School Board reorganizes

(Niagara Falls, N.Y., July 2, 2025) – At its reorganization meeting on July 1, 2025, the Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education held a swearing-in ceremony for newly-elected Board officers and re-elected Board members.

District Clerk Judie Glaser performed the swearing-in of Anthony Paretto as Board president, and Robert Bilson as Board vice president.

Paretto has worked as a union electrician for more than 20 years and is currently a City electrician. He resides in LaSalle with his wife, Sue, and his three children, Kaitlyn, Michael, and Anthony, Jr. Paretto was a volunteer coach for the Niagara Falls High School Football team and the Niagara Falls Junior Football Club. His priority is to ensure teachers have all the tools necessary to educate children to the highest possible standard.

Bilson is a lifelong resident of Niagara Falls NY. He is a product of the Niagara Falls City School District, attending 79th Street School and Lasalle Preparatory, before graduating from LaSalle Senior High School. Bilson brings to the board years of business experience building cohesive, top-performing teams, and growing revenues within a variety of industries. He has been a member of the Niagara County Planning Board as well as a volunteer softball coach for the Cayuga Youth Athletic Association of Niagara Falls. Bilson lives in DeVeaux with his wife, Nicole, and their five children.

District Clerk Glaser administered the oath of office to re-elected Board Member Russell Petrozzi. Petrozzi has been a member of the Board of Education for well over two decades and served as president of the board from 2021 – 2025 school years. Petrozzi was president of Capitol Cleaners and is a 1975 graduate of LaSalle High School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in accounting from Niagara University. Petrozzi is president of the board of directors for Empower (formerly Niagara Cerebral Palsy). He has received many awards for his philanthropic accomplishments, including the Niagara Falls Education Foundation Distinguished Alumni Award, the Paul Harris Award from the Rotary Club of Niagara, the Citizen of the Year Award (shared with his father, the late Joseph Petrozzi) from the Niagara Falls Kiwanis Club, and the Good Neighbor Award.

Glaser also swore in Clara Dunn as a re-elected board member. Dunn, a native of Niagara Falls, worked for the Niagara Falls Department of Economic Development as minority business/grant coordinator for more than 25 years. She graduated from LaSalle Senior High School and pursued an education in business administration degree from Niagara County Community College (NCCC). She also holds a certificate of education in management development for women from D'Youville College.

Dunn has also served on several community organizations, including the City of Niagara Falls Development Corporation, the Niagara Falls Human Rights Commission, the Occupational Educational Advisory Council for the Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education, and the Maple Avenue School Quality Council.