[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6280295,"mediaKeyId","2615850-ff103a3d1c2ce1ca057d81eaec846bda","parentId",2615850,"title","Board: 15 students applied for ad hoc student board member; district to pilot student election inspectors","audioSeconds",946,"startMs",3604000,"endMs",4550000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2615850-ff103a3d1c2ce1ca057d81eaec846bda&start=3604&end=4550","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2615850-ff103a3d1c2ce1ca057d81eaec846bda/thumbnail_3604000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6280295/New-York/Board-15-students-applied-for-ad-hoc-student-board-member-district-to-pilot-student-election-inspectors","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280295-07a5d6f52874f15a172ffc5196ba7e44/orig.mp4?Expires=1770978411&Signature=j8byKXgEci1vI2vMM4OtXpmJjFUL6I5l01ywgIWl1PdTBSInYYEWAfUTzYgLn-m5Ca9TLddQzRJ6iU~76MnDnpzTez3aRsQy8zwOx2w2gpD7jSmu4hxR6MSuvoUAAEnfHnvqUJ5BhTbntVz4E9r7X1y7YDWuuU6ZwFQQ~SiS53-jGq0sm7XOZovHzE92XF8skrLzYx~cZDR27N5LtXpHM~5OcDvLu7XYuqUrLUd60yP~0qUJ6GA91A8CQCrgwuZSrmcVN78LskxNhjAuPhjlXr2tX1x9RTGDlUwmSmeExaR0cCgnZVduGqhs8H5x31F-fl8wZAyA6xU41XSVRDBOVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-03T14:16:57Z","article","The Niagara Falls City School District reported progress on two student-engagement initiatives at its March 13 meeting: a plan to appoint an ad hoc student board member and a first-time pilot to train high-school students as election inspectors.

Board President Mark said he visited the high school and found about 15 student applicants for the ad hoc student member role. The students developed a rubric and will present to be evaluated on a composite score; the student council will recommend candidates. Mark said the student member would not vote or attend executive sessions, but would sit next to the president and provide monthly written reports and ask questions during meetings. He said the board will bring a recommendation by the June 12 meeting and, if approved, the student would be sworn in July 1 and serve at least one year.

Separately, Judy (district elections liaison) presented a resolution to appoint and train students as election inspectors. The Board of Elections will provide a voting machine at the high school on March 28 for three hours of training; students would be paid by the Board of Elections for training and service. The district had 17 students expressing interest at the time of the presentation and might have as many as 19. The district intends to appoint a liaison to support the student inspectors on Election Day and asked the board to approve regular and alternate inspectors and the student-inspector plan.

The board discussed legal and party-affiliation details; district staff said to be trained by the Board of Elections students must declare a party for general-election inspector eligibility, which could allow them to work future municipal, state or federal elections.

Ending: The board will receive a recommendation for a student-board appointment by mid-June and will vote on resolutions to appoint student election inspectors as part of regular board business.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","NFCSD Board of Education Meeting - 3/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board President said 15 Niagara Falls High School students applied to serve as an ad hoc student member of the board; the district also plans a pilot allowing trained high-school students to serve as paid election inspectors in cooperation with the Board of Elections.","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},6280300,"Superintendent recommends rolling forward bus contracts for five years, flags electrification timeline and cost risks",411,4724000,5135000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2615850-ff103a3d1c2ce1ca057d81eaec846bda&start=4724&end=5135","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2615850-ff103a3d1c2ce1ca057d81eaec846bda/thumbnail_4724000.jpg","/articles/6280300/New-York/Superintendent-recommends-rolling-forward-bus-contracts-for-five-years-flags-electrification-timeline-and-cost-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280300-21591ec53109cf9cfc31a64cec44d0e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770978411&Signature=leJAZgJI02YaGgKFqtaQzKOtEfmwSz07MoE6vxk8BjDHGGaD9pCjnEBW9XWqFLYiw53-m6KeVHvFEsiKb3zM5T964oDPVt425sBat8op1Sgw0O~amNAD-CTvBcSWarRMN7gCK4gCb0ltNjwIa~m30n~oOFoQb9mw3ra2GAnmk3HJbWfpEbK0MYSG6pRANtECxScn6jskCbdDOXHv3K~N3VjDWaJ85S-6Mb3DRKSZXpxL7Tr8Q5p~wQgTHlCA0jWUFRMgZ8dZomLkeZKdbivzDLgGf38kSNdejMeum~WuiiF5UAMEI6mLdnH97fl01b3PSaea0vyjJHE0Kb3SOnHilw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Niagara Falls City School District superintendent told the board on March 13 he recommends extending the district’s current student-transportation contracts for an additional five years rather than rebidding them.

