Niagara Falls board reviews budget, reaffirms Head Start grants and approves contracts, personnel moves

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — At an agenda-review meeting before its scheduled 7 p.m. public vote, the Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education heard introductions from the Head Start policy council, received an update on the district budget and reserve planning, and approved a slate of routine contracts, grant actions and personnel items.

The superintendent, Mark Laurrie, opened by recognizing the district’s Head Start policy board and introduced parents and community members who serve on that board. “Early childhood is not a fringe program,” Laurrie said. “It has great meaning and great need in this district and in this city. We will do everything we can to maintain the funding.”

Why it matters: Head Start is a federally funded early-intervention program that the district now operates. Continuation of those grants and the policy board’s role affect preschool enrollment, family services and district budgeting. The meeting also set out the district’s approach to a persistently unresolved state budget and local decisions that could affect operations this year.

Board briefing and budget numbers

Finance staff asked board members to focus on a $7,000,000 placeholder for Foundation Aid in the state budget; that figure remains uncertain while the state budget process continues, Laurrie said. The superintendent summarized the district’s current projected gap and reserves: with capital reimbursements excluded, the year-to-year budget shows roughly a 4.1% increase; including capital project reimbursements pushes that measure higher but those capital dollars must be spent on capital work. The current operating gap on the presentation was described as about $4,600,000 before allocating $900,000 and other reserve adjustments; Laurrie said he expected to reduce that to roughly $3,700,000 and to show a path to close the gap at the board’s next meeting.

Laurrie also discussed two near-term budget decisions the board will see: summer programming and a planned bid to purchase two smaller salt trucks. District staff recommended running elementary summer programming at a single site — 70 Ninth Street — and operating full days, five days per week, combining Camp Wolverine with the Extended Learning Program (ELP) to save costs. The district plans to bus students from the geographically nearest elementary school to the summer site.

On winter operations, Laurrie said the district plans to publish a bid and seek board approval to buy two salt trucks this year using a funding shift that moves eligible payroll costs to federal funds, freeing about $212,000 for the purchases. He told the board the decision is intended to reduce equipment age-related risk and avoid missing another winter without adequate salting capacity.

Head Start introductions and grants

LaShay Renford, identified as chairman of the Head Start policy council, and several parents and community representatives introduced themselves and described involvement with Head Start. Dana Schenck, identified as an administrative assistant and data specialist for Head Start, and Michelle Timby, children’s librarian at the Niagara Falls Public Library and a policy-board community representative, also spoke about classroom work, family engagement and library partnerships. Parents David and Jessica Kubiak described how Head Start helped their family arrange early care and educational services for their child.

Laurrie told the policy council and staff he had addressed Head Start employees earlier in the day to reassure them about district commitment and contingency planning amid uncertain federal and state circumstances. “We will do everything we can to maintain the funding,” he said, adding the district would not close a program midyear and would “fight and continue to expect our Head Start funding.”

The board approved two agenda items that the superintendent linked to Head Start operations: a continuation of the 25–26 Head Start and Early Head Start grant application and an amendment to the 24–25 Head Start and Early Head Start grant. Board members praised the policy council and staff during the votes.

Contracts, personnel and capital updates

The board approved several short-term contracts and routine contract extensions, including extensions with First Student and Niagara Falls Coach Lines for transportation services. Trustees also approved multiple capital-project payments and reported that the district’s capital program is about 80% complete; the board said finishing work includes four vestibules and final air-conditioning activations at some buildings once utilities and easements are in place.

On personnel, the board accepted the retirement of a long-serving nurse practitioner — Dr. Silvaroli — with multiple trustees offering thanks for her pandemic-era service.

Student election inspectors and civic engagement

The board approved a program appointing Niagara Falls High School students as election inspectors for the May 20 vote. Laurrie and trustees described recruiting 21 students for the pilot and said the district coordinated training with the county Board of Elections. Trustees framed the measure as a civic-engagement and workforce-education opportunity for students.

Public comments and community concerns

Several members of the public spoke during the meeting. Commenters raised a range of issues including academic performance and literacy, dress code and cell-phone policy implementation, a chess program for elementary students, and community events. One public commenter called for a greater focus on academics rather than equipment purchases; another, Gloria Dolson, thanked staff and the superintendent for community partnerships and noted upcoming scholarship and community events.

Board members’ remarks and next steps

Trustees and the superintendent acknowledged the recent death of a ninth-grade student and offered condolences on behalf of the district. Trustees emphasized both academic programs and practical investments such as the salt trucks and capital projects, describing the array of board activities as part of a districtwide effort to support students from pre-K through graduation.

Laurrie told the board they will receive a final budget at the next meeting and, if appropriate, will be asked on April 10 to approve a tax levy number for the May 20 ballot. He said he expects to present a tighter plan to close the remaining budget gap at the next meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes (February 25) and Budget Transfer #8: Motion moved and seconded; roll call recorded six “Yes” votes (Mister Billson; Mister Kinsemi; Missus Dunn; Mister Pareto; Mister Vilardo; Mister Petrosi). Outcome: approved. - Treasurer’s report and Budget Status report (items 404 & 405): received and filed; outcome: approved. - Personnel reports (certificated and classified) including retirement acceptance for Dr. Silvaroli: outcome: approved (roll call showed the same six board members voting yes). - Special education and preschool special education reports (408 & 409): outcome: received and filed. - Short-term contracts (multiple vendors listed during the meeting): approved (vendors named in meeting materials: Nearly Generation; Niagara University; Buffalo Hearing and Speech; Play University; Dan Capizero; Sergei Webb Solutions; Lisa McNairn; Fuelling Rock). - Head Start reports and grant actions: 601 — continuation of the 25–26 Head Start & Early Head Start application; 602 — amendment to the 24–25 Head Start & Early Head Start grant: both approved by roll call. - 603 — Nomination of Mister Kinsami to serve on the BOCES board: approved. - 604 & 605 — Appointment of election inspectors and alternate inspectors: approved. - 606 & 607 — Appointment of student election inspectors and lay liaison for students serving as election inspectors: approved. - 608–611 — Contracts and extensions (including First Student and Niagara Falls Coach Lines): approved. - 612–616 — Capital project payments to contractors (Danforth, Frey, Stark Tech, MKS Plumbing and others as listed): approved.

(For items with roll-call votes, the meeting transcript recorded the same six voting members as present and voting “Yes.” Where a specific motion text or detailed vote tally beyond the roll-call “Yes” votes was not read into the record, the meeting minutes list the item as approved; the transcript did not show recorded “No” or abstain votes for these items.)

Ending

The board adjourned with condolences for several community members and students who had recently died and scheduled follow-ups on the budget and capital-project presentations for upcoming meetings.