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Presentation
Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent Mark Laurrie announced a recent internal audit that generated no monetary findings.
2025 -2026 School District Budget
Budget Manager Julie Jacklin and Administrator for School Business Services Rebecca Holody presented the final version of the 2025-2026 budget. The board voted to approve the $202,840,136 spending plan.
The board-approved budget does not increase the tax levy but increases spending by 4.1% over 2024 – 2025. New York State Foundation Aid for next school year is estimated to be $123,294,497; however, New York State lawmakers have not passed a budget as of this writing.
The proposed spending plan does not eliminate any programs or full-time employees.
There is no budget gap due to the responsible use of reserve funds.
The use of the following reserves has eliminated the gap:
WORKERS COMPENSATION $250,000
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT $450,000
TEACHER RETIREMENT $850,000
EBLARS $600,000
USE OF FUND BALANCE $1,614,241
The proposed state cell phone ban in schools has not been approved. If it becomes law, the District could incur the cost of implementing phone pouches.
Summer Programs 2025
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Richard Carella outlined the summer of 2025 programs. The District will offer the following:
- Elementary Extended Learning
- ENL (English as a New Language) Summer programs
- Prep and High School Summer Sports and Enrichment Program
- Camp Wolverine, Sr.
- Camp Wolverine, Jr.
- Niagara Falls High School Summer Credit Recovery Program
- Prep School Credit Recovery Programs
New Business Items
The board voted to approve the following items:
- Nomination of David Lowrey for Placement on the Ballot for the Election of Member of the New York State School Boards Association Board of Directors From Area
- Filing of Summary of Building-Level School Safety Plans as Amended for Public Comment and Notice of Public Hearing
- Filing of Proposed Comprehensive District-Wide School Safety Plan, as Amended, for Public Comment and Notice of Public Hearing
- Revision to the Continuation Application for the 2025/2026 Head Start/Early Head Start Grant
- Use of Pesticide on the Grounds of Niagara Falls High School for the Control of Ticks
- The Superintendent's Recommended General Fund Budget for School Year 2025-2026
Superintendent's Report
- At the June board meeting, the board will award its highest honor, The Golden Apple Award, to the Buffalo Bills Foundation for the steadfast support of the District, including a recent $100,000 donation to Feedmore on the part of Niagara Falls Schools
- The Buffalo Bills have invited the NFHS Trauma Informed Team to give a presentation to Bills executives on May 14, 2025
The next meeting of the Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the district administration building, 630 66th Street.
