To enhance its commitment to keeping its constituents well-informed, the Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education will be providing summaries of its bi-weekly board meetings. Here are the notes from its Feb. 22 meeting.
PRESENTATIONS
Sandy Hook Promise
Principal on Special Assignment Stan Wojton introduced Brittany Brewer, account manager for Say Something-ARS, to provide details of the program the Sandy Hook Promise. The school district has pledged to “educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities.” The Sandy Hook tragedy inspired this organization to begin Say Something, an anonymous reporting system. Say Something teaches youth how to recognize warning signs and threats in social media, in school, and in the community from individuals who may be a risk to themselves or others and say something to a trusted adult, use the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS), or call 911. The organization has established three steps for the tip management process.
Step 1: A tip gets submitted to the Sandy Hook Promise Crisis Center.
Step 2: The Crisis Center will vet, triage, categorize, and deliver the tip to the district school teams to address the situation and, if needed, local first responders.
Step 3: District leadership manages the tip based on existing policies and procedures.
The district will roll out this program with training for secondary students and district teams in mid-March.
2024/25 SCHOOL BUDGET
Presently, there is a budget gap of $5.1 million The district is in a negative tax cap situation and will require a super majority (60%) of votes to pass the budget. During March 14’s Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Mark Laurrie will present the total budget and final gap number.
NEW BUSINESS
The Board of Education approved the following new business items:
• A contract with HOGHOL(F-Bites) at Niagara Falls High School from March 1 through June. Under the contract, F-Bites will provide the following services:
a) Culinary and mentoring program five days per week at each school (NFHS, LaSalle Prep School, and Gaskill Prep School)
b) Two periods of instruction per day at Niagara Falls High School, five days per week for the March-June 2024 semester
d) Purchasing of all food to be prepared and served by students
e) Working with up to 30 students
• A contract with Niagara County Community College to provide services for the NFCSD’s PTECH II programming from Feb. 23 through June 30.
• A contract for consulting services with the Niagara Alliance for Restorative Practices to provide professional development to staff members on using restorative circles in classrooms to improve student behavior. Restorative practices focus on strengthening community relationships and respecting others’ differences. The Niagara Alliance for Restorative Practices, Inc. will run programs under the: STOP School Violence Grant, Mental Health Professional
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
• The hallway ceiling tiles will soon be coming down at LaSalle and Gaskill Prep to allow for work on the air conditioning. Everything should be tied up nicely and out of the reach of all.
• At 3:30 p.m. Feb. 28 in the Central Office Auditorium, Administrator for Human Resources Maria Massaro will host a Teacher Residency Program meeting. The Teacher Residency Program offers tuition assistance, a living stipend of $29,000, and assistance with the cost of books and supplies. Anyone with a Bachelor’s degree interested in becoming a teacher may apply for this program.
• 79th Street Elementary School is hosting a Fundations Parent Night at 5 p.m. on March 4. The event is focused on the concept of the Science of Reading.
• Congratulations to NFHS student Allie Ventry for qualifying for the New York State bowling championship competitions. This is a tremendous feat for one of our own to represent us across Section VI at the state competitions.
• Congratulations to Frank Bellavia, a grade six student at Harry .F. Abate Elementary, and David Bradley, a student at Maple Avenue Elementary School, two of 100 students nationwide who wrote a winning essay and was selected for an astrological program and a telescope. The program is called Stellar Dreams.
The LaSalle High School Alumni Association collected toiletry items and clothing for the district’s clothing closets at the Reliving Rec LaSalle Alumni Association event on Feb. 16. Attendees donated clothing and toiletries to gain entry to the reunion. Great thanks to this group!
In preparation for the April 8, eclipse, the district will distribute one pair of ISO (American Ophthalmology Association)-approved eclipse glasses to every student in the District on March 22. The district will circulate a video link on the proper use of the glasses. The protective eyewear is courtesy of the Niagara Falls Public Library and NASA.
For viewing the April 8 eclipse, the district will open its parking lots and fields to the public.
Due to crowds, transportation issues, and the massive influx of people, the eclipse is expected to bring to Niagara Falls, schools will not be open on April 8.
The next Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education meeting is Thursday, March 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Office, 630 66th St.