Business First publishes its annual "report
card" on school districts. The Buffalo weekly business publication ranks 98
Western New York School districts, based primarily, it says, on results from various state
standardized tests. The rank information for each Niagara County school will be included
near the sub-heading for those school districts reviewed on this web page. At the top of
the list was Clarence which was given a "score" of 100. All other school
districts were assigned a "score" less than that depending on how closely they
matched the top performance of Clarence students. The bottom rated school system was, (of
course) Buffalo, #98. (Ranks for all Niagara County schools are included below
under each school's heading). (3/16/98)
Godshall named BOCES Superintendent. Clark Godshall was appointed as the latest Superintendent for Orleans-Niagara BOCES at a meeting Thursday night, 11/30, of the Board. Godshall has been serving as Assistant Superintendent for Administration. Since January 2000, when Peter Kachris announced he was leaving, BOCES has had a series of delays and at least one false start in naming a new superintendent. Godshall will assume his new position on January 1, 2001 (12/1/00)
$128K/year isn't enough; Superintendent leaving for St. Louis. Orleans-Niagara BOCES superintendent, Peter T. Kachris, announced this week he was leaving the two-county BOCES district to accept a higher paying position in St. Louis, MO effective March 1st. Kachris who received $128,625 plus substantial thousands of dollars in additional benefits and perks will reportedly get a base salary of about $150,000 at St. Louis running services for a "special" school district catering to 23,000 students with disabilities. Kachris has been superintendent here for about 12 years and is the highest paid school official in the area. (1/19/00)
They fail at teaching (and learning) English, so why not teach Indian language? The Buffalo public schools, ranked dead last in Western New York for student achievement in basic English are now being told to offer "Native American" language instruction. Some want it substituted for Spanish, French, or German in school's "foreign language" requirement while others want it taught to supplement mainstream English. The demands were made by Indian groups Monday, 6/11, at a "town meeting" about Buffalo Schools. Another request is for teachers to start instructing students of a "white genocide" of American Indians giving it placement in the curriculum like the Nazi Holocaust in Europe. (6/12/01)
News For Reference From 2000
Buffalo schools to get millions more in State money. Gov.
George Pataki Wednesday, 12/27, started procedures that would shovel millions of
additional dollars into the beleagured Buffalo School system. Pataki signed
legislation that would allow the city to "lease" up to six new public schools
from private contractors in much the same fashion that Niagara Falls has done with its new
high school. The financial procedures allow districts with poor credit that prevents
them from going further into ordinary capital debt to still keep building new schools.
In addition, Pataki OKed a plan where the Erie County Industrial Development
Agency would be allowed to loan the schools $600-million to pay for school renovations.
Ultimately the cost of the loan would be 94% paid for by State
taxpayers---not Buffalo area residents. The Buffalo Board of Education president,
Paul Buchanan Wednesday expressed immediate delight with the action that would effectively
transfer costs from local taxpayers to all New York State taxpayers. He indicated
the school district has a $150-million wish list it is ready to let out for bids
immediately. (12/28/00)
$4-million in teacher fines to help pay for their raises. The two
days Buffalo teachers were on strike in violation of the State Taylor Law has resulted in
them not getting paid for the strike day plus getting a fine of two days' pay for each day
they were on strike. That adds up to about $4-million which essentially wipes out
their raise for the first year of the five-year package they won totaling a 13.5% boost in
pay. (11/11/00)
Three boys charged with poisoning teacher. Authorities are
releasing only sketchy details but the Lockport Home Page has learned that three
8th grade boys have been arrested in connection with the poisoning of an English teacher
at a North Buffalo school . The matter has been the subject of a cover-up but word
started to get out on Wednesday, 11/8 of the incident on October 30th at School 81 at 140
Tacoma Avenue. The teacher became violently ill after her coffee was
"spiked" with a vomit-inducing medication. Although the three boys
believed responsible have been arrested for what normally would be a felony charge, they
were sent into Family Court where their identities were ordered not revealed. The
public may never learn the outcome of the case. The boys have been
"suspended" from school. (11/9/00)
Erie County to pump $5-million into Buffalo Schools. The
unprecedented action ordered Friday, 11/3, by Erie County Executive, Joel Giambra, is seen
as an important lifeline to Buffalo Schools which have been beaten down by decades of
bungling administration, school violence, and, most recently an expensive series of
strikes by teachers unsatisfied by huge raises the district couldn't afford. The
money for the schools will come from the pockets of all Erie County taxpayers, not just
those in the Buffalo school district. Giambra explained that the County could give
the huge aid package to the Buffalo Schools because of a "surplus" of funds.
