School Board notes

The Niagara Falls City School District (NFCSD) Board of Education met on Thursday, April 16, 2026.

Superintendent Mark Laurrie opened the meeting by presenting a video from the Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped (SABAH). Students from Kalfas Primary School enjoyed a day of skating with SABAH and the students had smiles on their faces that they, too, can ice skate in their own way.

2026 – 2027 budget overview

Laurrie presented the proposed 2026 – 2027 NFCSD budget. It was a tough spending plan to put together as expenses in almost all categories have gone up and revenue has not kept pace especially in insurance costs and a steady reimbursement for food when cafeteria prices have gone up tremendously. Because there is no New York State budget to refer to yet for the district’s foundation aid total, the district had to use its best estimate for this year’s Foundation Aid utilizing a 2.7% increase over last school year, bringing the approximate state aid total to $3,943,704. The district has an $8 million gap between revenues and expenses.

The district will deal with the gap by using $8 million in reserve funds and by saving about $2 million by carefully reviewing vacant positions and plans to not fill all vacant positions or replacing retirees while at the same time not cutting any vital student programs and also not going beyond contracted maximums for class size. The tax levy will not increase.

The total proposed budget that voters will be voting on is $211, 260, 990. The budget vote will take place from 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. on May 19, 2026 at all of the city’s regular polling spots. If the budget does not pass by a simple majority, a contingency budget will force the district to halt purchases of student supplies, have community groups that wish to use district facilities pay up front, and the district won’t be able to purchase any new equipment.

Recommended actions from the Superintendent of Schools

The superintendent recommended that the board education approve the following short-term contracts at its Thursday, April 23, 2026:

Short-Term Contracts for Walk the World celebration:

• Fuji Grill NF
• Ghada Have It LLC
• Ty's Hyde Park Cafe
• Anchai LaCarte
• New Punjabi Halah-Mirch Masala
• The Mami House, LLC
• Amanda Poreda House of Hips

Additional Short-term contracts·

• Niagara Downunder, Inc. traveling petting zoo
• UB Center for Literacy and Reading Instruction Reading Tutoring
• Buffalo Zoo animal biofacts and animal ambassadors
• Chair Massage Pit Stop Chair Massages for mothers attending the Say Yes Saturday Academy
• Peaceful Schools Social Emotional Learning through STEM activities
• CM Learning Group Teacher Professional Development

Recommendations from the Superintendent of schools – Superintendent Mark Laurrie’s recommendations for board approval at its next meeting on April 23, 2026

• Superintendent's Recommended General Fund Budget for School year 2026 – 2007
• The Real Property Tax Report Card for 2026-2027
• The proposed Comprehensive District- Wide School Safety Plan
• The proposed District Code of Conduct
• A contract between the City School District of the City of Niagara Falls and Via Evaluation, Inc. for Professional Grant Evaluation Services
• School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Approval of Contract for Consulting Services Between the City School District of the City of Niagara Falls and Because I Tried Enterprises, Inc. for student support services
• A contract for professional consultant services by independent contractor for truancy prevention programs - R Cunningham Consultants, Inc.
• Acceptance of State Aid for the purchase of a new generator

Superintendent’s report

• Saturday Academy at Cataract for the week ending April 18, 2026
• Walk the World event on April 18, 2026 at Niagara Falls High School with fashion show, food, entertainment from across the world
• NFHS, Niagara Wheatfield High School and North Tonawanda High School students will be getting together on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 to investigate the Native American culture and the Tuscarora School on the campus of Niagara Wheatfield
• The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will perform live on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at the Niagara Falls High School (NFHS) Performing Arts Center (PAC) at 3:00 p.m. This concert is free and open to the public. The theme of the performance is “The Rhythm of the Falls”
• The annual Walk Against Child Abuse will take place on Tuesday. April 28, 2026 starting with an opening ceremony at 4:30 p.m. at the Hyde Park Pavilion
• The district is extraordinarily proud of three young women (LaSalle Preparatory School) students who will be heading to St. Louis, Missouri for the World Robotics Championships. Congratulations to the three LaSalle Prep School who qualified for the championships that will take place in St. Louis, Missouri - Essie Joyce, Dakota Dixon, and Nora Guarino and best of luck

The next meeting of the Niagara Falls City School District will take place on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 5:30p.m. at the NFCSD Administration Building, 630 66th Street Nagara Falls.