WELLSVILLE – The Wellsville school board Monday night held an extended executive session before tabling action on the non-renewal of a teaching contract.

The board tabled the issue regarding the contract of Mitchell McDowell, a Daw Elementary fourth-grade teacher, following four hours behind closed doors. At the meeting, board members unanimously agreed to discuss at a later date the matter of the contract non-renewal at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

A day later, the board issued a special meeting notice to continue the discussion at 10 a.m. Monday, Memorial Day, in the jr. sr. high school media center.

School Superintendent David Capuzzello said he was not aware of the board planning a meeting until he received the notice. He also said he believes the meeting was scheduled for Memorial Day because the board probably wants to act on it right away and not wait another month.

Capuzzello noted he will not be in attendance at the meeting due to already having other plans.

When asked why it was scheduled at the same time as local Memorial Day events, Capuzzello said he did not know and could only guess that it is probably so everybody can have time to enjoy the remainder of the day with their families.

Board members Monday night did not disclose the reason for the recommended non-renewal. When questioned on the matter, they said they could not discuss it because it was a personnel matter and it had been tabled.

One community member responded by saying “They can’t, but we can.” He then apologized to the board members and said he respects them, but they are voted on and if they want to do something the community doesn’t want them to do, then voters just won’t reelect them, before quickly exiting the meeting room.

At the beginning of the meeting, Jon Geramita of the Wellsville Teacher Association mentioned that the matter was on the agenda and he wanted to acknowledge the support present at the meeting from the Wellsville community. He said he hoped the outcome would support the best interests of the students and children of the village.

Multiple parents and community members were present at the board meeting to show their support for McDowell. Many parents also took to social media to voice their opinions on the matter and show their support.

Parent Daniel Winston said he respects the school board, the superintendent and the decisions they make, but Wellsville parents have made it clear over the last couple of days about how they feel about McDowell and that the parents in the district care about him.

“But to table this and leave a man in limbo, that is something I don’t understand and can’t understand, because now they are leaving a man in limbo until next month or until July or next year until the board feels they won’t feel any backlash on this to make a decision,” Winston said. “So what I would say is Mr. McDowell has the support of students, parents and the Village of Wellsville and we hope that the Board of Education makes the right decision in the future.”