Niagara Falls Schools meeting notes

School Board meeting notes as submitted by the district

Prior to the agenda review meeting, Niagara Falls High School (NFHS) Principal Edward Ventry gave a presentation on the NFHS college opportunities and the high school student tracker and student supports system. NFHS offers 62 college courses totaling 205 possible college credits.

• Nine courses are on campus and for college credit only
  • Campuses: Niagara University and Niagara Falls Culinary Institute
• Finalizing two additional course offerings for the spring 2025 semester
• Exploring three additional courses for the 2025-2026 school year
• College partners include:
  • AP College Board, SUNY Niagara, Niagara University, Buffalo State University, Bryant and Stratton College, Villa Maria College, and Stanford University
• Courses are taught by university/college professors, NFHS staff approved by partnering institutions, or co-taught by NFHS staff and partnering college/university

More than 600 NFHS students are enrolled in courses that offer college credit (First Semester):

• 22% of 10 Graders
• 47% of 11 Graders
• 42% of 12 Graders

• The District pays for many of these courses while others are offered at a significantly reduced cost
• Through our Pathway Initiative most students can select a pathway and take courses that would satisfy a semester of college.

The NFHS Student Tracker system looks at each student’s attendance, behavior and course work and provides intervention when needed. The NFHS Student Support Team (SST) consists of administrators, school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, PASS (Positive Approach to Student Success) lead, and AIT (Attendance Intervention Team) lead. The SST uses data to determine students who need support to improve problems with attendance, behavior and/or coursework. The SST team meets every five weeks to discuss each student’s progress. Through student tracker data the team discusses and reviews the data and assigns interventions where needed. Students are placed in one of three intervention tiers:

• Tier 1: Check-ins with assigned SST member, safety plans created, Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP)/Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)
• Tier 2: PASS, AIT, Administrative AIT
• Tier 3: Change of Educational Program: Twilight (in person instruction and remote), community site, Big Picture, home teaching, Committee on Special Education (CSE) Referral

Here are some highlights of each intervention tier:

• PASS (Positive Approach to Student Success) Team Interventionists
  • Four Staff Members
  • Approximately 20-25 students per caseload
  • Daily check-ins, academic support, mentoring, parent communication, home visits
• AIT (Attendance Intervention Team)
  • Process to identify students
  • Criteria to exit/transition plan (PASS)
  • Currently 70 students on active caseloads
  • Everyday Labs Attendance Data Dashboard is utilized
  • Conducted over 50 home visits since October 2024
  • 35 students have been transitioned from AIT
    • Nine moved to 8300
    • Two referred to GED
    • 24 re-engaged in school

Also prior to the agenda review meeting, Administrator for Information Services Ray Granieri introduced a suggested Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy for the District. The District acknowledges that AI is here to stay. AI is an emergent technology with continuous change that must equal continuous attention to use and management.

• AI can provide dangerous shortcuts with ‘dirty code’ and ‘hallucinations’
• Lack of collateral knowledge builds and depth of learning is more evident
• Need to have a plan for best AI use, to minimize bad form

The policy will evolve. The District will come up with an allowable use of AI for student learning, Students and staff will receive extensive training in the use of AI.

New Business

The Superintendent is recommending that the Board approve the following items at its January 23, 2025 meeting:

• Acceptance of funds for the 2024/2025 ESEA Title I Basic

School Improvement Grant

• Acceptance of Funds for the 2024/2025 Student Mental Health Supports Grant
• Acceptance of Funds for the 2024/2025 School-Based
• Mental Health Providers Pipeline
• Approval of Acceptance of Funds for the 2024/2025 Pedals Grant
• Approval of a resolution authorizing principals to appoint building level

school safety teams for the annual review of building-level emergency response plans pursuant to New York State Education Law

• NOTE: The grant funds total $1,628, 799 for the District.

Superintendent's Report

On behalf of the District, Superintendent Laurrie expressed concern and sympathy for those effected by the California wildfires.

Congratulations to two Niagara Falls High School graduates who became firefighters last week. Dom Contento (Special Education Teacher on Special Assignment Catherine and Athletic Director Joe Contento) and Mike Paretto (son of Board of Education Vice President Anthony Paretto and his wife Susie) began their service this week. Proud WOLVERINES!

Emma Ponzi, an excellent Grade 9 NFHS student and member of our combined Niagara Wheatfield/NFHS woman's wrestling team, is being recognized by WNY Athletics as the athlete of the week. She also ranks 21st statewide in her division. If you know Emma , please congratulate her.

On January 8, 2025, our LaSalle and Gaskill Prep Schools and Niagara Falls High School Robotics and Bridge Building Teams competed in Tech Wars at SUNY Niagara. Our teams captured first and second place in many of their competitions. Thank you and congratulations to teachers Max Teller, Ed Wisniewski, Madison Dalporto, Richard Clark, Alan Stockings, Tom Weymouth, Mike McGrath, and Richard Venator. They accompanied 42 students and 15 teams and were in competition against 40 teams.

The next Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education meeting is Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., Central Office, 630 66th Street, Niagara Falls, NY.