The recommendation rests on two arguments the superintendent presented to the board: a regional shortage of bus drivers that limits bidders and a recent example in Buffalo where rebids returned prices roughly 50% higher. \"If we were to put these contracts out to bid... the bid came back 50% higher,\" the superintendent said, warning that a rebid could add millions to the district’s projected gap. He said rolling contracts forward under state rules allows adjustments only by the Northeast CPI (the district is using a 4.1% placeholder for May), whereas a rebid could produce large, unpredictable price increases.

The board also discussed the state timeline for electric-bus adoption. The superintendent said the current schedule — beginning electrification in 2027 with full implementation by 2035 — is likely too aggressive. He cited infrastructure needs such as charging stations and transformer work and said the district has seen limited federal and state funding available for electrification. \"That 2027 is not sensible and that's next week,\" he said, and urged state lawmakers to adjust the timeline to be more practical for districts.

Officials noted both current vendors have made improvements and the district is meeting monthly with contractors to hold them accountable and address service gaps. The superintendent said the district will continue incremental purchases as grant opportunities arise but recommended a stable contract roll-forward now to avoid immediate cost and service disruptions.

Ending: The board heard the recommendation and the superintendent said staff would continue close oversight of contractors; any formal contract extension requires board action at an upcoming meeting.","District leaders recommended extending two school bus contracts for five years, citing a regional driver shortage and risk that open bidding could sharply increase costs; they also urged caution on the state’s aggressive electric-bus timeline given charging-infrastructure needs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6280305,"Board hears mid-budget update; officials explain why STAR or Enhanced STAR doesn’t always eliminate school tax",1513,2092000,3605000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2615850-ff103a3d1c2ce1ca057d81eaec846bda&start=2092&end=3605","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2615850-ff103a3d1c2ce1ca057d81eaec846bda/thumbnail_2092000.jpg","/articles/6280305/New-York/Board-hears-mid-budget-update-officials-explain-why-STAR-or-Enhanced-STAR-doesnt-always-eliminate-school-tax","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280305-9ff26ac951321601bed67bb5cf9db18f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770978411&Signature=Ae8yn4qnHfPNQGGKN5EsG2W0ZAGk5FsE4gS7FIMd4YrSy9TrjCNP7UMFYMqZRhHv6BO~LdDieKZYC~9c2ESS4jWBJv0ogjRH4wcUw-LD3awLFf~oFlZ3c9Tp7bpanU0z3VNuVpfm5nvIbRsFdoE69BN194vKrLzARmrnijUOZMTbG2wsZkYJdvPEzofi8uuAqSULWQzGlhHu9t6IXhx0IUkabERA~z8ETlrPw87lCLKN95JNUT6tf15czyf1xIHNMC6YHVcSNv0MgUJumt-kjG9OK3Da0sNpFBtZ~Mufzs-6qATfKy96Bbpn9qmMmW5jQ0IbJ5my-6Z95E4NvTaO5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education received a mid-budget update on March 13 that showed the district narrowing a projected budget gap but still facing roughly $3.4 million to close before the May 20 vote.

Board President Mark and district business staff described revenue-side variables, including state Foundation Aid proposals: the governor’s budget baseline includes a 2% increase in Foundation Aid, the state Senate proposed 3% and the Assembly proposed 2.9. Mark said even modest changes in those percentages would alter the district’s multi-million-dollar revenue forecast.

On the expenditure side, officials said they have incorporated preliminary rate changes for property/casualty insurance (estimated at 8–10%, conservatively budgeted at 10%) and health insurance (the family rate budgeted at 7%). Transportation cost estimates were adjusted using the Northeast CPI (the district used a 4.1% figure as a conservative placeholder). The president said the district’s tax levy figure currently under consideration is $202,385,135; he emphasized the final levy and tax rate depend on the full budget process.

District business staff Becky walked the board and public through how STAR and Enhanced STAR exemptions affect individual school tax bills. She explained that the state Department of Taxation sets the exemption amounts each year, which reduce the assessed valuation a homeowner pays tax on; in some prior years the Enhanced STAR reduction exceeded a home’s assessed value, resulting in no school tax for that parcel. When the maximum STAR exemption amount declines or is reset by the state, a homeowner who previously paid no school tax can receive a bill even if their personal circumstances did not change. Becky said household income limits also determine Enhanced STAR eligibility and recommended residents ask the city assessor for an individualized calculation.