(11/5/00)
Verdict favors teacher with $325K in sex suit against schools. A 39-year old teacher who reportedly had sexual encounters with a school administrator has won a $325,000 judgement in federal court. According to public papers, Maria M. Perez de Leon claimed it was sexual harassment. The school administrator said it was a consensual arrangement that went on for about a year. But Ms. Perez de Leon sued the Buffalo School District. School Superintendent Marion Canedo said Friday, 10/6, she had been unaware of the incident or that the matter had even gone into the courts. (10/7/00)
Teacher union boss sentenced to jail. Philip
Rumore the president of the Buffalo Teachers Union was ordered to serve 15 days in jail
and pay a $1000 fine for his part in the illegal strike of Buffalo teachers earlier in
September. Rumore began serving his time just hours after being sentenced, Friday,
9/28, by State Supreme Court Justice Kevin M. Dillion. Dillion had been under great
pressure by Democratic lawmakers to spare Rumore but Dillion said the issue was
clear. He told Rumore, "Either you were in charge or the law was in charge...in
words and deeds you made it clear you were not going to adhere to court orders you did not
agree with...this is impossible for me to condone." Congressman John LaFalce
was among those who have received heavy financial backing by teachers over the years and
was among the first to advocate for Mr. Rumore to get off with no jail. Two other
leaders of the teachers union received only $1000 fines --- no jail time. The strike
Rumore called was successful in throwing the Buffalo school district into such crisis that
the Board of Education knuckled under to union demands shortly thereafter. Thousands
of children and their parents had their lives disrupted when Rumore ordered teachers not
to show up for work on September 14th. (9/30/00)
Board surrenders to teachers' strike, OKs 13.5% raise. Their strike
was illegal but victory is theirs. The Buffalo teachers union, which threw the
start-up of school this year into tailspin, savored victory Wednesday night, 9/20, as the
district Board of Education voted to give 13.5% in raises to teachers. That's the
price of a new five year contract with the union. Some of the raises will be
retroactive, the rest will phase in over the next four years. The president of the
Board of Education, Paul G. Buchanan, could not explain where the district would get the
money to pay the raises. The district tapped New York State taxpayers for
$45-million in additional money to pay the teachers' 1999 court victory. It's likely
the taxpayers in Lockport and across the state will wind up paying off the bulk of the new
set of teacher raises. (9/21/00)
Court orders teachers back to classrooms. State Supreme Court
Justice Kevin M. Dillion Thursday, 9/14, ordered striking Buffalo teachers back to the
classrooms effective Friday morning, 9/15. During the 8 to 9 AM segment of the
Friday, the school re-opened and teachers were reported on hand after showing up earlier
for picket lines. Negotiations continue. "For the absolute life of me, I
cannot comprehend any reason whatsoever why someone would conclude that harm from the
actions of this morning would fall on anyone other than the children of the city of
Buffalo," Dillon said Thursday. "This is about the greedy self-interest of the
executive committee of the Buffalo Teachers Federation, who have no interest in protecting
the health, safety and welfare of our children," said Board of Education President
Paul Buchanan. (9/15)
Teachers walk out Thursday, kids will go without school again. The
Buffalo Teachers union pulled another fast one early Thursday morning, 9/14, ordering
members to stay off the job and throwing the Buffalo School system, parents, and children
into another panic. The union officials claimed not enough progress was being made
on negotiations for a new contract. The strike came, in defiance with the State
Taylor Law, the day after even Hillary Clinton, strongly backed by the teachers union
dollar contributions, said she found the illegal walkout "inappropriate." Upon
learning of the teachers' action, Buffalo school administrators closed the public school
system down "for the duration." (9/14)
Teachers go back to work Monday, contract talks continue. Buffalo
Teachers who were involved in illegal strike activity the first week of school, returned
to their jobs on Monday, 9/11. Children also returned and school administrators were
hoping they could keep the schools going as contract talks with the teachers, aided by a
government mediator, continued. (9/11)
Schools closed Friday in response to teacher strike notice. Members
of the Buffalo Teachers union told the public to "expect the worst" Friday, 9/8,
so officials decided to close all schools rather than risk children arriving at schools
with no teachers. Some 4,000 Buffalo teachers had begun strike action on Thursday,
even though they admit such action is illegal. The school district had to scramble
to make arrangement to return children to their homes when the kids showed up for school
but the teachers didn't. The action makes a short instructional week of only one
day. Union and school officials continue to posture Friday morning.
(9/8)
As kids return to school, teachers threaten to strike. Leave it to the Buffalo teachers to authorize a strike vote just before children are to return to school. The Buffalo Teachers Federation set a stage of uncertainty Monday, 9/4 as they authorized a strike against the beleaguered Buffalo School District. The teachers want another raise. On top of the huge multi-million dollar back pay bonus they will receive thanks mostly to $45-million in extra taxes imposed on New Yorkers to bail out the otherwise bankrupt school district. Phil Rumore, the local teacher union boss, was quoted by the Buffalo News as calling the more modest raises for a new contract that have been proposed, "insulting and demeaning." (9/5)
Administrator's blunders on computer software costly. The Buffalo School District is still experiencing the results of several years of "leadership" by ex-Superintendent James Harris. Now it's been disclosed by the Buffalo News that a million dollar computer software program ordered by Harris and his then side-kick Deputy Superintendent for Finance, Barbara Fargo, has never worked. It was supposed to have been in operation by July 1999. Both Harris and Fargo resigned under pressure from Board of Education disgust with other snafu's. The school district is faced with putting at least another $2-million into the software to try to make it work or starting over with a brand new system. The ultimate cost to the district could hit $6-million. (7/9)
School bureaucrats get free European trip at student
expense. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Barton, both principals at Buffalo schools
are being accused of taking advantage of poor children who raised money going door-to-door
to finance the cost of an "educational" trip to Europe. The students, from
McKinley High School each had to raise between $1600 and $2300 to pay for the trip to
Europe. But the students needed chaperones so McKinley principal Crystal Barton
reportedly lined up her hubby, Robert Barton, and two other favored to go along for free.
Critics accuse the Bartons of taking an expense-paid European vacation, during the
school year, at the expense of the children. The two Bartons, according to a Buffalo
News report, made a combined total of $198,844 off the Buffalo School District in
1999. $15,000 in taxpayer money was also used for the 9-day festive tour of Europe.
(6/20)
Bonanza for Buffalo teachers will come at cost of $45-million to State
taxpayers. Buffalo teacher union members got word Thursday, 6/8, that New
York State would tax all taxpayers to pay another $45-million in pay to the Buffalo
teacher union members. The payment will settle a lawsuit the teachers won against
the school district which had threatened to put the district into bankruptcy.
