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Students present trauma-informed work; council approves easement so National Grid can add power to air-condition Gaskill Prep
Summary
Students from Niagara Falls High School described their trauma-informed program and asked the council to support item 10. Council unanimously approved a National Grid project and easement to supply power for air-conditioning at Gaskill Preparatory School, enabling the district to complete its final school air-conditioning project.
Students from the Niagara Falls High School Champion Team gave a presentation on trauma-informed care during the Feb. 19 City Council meeting and asked the council to support item 10 on the agenda: an easement and National Grid electrical project to support Gaskill Preparatory School's power needs so the school can be air-conditioned.
The student team — identified during the presentation as grades 9 through 12 and including Jelissa Hernandez, Harjat Kaur, Sajira and Khadija — explained trauma concepts including the —three Es' (event, experience, effect), adverse childhood experiences and coping strategies used in their school team activities. The students said their program helps peers and staff better understand and respond to trauma and asked the council to support efforts that improve school conditions.
Following the presentation, Mark Lohrey, who described himself as supporting the school and the team, told the council the easement under item 10 would allow National Grid to place a guy wire to support a pole and transformer on city park property serving Gaskill. Lohrey said the project has been in development since February 2023, that the school district expects to be reimbursed largely through its funding stream (staff stated reimbursement at 98% for this type of repair in the presentation) and that the easement is a small parcel that will permit National Grid to provide the additional power necessary to provide air conditioning at Gaskill.
The council voted 5-0 to approve the National Grid electrical project and the easement to support Gaskill Preparatory School's power needs; council members cited the importance of completing air conditioning for the district's last non-air-conditioned building and praised the student presenters.
Why it matters: the approval removes a barrier for National Grid to proceed with underground/utility work that the district says is necessary to finish a city-wide effort to equip all district buildings with air conditioning. Speakers linked the project to students' classroom comfort and learning.
Funding and timeline notes: Lohrey told the council the district started conversations with National Grid in February 2023 and that reimbursement (described in the presentation as up to 98%) must be secured to meet the district's construction schedule; the council and staff noted timing considerations tied to reimbursement and construction schedules.
Ending: The council's approval permits the city and National Grid to move forward on the easement and electrical work; the student presentation was cited by several members as a compelling example of local youth engagement on trauma-informed school programming.
