Olean/Jobs
Olean City School District Seeks Special Education Teachers, School Psychologist and More
Olean City School District's current-openings page lists several instructional and administrative vacancies for the coming school year, including an Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, a district-wide School Psychologist, Special Education teachers for grades K-12, a Computer Literacy Teacher, a Behavior Specialist and a Modified Football coach. The district also accepts ongoing applications for civil-service and substitute roles, including teacher aides, substitute teachers, substitute food service helpers and substitute cleaners, which are reviewed on a rolling basis rather than tied to one deadline. No fixed application deadline is listed for the instructional postings; the district says interviews continue until each position is filled. Candidates can apply online through the district's Frontline hiring system or contact the Human Resources office directly with questions.
Olean/Political
Olean Council Names Bennion President, Confirms New Police Chief
The Olean Common Council selected Ward 1 alderman JR Bennion as its new president following the resignation of former president Vernon Robinson. At the same meeting, the council also voted to approve Blovsky as the city's new chief of police. The moves fill two significant leadership vacancies in city government within the same session. The changes come amid broader turnover on the council this summer.
Olean/Libraries
Olean Public Library Launches 'Growing Together' Fundraising Campaign
Olean Public Library officials and supporters have kicked off a community fundraising campaign, called 'Growing Together,' to complement the $7.9 million bond that city voters approved in June 2025 for a major expansion and renovation. The capital project will remodel roughly a third of the existing building at 134 N. 2nd Street and add about 7,500 square feet, including a new second floor, to relieve overcrowding at family and community events. Plans call for larger, reconfigured spaces for the Children's Library, Teen Center, local history collection and study areas. Library Director Michelle La Voie said the investment, nearly a decade in the making, will keep the library as a cornerstone of learning for the city.
Olean/Political
Olean School Board Swears In Two New Members
Mary Kehoe Fay and Dr. Stephen Carlson were sworn into the Olean City School District Board of Education at the board's annual reorganizational meeting. Both took their oaths of office at the start of the session, joining the board following the district's most recent school board election. The reorganizational meeting marks the formal start of the new school year's governance cycle for the district. District officials welcomed the new members as they begin their terms.
Olean/Libraries
Olean Public Library Hosts Cattaraugus County Disability Resource Fair
On July 22, the Olean Public Library hosted a free, community-wide Disability Resource Fair connecting residents with local organizations from across Cattaraugus County. Vendors on hand covered career exploration, disability benefits advisement, job search support, Medicaid enrollment, employment services, independent living skills, nutrition, health care and veterans' services, and food trucks were invited on-site. The event was organized with the county's Workforce Development Board through Disability Resource Coordinator Marsha Blessing Whitsell. It's one example of the library increasingly positioning itself as a connector between Olean-area residents, including job seekers, and regional support services well beyond traditional book lending.
Olean/Political
Olean Council President Vernon Robinson Announces Resignation
Vernon Robinson Jr., president of the Olean Common Council and the first Black alderman in the city's history, announced he would step down before the end of July 2026. Robinson, who has represented Ward 6 since being appointed in 2020 and was elected council president in 2025, cited the difficulty of balancing his demanding job as a National Grid warehouse manager with council duties. He did not detail all his reasons for leaving but said he hoped his successor could improve communication between the mayor's office and the council. His resignation took effect July 28, 2026.
Olean/Libraries
Olean Public Library Begins Saturday Closures as Capital Project Nears
The Olean Public Library's July newsletter announced that the library is closed on Saturdays from July through August, with additional full-day closures on July 10, 17 and 31, so staff can start packing collections and moving materials into storage ahead of construction. The prep work follows the $7.9 million bond city voters approved in June 2025 for a major renovation and roughly 7,500-square-foot expansion of the North 2nd Street building. It also comes as the library's separate 'Growing Together' community fundraising campaign continues to raise additional money alongside the bond funding. Library officials asked patrons to plan around the temporary reduced hours, noting curbside pickup remains available by appointment during the transition. The closures mark one of the first visible steps toward the long-planned project actually getting underway.
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.