Niagara-Wheatfield honors 18 retiring staff, recognizes new tenured employees

The Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District board of education recognized 18 staff members who are retiring and announced several employees earning tenure during a board meeting. The superintendent said 14 retirees were honored in person and that staff retiring over the last 12 months account for a combined 457 years of service to the district.

The recognition program highlighted several long-serving employees and trustees. Christine Reeder was honored for 32 years at the high school as a band and music educator; the superintendent noted she taught band, jazz ensemble, pit orchestra and music theory and led dozens of musicals. Dr. Allison Davis, assistant superintendent for finance and management, was recognized for 12 years with the district; the superintendent credited Davis with helping improve the district’s fiscal stress rating from 88.3% to 0% for the 2023–24 school year and with managing budget work tied to projects including a new auditorium expected to open in February 2026 and a state-of-the-art turf athletic complex.

Other retirees and honorees included Liz Carrere, who has worked 38 years in the district and spent much of her career as principal at Tuscarora Nation School; Julie Fago, a nine-year member of the board of education who chaired the policy committee and served on the capital projects committee credited with more than $100 million in capital improvements during her tenure; and a range of food-service, transportation and administrative staff noted for decades of service.

The board approved routine business during the meeting. A motion to accept consensus-agenda items 1 through 9 was moved and seconded and carried after members responded "aye," the clerk recorded. The board then moved to accept personnel items 1 through 31; that motion was also moved, seconded and approved on voice vote. The motions on the consent and personnel agendas were not recorded with individual roll-call tallies in the transcript.

Superintendent (name not specified) and other speakers thanked retirees and noted that several formerly retired employees continue to serve as substitutes. The superintendent also announced scheduling and facilities items for upcoming months: the reorganization meeting for July 2 will start at 5 p.m., and the June 18 board meeting will be held in the district library because exams are scheduled in other rooms.

The board recessed briefly near the end of the recognition program to allow attendees to gather refreshments before continuing with the regular agenda.

The recognition event and related approvals were presented as part of the board’s regular meeting; no additional formal policy changes or disciplinary actions were taken as part of the retiree recognitions.