"This is just wonderful" gushed Buffalo Superintendent of Schools Marion Canedo
upon learning that State taxpayers---not Buffalo taxpayers---will have to pay for the cost
of mismanagement of the Buffalo Schools. (6/9)
Aide on school bus is shot, 17-year old arrested. A school bus aide
was shot in the leg as a gunman fired toward children leaving a school bus Friday, 6/2 in
one of Buffalo's crime districts. The aide, identified as Mary Byrd, about 50, was
helping children off the bus Friday afternoon at East Ferry Street and Donovan
Drive. Several rounds were discharged in the direction of the children, police
say. Police indicate the suspect may have been trying to hit someone he believed
shot at him in late May. It was not a random act of shooting, authorities
report. They have arrested 17-year old James J. Robbs Jr. of Schuele Street who,
police say, was identified by a witness. (6/3)
Administrator's daughter indicted for participation in Mom's embezzlement
scheme. 18-year old Sheari Moore was indicted by an Erie County Grand Jury
on Thursday, 4/20, charged with felony and misdemeanors. Moore is the daughter of
39-year old Sheila Johnson-Moore who has admitted the embezzlement of $26,000 from the
Buffalo School District while employed as a top administrator under former Superintendent
James Harris. Her daughter has been accused of making threats to a witness in the
investigation. If convicted on all counts Ms. Moore, now reported in Florida,
faces up to four years in prison. Momma Moore, is scheduled to be sentenced in State
Supreme Court on May 18th. (4/21)
Deputy superintendent appointed for 2-year term to run Buffalo schools. The
Buffalo Board of Education declined to step outside the troubled district but instead
appointed deputy Superintendent Marion Canedo to a two-year contract to work as Buffalo
Superintendent of Schools. The district has been racked by charges of fraud,
incompetence, and academic failure under the past two school superintendents. Canedo
said in accepting the promotion, she would work to update or repair all 80 existing school
buildings and construct six new ones. Shortly after Canedo was appointed
Superintendent, the Board and the Teachers union agreed on a settlement in which the
teachers would get a $73-million payoff to settle a wage dispute initiated during the
administration of the past two superintendents. The school district, which doesn't
have the money, hopes to get funds from the State of New York in the form of a no-interest
"loan." (3/23)
School administrator admits to three felonies. Sheila
Johnson-Moore entered a guilty plea in County Court Thursday, 2/25 to embezzling $26,208
from the Buffalo School District. She had been on paid suspension from her
$60K+/year job for several weeks. The 39-year old black woman has a criminal record
which local school authorities had been warned about repeatedly when she began work for
the school district, and several times thereafter. She was strongly supported by
former Superintendents of Schools Thomson and Harris. Johnson-Moore was caught in
the most recent felony as a result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service.
She had been allowed to be sole financial administrator for a $800,000 federal
grant. The matter has brought wide-spread public outrage. An investigation
into how Johnson-Moore got away with the embezzlement, and how her previous criminal
record could have been ignored, is reported underway. (2/25)
Schools had been warned three times of administrator's criminal record. The
Buffalo News is reporting that the warnings about the criminal past of Sheila
Johnson-Moore had come three times to the Buffalo School district over a period several
years from federal authorities. Still, the school district, under the direction of
Superintendents Thomson and Harris, continued to employ and promote Johnson-Moore. A
member of the Board of Education said this past week that an inspection of Johnson-Moore's
personnel file indicated that the warning communications from the federal government had
"disappeared." Meanwhile Johnson-Moore continues to draw her $60K+ salary
while on suspension. The investigation into improper handling of grant money in the
Buffalo Schools reportedly is still expanding. (1/23)
Administrator had been convicted of previous embezzlement. One of
the targets in a probe of "mis-handling" of a $800,000 federal grant to the
Buffalo schools reportedly has an extensive police record. The Buffalo News
is reporting that Sheila Johnson-Moore had been convicted of embezzling $23,991 from a
federal minority program at an Tuskegee University in Alabama. That scam took place,
The News reports, before the 39-year old woman was hired in Buffalo first as a
teacher, and then quickly promoted to an administrator under the regime of former School
Superintendent Albert Thompson. The newspaper is also reporting in Sunday, 1/9,
editions, that Johnson-Moore illegally collected welfare benefits and food stamps from
Erie County Social Services starting about mid-1990 and continuing through 1991---a
time when she was employed at a good-paying job with the Buffalo School District.
That scam, The News reports, was made possible by her use of the name Stella D.
Moore. Johnson-Moore is said to be making about $60,000 a year in her present
position with the Buffalo Schools, a position she has been on fully paid suspension form,
since late last year. (1/9/00)
City buys out Harris, sending him packing effective this week. The
Buffalo Superintendent of Schools winds up making about twice as much money than he would
have if he had remained on the job until his contract expired July 14th. The
$100,000 buyout, plus paid health benefits, and money for some college courses, shows how
desperate the Board of Education was to get the embattled educator out of Buffalo
schools. A search for a new Superintendent has been on-going. The school
district will be run by a combination of three of Harris' top administrators until a new
leader takes office. Meanwhile a forensic accountant continues his investigation
into possible embezzlement in connection with a $800K federal grant to the Buffalo
Schools. (1/5/2000)
News For Reference From 1999
Death threats reported against witness in Buffalo school
probe. The Buffalo News is reporting that a key witness in the
investigation of embezzlement from a $800K federal grant fund has been threatened with
death if she testifies before a grand jury. The threat was allegedly made by the
daughter of Sheila Johnson-Moore, who has been suspended from her job while forensic
accountants investigate. Sheari Moore, was reported arrested on Thursday, by police
who charged she made a telephone threat, recorded on an answering machine of the potential
witness. See reports immediately preceding. (12/31/99)
Official in charge of $800K grant suspended. The Buffalo News
is reporting Sheila Johnson-Moore, a project administrator for the Buffalo Schools has
been suspended (with pay, of course) from her approximate $60K/year job as an
investigation into the handling of federal grant money continues. The Board of
Education is reportedly proceeding to hire a forensic accountant to aid in the
investigation. The newspaper reports that only Ms. Johnson-Moore and Superintendent
of Schools James Harris had control over the $800K in federal funds. Harris still is
not making public statements on the matter. (12/25/99)
DA investigating possible fraud in handling of $800K federal grant.
