To enhance its commitment to keeping its constituents well-informed, the Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education is providing summaries of its bi-weekly board meetings. Here are the notes from its March 26 meeting.
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Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent Mark Laurrie began the meeting with a few announcements:
• Congratulations to NFCSD Student Board of Education member Harjyot Kaur for receiving the state Senate Youth Leadership Award. Kaur was honored with a special ceremony with state Sen. Robert Ortt. Kaur was also awarded the Small City School Districts of New York State 2026 Scholarship.
• Buffalo Niagara Water Keeper Young Environmental Leaders Program Presentation — Sandy Smith, director of community engagement at Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, shared details of the Young Environmental Leaders Program (YELP), a partnership with Niagara Falls High School. Smith explained that YELP gives high school students an alternative educational pathway focused on environmental learning and leadership.
Smith explained that all learning takes place at local waterways, where students participate in kayaking and hands-on observation of environmental systems. Activities include exploring wastewater treatment, tracing stormwater and pollution pathways, and analyzing how humans affect water systems.
Smith shared the specific skills built through the program, such as teamwork and project planning, and outlined the career pathways highlighted in YELP lessons. In addition, YELP will be offered for prep school students. Currently, 34 NFCSD students participate in the program.
Budget update
Administrator for School Business Services Julie Jacklin and Budget Manager Markasia McCreary reviewed the latest version of the 2026/27 school budget. The proposed spending plan has increased by 4.02% over the 2025/26 budget. The district has a current budget gap of $8 million. The total budget is $210,994,223 and does not include any cuts to services currently offered. There are no cuts in full-time employees, and the school district will not raise the tax levy.
Recommended actions
The board approved 14 short-term contracts including contracts with the following:
• A Gray Area Co. Nicholas & Justin Gilmore Student Media Fellowship Program
• Engineering for Kids Buffalo Lisa Hicks STEM educational activities
• The Buffalo Zoo – Animal biofacts and animal ambassadors
• The Aquarium of Niagara — Animal biofacts for hands-on learning
• Lumber City Combat Sports Workshop with Assistant Trainer
• Over the Falls Tours, Inc. will transport students to the VEX Robotics Championship
The board approved 13 resolutions
• Amended School Election Procedures, Polling Sites, and Designation of Day and Time of Public Hearing on School Budget for Niagara Falls City School District
• Appointment of students as election Inspectors for May
• Appointment of liaison to students serving as election Inspectors for the May election
• Agreement for professional services between the Niagara Falls City School District and Aries Transportation Services
Superintendent’s Report
• Laurrie presented a plaque for former board member Michael Capizzi, who served on the board from Dec. 16, 2021, to Feb. 12.
• NFHS, Niagara Wheatfield High School and North Tonawanda High School students will be getting together on April 15 to investigate the Native American culture and the Tuscarora School on the campus of Niagara Wheatfield.
• Congratulations to NFHS students who were recognized at the BOCES Skills USA Area One Competition at Alfred State
– Chrismarie Benitez – Cosmetology
– Madison Graham – Culinary Arts
– Natashia Jones – Advertising
– Aiden Printup – Collision Repair
– Elan Rodriguez – Restaurant Services
– Joel Winkfield – Computer Applications
Spring recess will run from March 30, 2026, to April 12, 2026
The NFCSD schools will be open every day during spring break, which runs through April 12, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except for this Friday.
The next meeting of the Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education will be on April 16 at 5:30 p.m.