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Niagara Falls board approves lease of classrooms to Francis Center to keep after‑school program operating
Summary
The school board voted June 12 to lease classroom space at Sixtieth Street School to the Francis Center, a nonprofit after‑school program that serves primary‑grade students and reports improved attendance among participants.
The Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education on June 12 approved a lease of classroom space at Sixtieth Street School to Francis Center Inc., a 501(c)(3) after‑school provider that has operated for nearly three decades in the Niagara Street neighborhood.
The lease will let Francis Center continue serving kindergarten through second‑grade students after the program’s previous rental building was sold, and it will allow the nonprofit to add students from Cataract Elementary as the district transitions those programs. Francis Center director Marybeth Smith told the board the organization hires qualified teachers, shares student performance data with the district and Niagara University, and provides its program at no cost to families.
Smith said the program targets early grades to build foundational reading, math and social‑emotional skills and reported an attendance benefit: kindergarten students who attended Francis Center missed an average of 12 days in 2023–24 versus 25.5 days for comparable students at another primary school. “We can show evidence of the effect our program has on your students’ academic growth,” Smith said.
Superintendent Mark Lohrey introduced the presentation and said the board had a resolution on the agenda to formalize the lease. Board members voted to approve the contract (resolution 607). The vote was recorded as approved by the board.
Board discussion noted that the lease will also permit the district to transport students to the program and that Francis Center plans to add small‑group counseling beginning in the fall. Smith said the organization relies on grants and community support and asked the community to share information about Francis Center’s website and donation options.
The lease was placed on the evening’s consent agenda and approved by roll call. The board did not indicate further conditions attached to the lease; district staff said required details will be captured in the final contract.