So what else is new? The Erie County District Attorney is reported
investigating a "possible irregularity" in the way the Buffalo Schools have
handled $800,000 in federal funds. Buffalo School Superintendent, James Harris,
reportedly told the Buffalo News when questioned about the matter, "I don't
know anything about this. I don't have any comment on this." Harris
continues to look for a new job. (12/24/99)
Board re-hires member's son accused of cheating. The Buffalo Board
of Education moved to re-hire the son of Board member Florence Johnson at a meeting
Wednesday, 12/15. Isaac Johnson had resigned during an investigation earlier this
year that probed complaints of teachers helping students with answers on tests. The
vote was considered routine as it came of recommendation of Superintendent of Schools
James Harris. The embattled administrator has been strongly supported by
Johnson. (12/17/99
"Training sessions" for Board of Ed members called "brainwashing." That's the term Lew-Port Board member Margaret Laurie uses to describe "academies" put on by the New York State School Board Association. The sessions are aimed at newly elected Board members as a way of introducing to them the Association's agenda. It has bluntly been described as "a formula for how to boost taxing and spending." Ms. Laurie says she will not attend the training sessions.(7/3/00)
School contingency budget about a million over legal limits. The contingency budget adopted by the Lewiston-Porter School District Board of education has been confirmed by the school district's auditor as about $475,000 higher than permitted by state law. The contingency budget was adopted by the district when voters failed to approve the district's proposed spending plan. By state law, contingency budgets are supposed to be bare-bones austerity budgets but school administrators at both state and local levels have found ways to structure such budgets so they are almost as large as the voter-rejected budgets. In the case of Lew-Port, the 1999-2000 $28.6-million contingency budget it is operating under was the subject of an official complaint by former Board of Education member, Frank Collins. Collins' complaint that the contingency budget was illegal has now been confirmed by the district auditor. School officials say they will attempt to adjust the spending portion of the budget to conform with legal requirements. However, the district property tax was already set based on the higher budget figures. (1/29/00)
And what will they teach as "a first language?" The Lewiston-Porter Board of Education has approved an "English As A Second Language Program." The program is designed to cater to families coming into the district who speak only Russian, Chinese or Spanish. Local taxpayers will, of course, foot the bill for this new adventure in diversity. (6/16/99)
Newfane school taxes to soar 16.5% with so-called bare-bones "contingency budget."
Newfane school district voters turned down a record spending plan on May 15th but rather than make real cuts to school spending the Newfane School District Board of Education has adopted the maximum "contingency budget" permitted by state law. The result is a $23.1-million spending plan that is 8.8% more than last year (including debt service). The contingency budget is only $91,322 less than the budget rejected by voters by a nearly two-to-one margin, 756-497. (6/3/01)He may be a fast learner, but in the wrong subject area. A 13-year old Newfane Middle School boy has been arrested by Niagara County Sheriff's Department investigators. He has been accused of stealing $20 from the wallet of a school guidance counselor. In incident, at the school, reportedly took place on October 12th but it took Sheriff's investigators about two weeks to crack the case and arrest youth. (10/29/00)
Cleveland quits as NCCC president.
Antonette Cleveland, for the past three years president of Niagara County Community College, this week gave three months notice that she was quitting her post and moving to Virginia to take a new job. Cleveland won't even finish out the current college semester. She's off to take a position with the Virginia Community College System. (1/18/02)NCCC president seeks tuition hike.
Just on top of getting a huge increase in money from Niagara County taxpayers, Niagara County Community College President Antonette Cleveland says she's now seeking to boost student tuition to $2600 a year. Cleveland claimed the college needs cash so bad that even her travel budget is being trimmed. There was no immediate explanation why college spending has gotten so out of control that even record taxpayer monies allocated to the school have not been able to satisfy college cash consumption. (9/11/01)NCCC demands met by Legislature. Caving in to a pressure cooker of demands from NCCC alumni and claims that a vote against another budget boost would be "a vote against education" the Niagara County Legislature voted, 8/1, to add another $400,000 of local taxpayer money to NCCC spending plans. The total NCCC budget thus exceeds $30-million, most of it obtained from taxpayers. See story below. (8/2/00)
NCCC cranking up the pressure on County Legislature. Claiming there would have to be layoffs and program cuts if the college doesn't get yet another $623,000 from Niagara County taxpayers, Niagara County Community College moved its PR program into high gear last week. The College mobilized groups of present and former NCCC students to contact Legislators and appear before the Legislature sessions. They were told to plea for more college money in emotional appeals, most all which forecast doom, if the college didn't get all the money it was asking. NCCC made the move on the County purse after discovering that there was still some money available in the County's "cash fund balance." Under the demand for more money put forth by College President Antonette Cleveland, the County's fund balance would be completely wiped out. The latest move to put yet another bite on County taxpayers comes as a result of Cleveland's budget boosted college spending 6.3% at a time when the school spent $2.5-million to contract with "consultants" to help fix a NCCC computer program that got messed up. A preliminary proposal for the college to built an ice rink complex, estimated by some to cost about $13-million, is not included in the current budget. See previous reports below (7/31/00)
NCCC to take bigger bite out of taxpayer. Free now from Niagara County Legislature budget review, the Niagara County Community College took action Tuesday, 5/23, to increase spending and increase the tax bit on Niagara County property owners. The college's Board of Trustees voted to boost spending a mammoth $1.7-million to a record $30.3-million. The spending hike will result in an alarming 26.8% hike in money taken from Niagara County taxpayers according to the college's own figures. There will be no increase in student tuition. The spending totals do not reflect the desire of college president Antonette Cleveland to build a multi-million dollar ice hockey rink. (5/25/00)
Another kind of "education." Niagara County Community College President, Dr. Antonette Cleveland, in mid-February told the media she needed $150 more from taxpayers for each student at the college. But a couple weeks later the college seemed to have lots of loot to shoot. Example: The substantial, but undisclosed, cost of running an 8-page advertising supplement in the Greater Niagara Newspapers promoting her "President's Report." And how will this public relations expense be recorded on the college books? As a cost of "educating the public" so they won't object to paying another $150 for each student at the college? Or, perhaps the "cost of favorable media relations"---to keep those editorials in the county's newspapers all favorable toward the college. One interesting item was contained in all the PR fluff: The college apparently runs training programs in the Virgin Islands. How nice. Dr. Cleveland's report says it is in "partnership with the federal OSHA department to deliver training to St. Thomas, St. John and St.Crois (sic)." And why is this a mission of a Niagara County taxpayer supported operation? No answer to that in the report. But we do have an answer to the accepted spelling for that third island in the Caribbean that Dr. Cleveland cites in her "report." It is spelled "St. Croix," not "St. Crois." (2/28/00)
Niagara Falls schools create another high-paid administrator position.
