Depew board approves consent agenda, donations and student travel

The Depew Union Free School District board on Nov. 20 approved its consent agenda, which included minutes, personnel items (11 new hires), other routine matters and financial items.

The board accepted a $500 cash donation from Tim and Roseanne Ramsey and Wendy Orlowski in honor of former counselor Paul Gagliardi to purchase new down markers for the football field, and accepted a $100 donation from the Lancaster Moose Lodge to support boys' and girls' golf. Both donations were moved, seconded and approved.

The board also approved multiple travel requests: the high school baseball team and staff were authorized to travel to Orlando, Florida, for spring training from April 2–7, 2026 at no district cost; the high school hockey team and staff were approved to travel to the Thousand Islands Memorial Tournament on Jan. 16–18, 2026 at no district cost; and the Depew High School Student Senate was approved to attend the National Student Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., Feb. 27–Mar. 1, 2026, with only substitute-chaperone costs potentially charged to the district. A separate resolution ratifying an agreement of adjustment authorized Superintendent Katie Smith to execute closing papers on behalf of the district; that resolution was approved as presented.

All motions recorded during the consent and business portion were met with an "Aye" and the chair stated "Motion carried." The transcript records these votes as passed; individual board member vote names were not recorded during the public meeting statements.

Ending: Routine business passed; personnel hires were noted (11 new employees, names not read into the public record during the meeting), and travel and donation approvals were carried.