[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6304574,"mediaKeyId","2459371-982bbf4912865b36b4a010d1f3e82da2","parentId",2459371,"title","Votes at a glance: board approves personnel reports, AI policy, contracts, payments and change orders","audioSeconds",140,"startMs",6335000,"endMs",6475000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2459371-982bbf4912865b36b4a010d1f3e82da2&start=6335&end=6475","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2459371-982bbf4912865b36b4a010d1f3e82da2/thumbnail_6335000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6304574/New-York/Votes-at-a-glance-board-approves-personnel-reports-AI-policy-contracts-payments-and-change-orders","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304574-67b056cd4afa507378a6d41eb4b6e07d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773574972&Signature=mQHezS5Sqrvtv1Y~mFnhaimBTDi811sQYLaAKGIZO9jaN6fhFD2lq2DgP0OrWm~03-UQY-ZpMElipPRR5e~JJICkIERKH~TQSDzb37K0-Td1HrVDOy2mlbz3ikeSqt4E54T8TdeyTA0ljC-sKG2lrAl89pKa72vo2VwHqlygt4wvUdqOkRNtTOZxnmg979HxguioJLx85jcBJjJh3nUZgLFE~axIJqlwuGvxyOgSzyncaB2Oy1oeJU~cC5qsHj0lDjktd6vhUxIcKs~K7L1Le7CUqJ1V5Ctx6dUMP0jJa~-Zhz1d~HGpVXgKL0qRGVvWQSPIrsgPzywwhMeHMxyWVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-01T12:50:12.293Z","article","The Niagara Falls City School District board took votes on a slate of routine and program items during its Feb. 27 meeting. Key actions included approval of minutes and budget transfers, acceptance of personnel reports that included a retirement, approval of an artificial-intelligence policy, authorization for several contracts and payments, and acceptance of a charitable gift.

Votes and actions (summary)
- Minutes and budget transfer: The board approved minutes for Jan. 25 (agenda items 401 and 402) and accepted Budget Transfer #7.
- Personnel reports: The board accepted the certificated personnel report and the classified personnel report. The classified report included the retirement of Earl Smeal, operations and maintenance director; members were thanked and a four-month farewell period was referenced.
- Committee on Special Education: Reports for the committee on special education and the preschool special-education committee were received and filed.
- Short-term contracts: The board approved a batch of short-term contracts (listed on the agenda) including community performances and enrichment programs. During debate members discussed two acrobat programs (items 9 and 10 on the contract list). The board amended its motion to require that proper paperwork be completed for the listed vendors and gave district staff discretion to pay or not pay outstanding invoices for items where events did not occur.
- Artificial-intelligence policy: The board voted to take the AI policy off the table and then approved an AI policy that staff and Erie 1 BOCES policy service had reviewed; staff said it will return to the board for future amendments as needed.
- Gifts and reports: The board accepted a gift from Totally Buffalo Cares (about $25,000 in holiday support for six elementary schools) and received the annual fire-safety reports.
- Agreements, equipment and construction items: The board approved agreements and purchases intended to support instruction and operations, including a contract to purchase Apple devices for pre-K–2 students (an order for approximately 1,700 devices was authorized), and change orders and progress payments to contractors on capital projects. Board members noted the city council had approved an easement that will allow transformer work at Gaskill and LaSalle to proceed as scheduled.

What this means
Most items were routine, but the classified personnel report (including Mr. Smeal’s retirement) and the AI policy were called out in public remarks. On short-term contracts the board added a requirement that staff confirm paperwork and retain discretion on payment for events that did not occur. The authorization to order student devices was presented as an instructional investment for pre-K–2 classrooms.

Votes at a glance (selected agenda items)
- Minutes (Jan. 25) and Budget Transfer #7 — outcome: approved (unanimous roll call recorded).
- Personnel report — certificated — outcome: approved (roll call recorded).
- Personnel report — classified (includes retirement of Earl Smeal) — outcome: approved (roll call recorded).
- Committee on Special Education reports (4.08/4.09) — outcome: received and filed.
- Short-term contracts (multiple vendors, agenda item 4.10 series) — outcome: approved with amendment requiring paperwork and giving staff payment discretion for questioned invoices.
- Artificial-intelligence policy (agenda item 7) — outcome: approved.
- Gift from Totally Buffalo Cares (item 6.01) — outcome: accepted.
- Annual fire-safety reports (item 6.05) — outcome: received and filed.
- Voting machine custodians and statutory meeting dates (items 6.06/6.07) — outcome: approved.
- Agreement amendments and purchases (Bridal Healthcare Staffing, Erie 1 BOCES services, Apple device order) — outcome: approved; purchase order for about 1,700 Apple devices authorized.
- Change orders SCC-10 and SCC-11 and payment #11 to several contractors (Scarfari, Danforth, Frey Electric, StarTech) — outcome: approved.

