School Board notes

Dr. Lloyd A. Holmes, president of SUNY Niagara, introduced himself to the board of education. Dr. Holmes was inaugurated on April 10, 2025. He has continued to ponder the question: “When do Niagara Falls City School District (NFCSD) students become our students? – NFCSD students become SUNY Niagara students while still in high school and part of the community. Through a partnership between the NFCSD and SUNY Niagara, many students from Niagara Falls High School (NFHS) graduate having earned college credits from SUNY Niagara.

SUNY Niagara has also partnered with the NFCSD to offer free college courses to parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles of NFCSD students. The classes were at Bloneva Bond Primary. The courses were college writing classes, and free child care was provided. Last year, 37 community members took part in the course.

Dr. Holmes said the writing courses for families of NFCSD students will continue, and SUNY will also continue to provide college credit classes at NFHS.

Seal of Biliteracy

Administrator for Assessment Marcia Capone presented Seal of Biliteracy certificates to a record 24 NFHS students. The New York State Seal of Biliteracy is a high honor that recognizes students who have studied and attained a high proficiency in English and at least one another language by high school graduation. Ability is demonstrated through testing, grades, and a culminating project.

Golden Apple Awards

Superintendent Mark Laurrie and the Board of Education distributed four Golden Apple Awards, the board’s highest honor.

1. Joseph Sbarbati, for reading to 79th Street children
2. The Niagara Falls Area Heritage Foundation for their murals of artwork at Abate Elementary
3. Totally Buffalo Cares for their contribution of over $25,000 worth of holiday gifts and supplies to six elementary schools
4. The Buffalo Bills Foundation for their donation in the NFCSD’s name to Feedmore

Our community partnerships with all four Golden Apple Award recipients enable the district to enhance and build its programs through their acts of charity.

Francis Center Presentation

Director MaryBeth Smith of the Francis Center provided an update on the center’s current status and the projects it is working on. The district will be leasing the Francis Center space in the Community Education Center at 6040 Lindbergh Avenue in Niagara Falls.

The Francis Center provides valuable services to Bloneva Bond Primary and will soon do the same for Cataract Elementary. Its mission is to love the children first and provide them with a safe and happy place to be after school.

The Francis Center collaborates with the NFCSD to identify students who may be at risk, and the qualified teachers and counselors at the center maintain close contact with the student’s classroom teachers to support their learning. The program serves children in grades K – 2 to help at-risk students build a strong foundation and support their growth.

Review of Agenda Items

The board approved 14 short-term contracts, including contracts for summer programs and our Pre-K Jamboree, to take place in August 2025.

The board approved 35 items of new business, including:

• Building-level school safety plans as amended
• District Code of Conduct as amended
• District-wide safety plans
• A contract between the NFCSD and SUNY Niagara for the university to continue a partnership that provides college-level courses and college credit to Niagara Falls High School (NFHS) students
• A lease between the NFCSD, the city of Niagara Falls, and the Francis Center to lease a portion of the Sixteenth Street Community Education Center
• Professional grant evaluation services
• A contract with the Boys and Girls Club to provide student support services for the summer elementary and extended learning program
• The purchase of two (2) plow trucks to assure delivery before the potential for snow events to occur

Superintendent’s Report

1. Congratulations to our Wolverine high school baseball team for being among the final four teams competing for the New York State Championship
2. Congratulations to all students receiving awards at the NFHS Scholarship Night
3. Our NFHS students who worked with district partners to build a Gazebo in Hyde Park were recognized by the district and by a feature in the Niagara Gazette
4. The Class of 2025 Senior Prom and Post Prom party will take place on the evening of June 20, 2025
5. The recent Smart Device/Cellphone Ban Survey received 920 responses. There will be a virtual town hall meeting to discuss the survey results and answer questions

The next meeting of the Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education is at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 23, 2025, at the district Administration Building, 630 66th Street.