The school system may have just escaped the brink of financial collapse less than a month ago, with large layoffs of teachers adverted thanks to a mammoth State aid injection. But now district leadership has reverted to past practice in announcing the appointment of a Grand Island woman to serve as "Information Services Administrator" at an annual base pay of $98,502. Darlene Sprague had lost her job earlier in the year at the Moore Research Center. School officials say some of the money saved from the departure of the district's lone computer technician, will be used to fund Ms. Sprague's new position. There was no immediate word on who would be doing the work of the departing technician, Guy Rizzuto, who left to take a position in Buffalo. (12/24/01)Schools so poor they will lay off 35 teachers want new $100K administrator position.
The Niagara Falls School District was able to hide more than a decade of mismanagement last year by the financial facade of "leasing" a brand new high school rather than paying to build one while selling for cash their two existing schools. That worked for one year. Now, school administrators claim, they have a $3-million shortfall in current revenues and need to quickly lay off about 35 teachers to cover themselves. Oh, and they need to create a new $100,000 administrative position to manage "computer technology." (10/31/01)Parents balk at paying repair costs for computers their kids wrecked.
The folly and reality of giving all the students of Niagara Falls High School their own personal laptop computers continues to show itself to disappointed school officials. First it was the loss of the better part of a hundred thousand of dollars when many kids declared that their computers were "stolen" or "lost" or "missing." But hundreds more of the high tech instruments were broken by the kids and officials are now asking that parents pay the repair costs before the computers are re-issued to the children later this month. Many parents are refusing to pay---demanding that the taxpayers foot the costs. The Niagara Gazette offers this opinion of the latest financial fiasco: "The district's actions remind us of the indulgent parent who buys a child a too-expensive toy, then is shocked when he breaks it the same day." (10/5/01)31 laptop computers stolen in first year at Niagara Falls High School.
They started "disappearing" as soon as they were handed out to students. The expensive laptop computers (valued at about $1500 each) were "lost," "disappeared," "missing," and "borrowed." Those were words students used to explain away why they were not able to turn back into the school in June the computers they were issued in September. The reality is that all were stolen. Only one has been recovered. It was seized when it was submitted to a Buffalo area computer service store to have its hard drive reconfigured. As in the case with many, it appears to have fenced and then sold into a secondary market for "hot" computers. Additionally, school officials admit that "hundreds" of computers have been damaged. The cost of the stolen computers plus repair costs on those damaged is estimated near $100K, and must be absorbed by school taxpayers. (8/25/01)$5.3-million deficit projected for Niagara Falls schools next
year. Unlike Lockport Schools, Falls Superintendent Carmen Granto said that
raising school taxes was "not an option." Granto said that if operations
continued into the 2001-02 school year with the same programs and staff as now, the
schools would be in $5.3-million of red ink. He said that since raising taxes would
not be considered, next year's budget must be slashed and he indicated most of the amount
of money saved would have to come from staff reductions. He said as many as 80
employees could be let go so that the schools could avoid a tax increase. He
indicated that one of the main reasons for the increase in costs was about a doubling of
utility costs. Increased costs of wages and benefits are also cited as a cause for
the increased spending. (2/9/01)
Niagara Falls wins Niagara Frontier (school basketball) League title. It
was predicted as soon as the combined LaSalle and former Pine Avenue high school merger
was finalized. The "new," larger Niagara Falls High School would probably
be unbeatable in school basketball competition. The Falls may be 97 out
of 98 schools in Western New York academically, but the undefeated Niagara Falls
Wolverines won the Niagara Frontier title Tuesday night, 2/6, by trouncing Kenmore West,
83-30. (2/7/01)
Preservations blamed for loss of high school sale, costs of $2-million. The Niagara Falls School District had an offer from Benderson Development to buy the old Niagara Falls High School property for about $650,000. The company announced it would have the building torn down and construct a strip plaza on the site. Then "preservationists" a/k/a obstructionists, stepped in and orchestrated community cries to "save the high school." But the preservationists, when given a year to raise the money to buy the building, failed to raise anything much expect hope. Now, when the year is up Benderson says it doesn't want the site any longer. The school district now reveals it may cost the taxpayers as much as $2-million to demolish the building. The situation is quite contrary to the hype the school district put out when asking approval to build the new replacement high school. The school district, of course, doesn't have $2-million. Officials say they will borrow the money, placing the district deeper in debt (at high interest) with no state aid to help out on the latest Niagara Falls financial fiasco. (1/27/01)
