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Following are notes from the Sept. 10 meeting of the Niagara Falls School Board as submitted by the district
SummaryAssistant Superintendent of Student Services Cheryl Vilardo provided updates about NY Inspires, New York State's redesign for earning a high school diploma. The goal is to maintain high academic standards while giving students more opportunities to show what they know and can do.
The Four Transformations
Vilardo outlined the four transformations of NY Inspires:
Portrait of a Graduate — a statewide picture of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions every graduate should have, guiding curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
Credit and learning experiences — a shift toward competency-based learning: flexible pacing, credit through proficiency, individualized pathways, and instruction that reflects the Portrait, including personal finance and climate education.
Assessment requirements — districts will demonstrate student competency through multiple local measures:
∙ course sequences
∙ Regents (will be voluntary)
∙ dual enrollment
∙ Advanced Placement (AP)
∙ International Baccalaureate IC
∙ Career and Technical Education (CTE) work-based learning; portfolios; capstones (hands-on assignments where students combine everything they have learned about a topic they are passionate about); seals and endorsements.
One New York State diploma — Beginning with students graduating in 2028, New York State plans to transition from the current diploma structure, which includes local diplomas, Regents Diplomas, and Regents Diplomas with Advanced Designation, to one New York State high school diploma.
Vilardo added that Regents exams are not going away. She said that a common misconception is that Regents examinations are being eliminated. That is not the case. Vilardo continued that Regents exams will still be administered and will remain one measure of student achievement aligned to New York State learning standards. Regents examinations will serve as one measure among several that help schools evaluate student learning and achievement.
These changes represent an important opportunity to rethink how the Niagara Falls City School District (NFCSD) defines student success for ALL students while upholding the high standards that have long been a hallmark of New York State education.
As more information becomes available, our district will continue to share updates with families, students, and staff. We remain committed to ensuring that all students are prepared to thrive in college, careers, and their communities.
Athletic Director Joe Contento updated the board on the state of the district’s athletic programs. The district offers 16 sports in the fall and winter seasons of the 2026–2027 school year. He added that the unified athletics program pairs students with and without special needs for Bocce, bowling, basketball, and cheerleading. Participation in athletic activities is tiered:
∙ Varsity (highest level of competition) – NFCSD has 30 high school varsity teams)
∙ Junior Varsity (focuses on skill development and tactical growth for rising student athletes) – NFCSD has 20 junior varsity teams.
∙ Modified Program (Prep school entry point building teamwork and fundamentals – NFCSD prep schools have 13 teams)
Contento said that athletics is an extension of the classroom. Through competition, athletes develop discipline, teamwork, leadership, time management, resilience, accountability, and the ability to overcome challenges – skills that prepare them for success in school, careers, and life.
In the district’s athletic program, 28 out of 30 varsity teams are scholar teams, meaning students on the teams achieved a GPA of 90% or higher. In the 2025 – 2026 school year, NFHS won seven league titles, 17 individual state qualifiers, multiple team/individual sectional finalists, and record-breaking performance milestones across fall, winter, and spring. Over 20 senior student athletes signed National Letters of Intent for NCAA Division I, II, III, and Junior College competition.
Recommended actions from the Superintendent of Schools
The board approved six short-term contracts:
1. Pickleball Kids, USA Afterschool Program Prep Schools
$3,400.00
2. Transformation Through Revitalization Community Partner/Transportation and Mentoring $75,000.00
3. Hope Club Weekly elementary club No cost
4. Coaching from the Fillmore Jeffrey Warren Coaching
5. Fight Night Boxing Student boxing (High School) $32,000
6. Niagara Strikers Bowling Student bowling (elementary) $10,000
The board approved 15 resolutions, including:
-A special meeting (October 15, 2026) of the Board of Education
-A special meeting (October 29, 2026) of the Board of Education
-A contract between the City School District of the City of Niagara Falls and Niagara University for prep level literacy programming
- A contract for professional services between the City School District of the City of Niagara Falls, New York and Niagara University for Early College High School Programming
-Approval of contract for professional services between the City School District of the City of Niagara Falls, and Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club for the 716 United Mentoring Program
-Approval of contract for consulting services between the City School District of the City of Niagara Falls and Native Language Services, LLC. For student support services
-Approval of contract for professional consulting services between the City School District of The City of Niagara Falls and HOGHOL (Formerly F-Bites)
-Approval of contract between Say Read to Succeed and The City School District of The City of Niagara Falls
-Approval of Agreement for Purchase of Subscription Services with Ink Labs Buffalo LLC to furnish, install, and maintain Evolv Express Technology Single Lane System Hardware and Software Subscriptions
Superintendent’s report
∙ Special thanks to National Grid for fixing one of our poles in one of the district’s community athletic fields and for landscaping the area around it
∙ Thank you to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center for providing required immunizations for our students. At the time of this meeting, only 55 NFCSD students need immunizations. The hospital set up a mobile van to bring the services directly to the students
∙ The week of September 21, 2026 is Food Service Week. Thank you to our team for doing a fabulous job making breakfast, lunch, and dinner for our students
∙ The Niagara Falls Fire Inspector has examined our buildings, and all of them were deemed safe
∙ September 15 – October 15, 2026 is National Hispanic Heritage Month
∙ Niagara Falls High School held Veterans Appreciation Day on Saturday, September 26, 2026
∙ The next Saturday Academy will be held on October 3, 2026, at Harry F. Abate School. Please note the new start time this year. Saturday Academies will start at 9:30 a.m. this year
∙ On Thursday, October 8, 2026, GJ Mann will hold an ENL Open House from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
∙ The 36th Joe Jacob One Mile Run will take place on Wednesday, October 14, at Niagara Falls High School. Mr. Jacob is a former NFHS physical education teacher who has stayed involved with the District, and he recently donated $250.00 to Bloneva Bond for clothing necessary to participate in athletics
The next NFCSD Board of Education meeting will take place on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the district administration building, 630 66th Street, at 5:30 p.m.
