue making our schools work the best,” states Crouse.

Crouse intends to run for one of the two vacant seats next May in the BOE elections.

“Being present and active spans the tenets of lifelong learning. Our students and community become stronger in any avenue of educational pursuit when a solid foundation is built upon a balance of needs and wants. Don’t be afraid to take that “first step!” shares Crouse.

John feels having two Senecas on the BOE is important as it reflects the 40% Indigenous student body in within the SCCSD K-12, electing another Seneca board member is more proportionate to the student population. This can help push initiatives that are important to the Indigenous students and community.

“It’s time for our community to support our Seneca candidates. Please lend your support for Jessica next May at the BOE elections,” says John.

Get involved in your child’s education! The Salamanca City Central School District hosts their Board of Education meetings every month as follows September 21st, October 5th, October 19th, November 16th, December 7th, January 4th, January 18th, February 1st, March 1st, March 15th, April 19th, May 3rd, May 17th, 2022 Budget Vote/BOE Election, June 7th, June 21st. Meetings are held in the Large Group Instruction Room and via live on the SCCSD Facebook page.

The Indian Education Committee is held once a month on the second Wednesday at 5pm in the Education wing at the Allegany Community Center.

The Title VI Indian Parent Committee is held once a month on the second Wednesday at 6pm in the Large Group Instruction Room at the Salamanca High School.

SCCSD Board of Education (BOE)