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By Mark Laurrie
Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent
As a superintendent, one of the most exciting and refreshing times is the beginning of a new school year. Despite the passing of a beautiful summer, the opportunity to bring new programs, enhance existing work, and offer students innovative opportunities and experiences is exhilarating and compelling each year. We do this to give our students the very best opportunities for college, university, or careers upon graduation.
With our Niagara Falls High School graduation rate approaching 87%, the highest rate in many years, I would like to offer seven innovative plans, programs, and additions that students, faculty, staff, parents, and the community can expect to see in the Niagara Falls City School District (NFCSD).
Safety and Security: Our safety team now consists of five full-time school resource officers and 26 school safety officers. All lower-level windows are protected with bullet-resistant glass film, and secured vestibules at every entrance provide an added layer of safety. Artificial intelligence powered Zero Eyes weapons detection is layered on 310 external cameras. Nuisance alarms have been added to the 212 exterior doors, alerting if a door has been left propped open.
Student and staff comfort: All of our schools, with the exception of 60th Street and the DiFrancesco Head Start Center, are fully air conditioned, offering our students the best learning environment possible.
Smart Device Policy: Smart devices, cellphones, AirPods, etc., will no longer be permitted in schools from the opening bell to the close of the instructional day. Students in grades 7–12 will have a Yondr-secured pouch issued to them to safely store and lock their phones throughout the day. This plan will increase student focus and continue to address the mental well-being of our students.
Instructional technology: All PreK3 through grade 2 classes will work with brand-new Apple tablets. The functionality and capabilities of these devices will expand the technological base of our youngest learners while best preparing them for the future.
There’s an app for that: It will be critical that parents and guardians sign up for all of our technology applications. These include the bus app, which will provide you with your child’s bus routes and the status of the school bus's current location. The “Remind” app will display your child’s schedule and is another method for contacting your child’s teacher for information or emergencies. The PowerSchool grade app will allow you to track your child’s attendance and grades.
New administrators: Congratulations to the new Niagara Falls High School administration team, led by Ed Ventry, Chief Administrator, and Principal Bryan Rotella, along with House Administrators Nick Ruffalo, Chrisheena Hill, Katharine Popovice, and Roland Davis. New assistant principals at Cataract Elementary, Michael Corsaro; at Abate Elementary, Leah Baldassare; at LaSalle Prep, Danielle Zona; and the new principal of Maple Avenue Elementary, Valerie Rotella Zafuto.
Say Yes Niagara Falls: Our district will be the first expansion of the highly successful Say Yes Buffalo initiative. The hallmarks of Say Yes Niagara Falls will include Saturday Academies, increased high school apprenticeships, collaboration with Men of Color, and the Last Dollar Scholarship Fund. These opportunities will truly be a game changer for our students and community.
While these seven initiatives are extremely exciting and new, we will also continue to enhance many of our highly successful programs and initiatives. Let’s enjoy our last weeks of summer, but I can hardly wait until September 3, 2025.