The board discussed reserves and possible reserve use; Mark said the district plans to avoid staff or program cuts and will recommend using reserves (including a previously noted $915,000 reserve for debt) rather than layoffs in his early April recommendation. He said the board will finalize the budget on April 10, present it to the public and then ask voters to approve the levy on May 20.

Ending: Officials encouraged residents with questions about STAR calculations or exemption eligibilities to contact the assessor’s office or district staff for an individualized explanation. The board set a schedule for further budget discussions and a vote in April.","District officials gave a mid-budget review showing a projected $3.4 million gap, explained how foundation aid proposals could affect revenue, and walked through why changes in STAR/Enhanced STAR exemption amounts can cause homeowners who previously paid no school tax to receive bills.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6280310,"District introduces short-term contract for college-advising contractor Alan Booker",1961,134000,2095000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2615850-ff103a3d1c2ce1ca057d81eaec846bda&start=134&end=2095","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2615850-ff103a3d1c2ce1ca057d81eaec846bda/thumbnail_134000.jpg","/articles/6280310/New-York/District-introduces-short-term-contract-for-college-advising-contractor-Alan-Booker","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280310-91753c03d5da122bec6ebc74ab952e69/orig.mp4?Expires=1770978411&Signature=gkphDmNC-H4IFbQN-5p~9z4YGk2zCj-l3TQ8rgNV-71rIggV2LjJ-JG24P34bG4Owb3sY-wt3KNMsXpg~fP9BFUdMwx01PRE8QkUPv-bsjEohafDiW9p3bI85icCikZo1shUUmmmR4DVXSRmtJ2ZCH7IDrny3vaONPhfb-DlUM0TyjFcBOYZqgXdpRdVKoqgMKVkHTfVOXJO14bkav4gupTZhB6TNO32lYDNP~vAeDZEwyrfhYRpb5AkQFwcx88-XCVWhFlMV0G1npuehsLoFgHxgkVCKKCQ-kW2nJxzQ5MA852trCeBt7ms3BVPiV0Kncmc8~gNF8ldIqNdUJBn5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alan Booker, an independent college-planning contractor who works with Niagara Falls High School, described services he provides to students and families to help with college applications, financial-aid review and scholarship navigation, and college-readiness seminars. Board President Mark introduced Booker and said the board would consider a short-term contract to formalize that work.

Booker said Booker College Planning has worked in Western New York since October 2007 and that since Sept. 1, 2024, he had provided approximately 50 one-on-one advisory sessions to Niagara Falls High School students through March 7, 2025. \"I review financial aid award letters and offer letters,\" Booker said, adding that he helps families understand the balance between loans, grants and scholarships.

Board President Mark told the board that the district has written Booker into grants, including the P-TECH and early college grants, so some of his work is funded by those grant sources. \"Your approval of a resolution or a short term contract for Booker College is this,\" Mark said, introducing the resolution that appears on the agenda for board action in a future meeting.

School staff and board members praised Booker’s outreach and contribution to both college and trade pathways. A board member said she had previously paid out of pocket for Booker’s services for her own children and described FAFSA navigation as time-consuming work that complements school counseling.

The presentation listed colleges Niagara Falls students have chosen after working with Booker, including Buffalo State, Niagara University, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Niagara and the University at Buffalo, and several merit-based awards Booker linked to students (examples discussed in the meeting included award amounts reported by Booker, such as a trustee scholarship of $25,000 a year at Niagara University and other merit awards; Booker described the list as partial and said more awards were forthcoming).

The board did not record a vote during the presentation. The agenda includes a short-term contract/resolution for Booker College Planning to be considered at a formal meeting; the transcript shows the resolution was introduced but a formal vote is pending.

Ending: The presentation was largely informational with board members noting the program’s fit inside grant-funded initiatives; the contract resolution is on the board agenda for formal consideration at a subsequent meeting.","Alan Booker, an independent college-planning contractor, presented services he provides to Niagara Falls High School students; the board signaled a short-term contract on the agenda to formalize work already paid in part by grants.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board: 15 students applied for ad hoc student board member; district to pilot student election inspectors

Superintendent recommends rolling forward bus contracts for five years, flags electrification timeline and cost risks

Board hears mid-budget update; officials explain why STAR or Enhanced STAR doesn’t always eliminate school tax

District introduces short-term contract for college-advising contractor Alan Booker