Hospital to open branch clinic at Niagara Falls High School. What with all the drug abuse, alcohol hangovers, and teen pregnancy, Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital is announcing it will open a branch clinic at Niagara Falls High School. The clinic will be located on the ground floor of the high school and be staffed by medical personnel from the financially troubled hospital for several hours, three days a week. And who will pay for this? That rather important piece of information wasn't disclosed in the press releases. (1/15/01)
More laptops "missing" at Niagara Falls High School. To the surprise of only school administrators, those "free" laptop computers "loaned" to every student at Niagara Falls High School continue to "disappear." At least eleven are now reported "gone" at a loss to the school district approaching $20,000. Some are declared stolen, others "lost." Most all are expected to turn up on the re-sale market in stolen computer equipment. (1/15/01)
Preservationists push to have high school added to National Register of Historic Places. That's the latest move by those who want to stop the sale, and eventual demolition, of the former Niagara Falls High School on Pine Avenue. Unable to raise the $650,000 necessary to purchase the building, the group moved, without the permission or knowledge of the Niagara Falls Board of Education, to have the building added to the Registry. Early this week the building was declared "eligible" for listing. Such a listing, opposed by the School Board, would trigger a law that largely prevents demolition of structures on the National Register. The School Board has an agreement to sell the building to Benderson Development for $650,000. Benderson would then demolish it to build a strip plaza. A group of preservationists have been given almost a year to match the financial offer made by Benderson but have been unable to even come close. (1/5/01)
News For Reference Form 2000
Surprise! Niagara Falls School District reported
"out of cash." The Niagara Falls School District has been
spending like a drunken sailor for the past year. Brand new high school (leased on
credit) and talk of taking over the City Hyde Park Stadium and the City Library because
the city doesn't have the money to operate those facilities. And, free lap top
computers for every child in high school! But on Saturday, 12/23, the Niagara
Gazette in a Page-1 Headline reveals "DISTRICT OUT OF CASH." The
newspaper reports District Business Administrator, Roy Rogers has disclosed the school
district faces a $2-million deficit in the current year's operating budget and steep cuts
in the budget will be needed to stay afloat. The $2-million cash short-fall would be
higher except Niagara Falls expects to borrow about $1-million form Niagara-Orleans
BOCES. If the district continue on track and can't get further loans, employees and
vendors may have trouble getting paid as early as the Spring. (12/23/00)
Student laptop losses at new high school now near $10,000. A sixth
student laptop has turned up "missing" at the new Niagara Falls High School
where students were loaned personal, brand new, expensive laptop computer for the days in
schools. The program has been in effect for less than four months.
Students are not held responsible for the losses, rather, the taxpayers have to pick up
the tab. "Losses" are expected to increase sharply toward the end of the
school year. (12/17/00)
New public high school cause for enrollment decline at
Niagara Catholic. September enrollment at Niagara Catholic Junior-Senior
High School is down 10% this year. The drop is attributed to the allure of the brand
new Niagara Falls public high school just opened (replacing the old Pine Avenue facility
and LaSalle High). In addition to a new facility, students at the public schools get
a free lap top computer to use (and take home) for all their high school years. The
student-teacher ratio is better at the new public school, also. In fact the new
school has all the advantages except...Niagara Catholic still comes through with higher
student performance scores on standard tests such as The Regents. (9/24/00)
Niagara Falls High School opens to public. The new facility opened
to the public Friday, 9/1 for a full day of events including a ribbon cutting, reception,
tours, and politicians on hand to make speeches. The school features one of the
largest administration heavy line-ups of any facility in Western New York with four (4)
building principals and an overall boss given the title of "Chief Executive
Administrator." A district spokesperson admitted that decision-making will be
slowed by the "team" concept of having all five of the school's top
administrators make joint decisions. As the building itself, those who went through
on tour were impressed by its luxury --- it appears no expense has been spared to give
Niagara Falls students all the tools and resources for a solid education --- and a good
time. (9/1/)
Two computers stolen at LaSalle Middle School. The
school received a total of eleven state-of-the-art computers as a donation from St. Gobain
Div. Of Carborundum Company. Before a company rep could even get back to the school
on Monday, 8/28, to install special software, two of the computers had been stolen.
