It is with great and humble pride that I seek another five-year term to the Niagara Falls Board of Education.
As I conclude my 20th year representing you on the School District Team, it is the progress we have made, and the prospect of even more progress, that drives me to seek another term. This begins with strong fiscal accountability and responsibility, as a school board we have continued to demand clean, unqualified audit reports, a bond rating of “A”, no increase to the tax levy for a 10th consecutive year, a reserve fund that has grown to weather difficult financial times, and to not only maintain staff and programs but to grow them to meet the needs of our students. We have a solid plan to withstand the fiscal education cliff we are experiencing and have negotiated very fair contracts for all our unions through the 2027-28 School Year.
Academically, we have increased the programming for our students to include two P-Tech grants for computer applications and industrial manufacturing, 17 social workers, the addition of Head Start, 45 Niagara Falls High School college-bearing courses, a Pathways program that allows junior and senior students to explore their chosen career of interest first-hand, a “super accelerated” program of coursework for our most gifted students, a return to the building trades, as well as multiple academic intervention programs in English Language Arts and Math that support students’ individual needs.
Our technology continues to be first-rate with 500 new Clear Touch interactive boards, one-to-one laptops in Grades Pre K through 12, and the best software available. Using technology and smart financing, our schools can be considered to have some of the most cutting-edge security measures as well. This includes security expert doors, more cameras, weapons detection technology at entrances, secure vestibules and exterior artificial intelligence cameras. Additionally, our current capital project will add air conditioning to Gaskill and LaSalle Preparatory Schools, making every school climate-controlled. A state-of-the-art greenhouse is also under construction at Bloneva Bond Primary School.
All of this has led to our highest graduation rate of 85% in many, many years. This is the ultimate goal of our education system to deliver a well-rounded education that leads to college or a career immediately after high school.
Our residency policy which has been in place since 1994 has been well-documented and often reported on. While certain content areas pose a challenge in hiring, I believe that our new staff is extremely well-positioned and is meeting the needs of our students. We appreciate those who educate our children while living and spending time in our community and with our students.
It would be my honor to serve you with another term on the Niagara Falls Board of Education. We are making strides, but our work is not complete. I ask for your support in voting for me to continue as your School Board member on May 21.