Ending note
Most motions passed on roll call votes recorded in the minutes. Several items will require staff follow-up (vendor paperwork for short-term contracts, final device delivery scheduling and ongoing capital-project payments).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","NFCSD Board of Education Meeting - 2/27/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the Feb. 27 meeting the board approved routine minutes, personnel reports (including a classified retirement), an artificial-intelligence policy, multiple short-term contracts and a series of change orders and contractor payments; the board also accepted a community gift.","taxTitle","NIAGARA FALLS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",38344,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6304577,"Board reviews 2025–26 budget; gap about $3.4 million as property tax report card shows 5.5% allowable levy increase",765,0,765000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2459371-982bbf4912865b36b4a010d1f3e82da2&start=0&end=765","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2459371-982bbf4912865b36b4a010d1f3e82da2/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6304577/New-York/Board-reviews-202526-budget-gap-about-34-million-as-property-tax-report-card-shows-55-allowable-levy-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304577-db3d46558f5ad4e3ba9227f08b07693b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773574972&Signature=Aj3ajeM5D0MDrRudAz41VrKp2Fh5PxEi4AubYcksJJ4senKX1FrHXmJCaUWt6DH3TA3Ou81WCyheC5WPp-E9teaKPuNzSNACJv8mKuwXlid6QVby8e7AkUsHNCY8Y4FX70ErOP9siq~Eek-sY38k09cmXrVIJ8NbP6dPNC2XT4655Uj1DCDaWaCTelgKcYINZ6Bvx3UIQnfT1tieYn~oCiOyE91GAxnX1qtWajcomXL6RrToJbbsZAftzPeTQRVYN1qL2HvTISFN20O6ZcN7LzYmsqbvryKvG4seNQ9TxmgOjbMe2iRj1R4jobgyIhaUFQZhTIf2GZNpSftVbFClQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Niagara Falls City School District board reviewed the latest draft of the 2025–26 budget during a Feb. 27 work session and was told the gap before using reserves was about $3.4 million.

Board members were shown adjustments on both the revenue and expense sides. Revenue improvements included an increase in expected tax collection and interest income and a $12,000 reduction in a hardware/textbook/software line, producing roughly $50,000–$60,000 in net additional revenue. On the expenditure side, staff said it was possible to shift about $300,000 of personnel costs onto federal grant funds and that one federal grant that previously covered roughly half a salary is expiring and must be counted against the general fund.

Why this matters: the district must close the remaining gap while preserving full-time employees and key programs, staff said. The presenters emphasized they plan to avoid involuntary staff reductions and that reserves will be used if necessary.

Details and near-term steps
- The board was told the budget-to-budget growth (excluding capital-project revenue) is about 3.9%.
- Staff said last week’s projected reserve use for debt was roughly $915,000; after accounting for that the remaining gap reported Feb. 27 was about $3.4 million.
- Staff reported increased nursing costs for services that extend beyond the regular school day (after-school activities and sporting events) and recommended increasing the nursing line to reflect those obligations.
- The district separated its general elementary summer school program from Camp Wolverine (the district’s summer program for exceptional children). The presenter foreshadowed a recommendation to restore Camp Wolverine funding to the general fund; that restoration would enlarge the budget gap if approved.
- Staff said they had identified opportunities to shift more staff costs to federal grants but noted that at least one grant is expiring and will raise general-fund obligations.

Property tax report card and tax-cap math
Staff explained the district’s property tax report card, which must be submitted to the New York State Comptroller by March 1. The board was told the tax-cap formula allows an allowable levy increase of 5.5% for this year under the district’s specific debt and tax-base factors; staff repeatedly said they do not intend to recommend raising the levy to that maximum but confirmed the district will file the report showing the 5.5% allowable increase. Staff also provided the district’s estimate that each 1% increase in the levy would generate about $258,290.

Budget timeline and next steps
Staff outlined a timetable: a more refined budget will be presented March 13 and March 27, with a final budget presented for a board vote in early April (staff cited April 10 as the anticipated final vote date). The presenters said insurance rates, property-casualty numbers and final state foundation-aid figures (dependent on the state budget) will be incorporated before the final vote.

What the board directed or agreed
- Staff will file the property tax report card with the New York State Comptroller by March 1 showing a 5.5% allowable levy increase while stating the board does not plan to seek an override or supermajority vote.
- Staff will return with strategies to close the roughly $3.4 million gap while preserving current FTEs and programs; one likely near-term approach is limited use of reserves.

Community and funding context
Board discussion and later public remarks noted the district receives substantial federal funds (Title programs, IDEA special-education funds, Head Start and other grants). Staff estimated roughly $11.5–$12 million in federal funds overall, including about $2.3 million in IDEA special-education funding and about $2.3 million for Head Start. Board members and staff said they are monitoring national and federal budget developments and have begun outreach to state officials to preserve funding streams.

Ending
Board materials and staff presentations indicated the district will continue refining assumptions and present updated budget drafts at the March meetings before asking the board to adopt a final budget in April.","Board members and staff reviewed the latest 2025–26 budget draft, discussed a roughly $3.4 million gap before reserves, federal grant staffing and Camp Wolverine funding, and agreed to submit the property tax report card showing a 5.5% allowable levy increase to the New York State Comptroller.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: board approves personnel reports, AI policy, contracts, payments and change orders

Board reviews 2025–26 budget; gap about $3.4 million as property tax report card shows 5.5% allowable levy increase