The loss was placed at about $3000. Skeptics are already making estimates on how
long the lap top computers given to all Niagara Falls High School students will last
before being damaged or "made to disappear." (8/29)
New Niagara Falls High School to open September 12th. On
September 6, 7, 8, and 11th school orientation will be conducted and the children will be
given their personal new $1500 laptop computers. Each computer will be the child's
to use in school and take home. Officials at the school claim the expensive units
(IBM) won't be stolen or broken by the students telling the Niagara Gazette they
were "confident the students would rise to the responsibility of caring for the
computers." The computers come complete with Internet Explorer, the
Microsoft Office Suite of programs, and anti-virus software. (8/12)
"Labor violence" seen as root of vandalism at new
high school. The Niagara Falls Reporter, the new bi-weekly
alternative tabloid out of Niagara Falls, attributes the rash of property destruction,
theft, and fires at the construction site of the new Niagara Falls High School to
"labor violence." In an editorial, editor Mike Hudson writes, "Members of the Laborers, Carpenters and Electrical Workers locals have been
feuding for months at the site...Niagara County has a history of this kind of nonsense and
more disturbing than the incidents themselves is the effect they have on development. Many
contractors don't want to work here and entrepreneurs don't want to get
involved." Before the high school was built a "Project Labor
Agreement" was supposed to assure labor peace --- at the cost of a higher tab for
construction and no non-union labor at the site. The Niagara Falls Reporter
piece seems to indicate the unions ---with no non-union labor to fight on site --- are
fighting among themselves. (7/23)
20% of graduating class fails to graduate. Don't blame school
administrators or teachers for this. The fact that 20% of 2000 graduating class at
Niagara Falls High School did not graduate is credited to student indifference and
non-support from parents. Only one of those who didn't make the grade failed because
of increasing state standards, according to school officials. The rest failed by
not showing up for school or bothering to take required courses. Over at LaSale
High School only 3.1% of the student seniors failed to graduate and for much the same
reasons. (7/3/00)
Vandalism continues at new Niagara Falls high school. The
multi-million dollar facility isn't even done yet but vandals are increasing their
attacks. Still, Superintendent of Schools, Carmen Granto promises the new school
will open on schedule in September. A report in the Niagara Gazette on Monday, 7/2,
indicated the vandalism has reached the point that the contractor is posting armed guards
at the site. The Project Executive at the schools is quoted as saying, "This
happens all the time...it's a nuisance." In addition to thefts, and property
destruction, several arson fires have been set. (7/3/00)
Heavy damage at school reported after drup truck plows into campus bridge. A dump truck being used on a re-paving project plowed into a section of Niagara-Wheatfield Middle School Wednesday afternoon, 9/20, about 2 o'clock causing severe damage. The truck slammed into a student "bridge" connecting the high school library to the middle school when the truck operator failed to lower bed of the truck upon driving under the bridge, built only two years ago. No students injuries were reported. It will be about a week before school officials know the projected cost of the negligence but it is expected to be well over $100,000, perhaps much more. Most of the damage, including breaks in the plumbing infrastructure, is inside buildings at the campus off Route 31. (9/21/00)
NT elementary teacher jailed on sex charges. 27-year old Jason A. Lorich of First Avenue, North Tonawanda has been arrested and jailed on sex charges relating to a young student at Meadow Elementary School. Lorich is a third grade teacher at the school, with tenure. He has been charged with fondling the girl and Monday, 1/8, appeared in North Tonawanda Court to be arraigned on charges of First Degree Sexual Abuse, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He failed to enter a plea and is being held in jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail. According to public papers Mr. Lorich has been accused by the girl's mother of putting his hand inside the girl's shirt to rub her back on several occasions. He has been suspended from the school district with pay. (1/9/01) Update: Authorities were reported trying to interview as many as 80 children in an attempt to get more complaints against Mr. Lorich. North Tonawanda Police Chief, Carl Stiles, was telling media on Wednesday, 1/10 that Mr. Lorich is a "serial pedophile." The police reportedly have seized personal computers used by Mr. Lorich at his home and in school. A few more children have since reported to have made claims about Mr. Lorich's behavior since his story has made the media rounds. Lorich made bail on Wednesday, 1/10, and has been released from jail. (1/11/01)
Teacher union leader who called seniors "geezers" will not resign. Despite a swell of outrage from senior citizens in the North Tonawanda School District, United Teachers Union President Linda Roach will not resign from her teaching position at North Tonawanda High School. Roach came under fire by calling senior citizens in the district "geezers" in the June issue of the union newsletter. The smear was directed at senior citizens who Roach holds responsible for voting down the district budget. Wednesday, 7/12, a group of concerned citizens appeared before the Board of Education advocating Roach's removal but were told because the newsletter was not published by the school but by an independent union, the Board could take no action. Roach has incensed the community ever since word spread that she advocates "shipping elderly voters to Canada." North Tonawanda Mayor, Mary Kabasakalian has termed Roach's remarks "appalling and a disgrace to the city." She likened the teacher's smear against the elderly to the campaign of Hitler against the Jews. (7/14/00)
Roy-Hart voters pass school budget that promises tax rate cut. After
first voting down a school budget that provided for a tax hike, voters in the eastern
Niagara County school district Friday, 6/15 approved a budget that will provide for a
3.24% tax rate cut. The $18.9-million spending plan, somewhat reduced from the first
budget submitted, was approved by a vote of 481 to 331. (6/16/01)
Roy-Hart School Board approves budget that will cut taxes. After
receiving one budget defeat in May for a plan that would boost property taxes .74% the
Royalton Hartland School District Board of Education has now approved a $18.9-million plan
that would cut taxes 3.24%. The matter goes before voters on June 15th with
polling at Gasport Elementary School. The previous budget was defeated by 50 votes.
(6/3/01)
Anonymous complaint leads to asbestos investigation. The
New York State Labor Department has investigated an anonymous complaint that asbestos
debris is loose at the Gasport Elementary School as a result of renovation work.
Chips coming off wall and floor tiles were reported found in building heaters. News
of the complaint was quickly spread to parents who in turned have called the school with
their concerns. Tuesday, 10/17, Principal Kevin Shanley, citing consultation with
others, sent a letter home to parents by way of their children claiming there was no
health hazards at the school. But one parent told the media she was taking her child
to the hospital for testing. (10/18/00)
Impasse declared in teachers union negotiations. Teachers seeking
pay boosts from the Royalton-Hartland School district are reported at impasse with
negotiators for the district administration. A mediator, Adam Kaufman, has been
appointed to settle the differences between the two sides. The failed negotiations
have reportedly been going on for a about 18 months. (10/16/00)
Art teacher arrested for DWI hours after hit-and-run accident. Police at Medina have charged 44-year old John E. Jablonski with Driving While Intoxicated after the vehicle he reportedly was driving plowed into another car stopped at an intersection. Police say Jablonski, who had just come from a Roy-Hart School faculty party where he had been drinking alcoholic beverages, stopped for a moment after the crash and talked to the victim but then left the scene. The accident was on the afternoon of June 23rd, the last day of school, but public word of the incident was delayed. Jablonski reportedly failed various DWI tests even hours after the accident when he gave himself up to a police search. He is scheduled to appear in Medina Village Court on July 10th. (7/1/00)
Teen found unconscious from alcohol overdose at Royalton-Hartland
High. The Lockport Home Page learned Friday night that a 17-year old
student was rushed to the hospital Friday, 3/24, after being found lying unconscious at
the Middleport Roy-Hart campus. Authorities say he had an overdose of alcohol.
