Board of Education Meeting - Summary

The following is a report from the Niagara Falls School Board's June 20 meeting as reported by public information officer Julie Doerr

Presentations

Niagara Falls High School 2024 Graduation update

Niagara Falls High School Principal Cheryl Vilardo updated the 2024 Graduation. As of the date of Vilardo’s presentation (June 20, 2024), the school has projected that between 383 and 415 students will graduate. This puts the school cohort's graduation rate at between 80.46% and 87.18%.

Just Us League

Abate Elementary School Fifth Grade Teacher Dascha Colvin, the advisor for a student group at Abate Elementary called the Just Us League, was introduced to the board. The League was created to teach young students in the District how to use their voices to advocate for change. Three League members, Skylar Grimes, Georgianna “Gigi” Groves, and Lily Hood shared a presentation they made as members of the League entitled Addressing the Dress Code.

Disney Trip

A group of Niagara Falls students and teachers who recently went to Disney World shared highlights of their trip in a short video and presentation to the board. The students obtained plenty of “real world” experience and learned life skills.

Golden Apple Award

Golden Apples were presented to Dan Yousett of Voss Manufacturing and Dave Norton of Moog Industries. Both have significantly impacted the PTECH program. This is the District’s highest award, presented annually. No other district has two PTECH programs as the District does. This is only possible with the help of businesses like Voss and Moog. Ms. Rotella-Zufato, NFHS administrator, assisted with the presentations.

Niagara Falls Teachers/Niagara Falls Board of Education Minority Future Teacher Scholarship

Superintendent Mark Laurrie and Niagara Falls Teachers (NFT) Union President Dan Weiss presented NFHS senior D’Rajenea the Niagara Falls Teachers/Niagara Falls Board of Education Minority Future Teacher Scholarship Award. This scholarship is given each year to a senior pursuing a teaching career. is planning a career in English education at Buffalo State University.

New Business

The board approved several items, including:

· Building-Level School Safety Plans as amended and to be filed with the New York State Commissioner of Education

· District Code of Conduct as Amended and to be filed with the New York State Commissioner of Education

· Comprehensive District-Wide School Safety Plan as Amended and to be filed with the New York State Commissioner of Education.

Superintendent’s Report:

The District has been pleased to offer the use of the Community Education Center for the performing arts. The last two weekends and Wednesday, June 19, theatre lovers gathered at the CEC to see August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.” Turner’s The play was produced by PeaceQueen EduTainment.

Safety will always be the District’s top priority. The District has had additional safety officers at all of its events and will continue that practice. All staff members are instructed to be observant and aware of their surroundings.

Congratulations to Niagara Falls High School (NFHS) for establishing working relationships with 85 businesses that have now become partners in the Post Secondary Success (PS2) program.

PS2 offers job shadows, job coaching, college tours, college credits, paid opportunities, formal offsite training, a job fair, and group-based classroom coaching. NFHS held breakfast for our

partners, and some students expressed their gratitude to the business partners for lending their time and talents.

The next meeting of the City of Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education is July 2, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. at Central Office, 630 66th Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14304