The incident, at about 7:30 p.m., is under investigation and authorities would not
immediately disclose details. Earlier in the year, the school district came under media
attention when its Board President was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. (See
reports below) (3/25/00)
Board approves record $17.9M budget, taxes would go up again. Without
a public hearing, the Royalton-Hartland School District Board of Education voted
unanimously to put a school budget before voters on May 16th that would raise spending by
3.2% and hike property taxes by 2.1%. Copies of the budget were not immediately
available to the public. (3/10/00)
Reports says: Board president was at Superintendent's party
before DWI arrest. The Lockport Union-Sun & Journal is
reporting that Roy-Hart School Board President, Robert J. Bernard, had been attending a
party held by School Superintendent Paul J. Bona before his arrest for DWI on December
12th. Interestingly, all Board members, except one who did not attend the party,
are giving their support to Bernard and saying he shouldn't step down.
Superintendent Bona declined to give specific answers to questions by the newspaper
regarding the party. Bona, the newspaper reports, declined even to confirm that
Bernard was at the party or that alcoholic beverages were being served. Bona is
quoted by the newspaper in a front-page story, Wednesday, 1/19, he was not answering
"on advice of legal counsel." (1/19/00
DWI charges reduced. The President of the Royalton-Hartland School
District Board of Education entered a guilty plea to reduced charges of Driving While
Ability Impaired in a plea bargain deal over his DWI arrest in December. 57-year old
Robert J. Bernard is quoted as saying that he would continue on in his school board
position. According to public papers he was fined $550 and ordered to perform eight
days or four weekends in the Niagara County (Jail) work release program. (1/15/00)
President of Board of Education arrested. 57-year old Robert J. Bernard of 5 Vernon Street in Middleport was reported charged with Driving While Intoxicated on Sunday afternoon, 12/12. Middleport Police say they spotted Mr. Bernard driving "erratically" and brought him to the Lockport Police station for an alcohol test. There, according to public papers, his blood alcohol was measured at 0.15% and the DWI charges were placed. Bernard is scheduled to appear in court on December 28th. (12/13/99)
Starpoint schools to get extra $100K State aid grant.
Starpoint school officials were patting themselves on the backs Tuesday, 12/4, after getting word that their appeals to State Senator George Maziarz for more cash from the State have paid off. Maziarz has reportedly arranged for the State of New York to provide a $100,000 unrestricted gift to the Starpoint School system which has been claiming "hard times" after a capital expansion program generated financial distress. The program, which voters had been told earlier would not increase taxes, has increased district costs so much that the school's regular yearly budget has twice been voted down by residents. Some say the program has been mismanaged or misrepresented. The new money is on top of other State aid increases the district has received. (12/5/01)Six students finally charged in connection with $50K Starpoint School arson.
The teens were all arraigned at a Pendleton Town Court session, Monday, 10/29, that had not previously been announced to the media. The students had been picked up by Niagara County Sheriff's investigators despite the reported refusal of school officials to reveal the names. Those names became common knowledge throughout much of the Starpoint community earlier this month after word leaked out that they had gone to a school principal to confess in an effort to avoid criminal prosecution. Town Justice Edmund Maziarz granted all six "Youthful Offender Status" meaning that their identities and even the result of future court proceedings need not be made public. However, a day following, the judge reversed himself on that ruling, saying that YO status was unfit for the case. He then identified those charged as: Matthew D. Rankie of 5391 Tonawanda Creek Road, Brandon M. Pierce of 5024 Escarpment Drive, Colin M. Ziffringer of 6050 Fisk Road, Aaron M. Kaples of 5136 Feigle Road, Nicholas L. Reynolds of 6682 Aiken Road, and Sean K. Thompson of 4744 North Tonawanda Creek Road. All are 17 years of age according to public papers and are charged with a felony. (10/30/01)Starpoint voters reject school budget again.
The $26.2-million budget was voted down 1444 to 1195 Tuesday, 6/19 but school district administrators had so designed the school's operating and other budgets so that spending under a state-mandated "contingency budget" will still go up 8.08% and taxes will soar 19%. It was the second straight budget defeat at Starpoint where taxpayers are distressed over huge spending increases. (6/22/01)Starpoint Schools to submit budget with 11.8% spending increase to voters.
The massive spending and taxing program was turned down by 93 votes when first submitted to voters on May 15th. Now, officials say, they've trimmed the spending package by about $428K and will seek approval in a second vote on June 19th. The total package is for $26.2-million. Starpoint ran into money problems when they started a giant new expansion and renovation program after first telling residents the new building would cause no tax increase. However, the May budget proposal called for a 14.8% tax increase for property taxpayers. (5/29/01)Starpoint School teacher arrested, charged with violent house invasion, robbery. Starpoint Central School History teacher, James Ventry was arrested on federal charges Tuesday, 2/6 for his alleged participation in a 1996 house invasion in Niagara Falls. He was taken into custody by New York State Police as he left the building at Starpoint School. 29-year old Ventry, now reported living off Jagow Road in the Town of Wheatfield, has been charged along with 26-year old Robert J. Vitagliano of Niagara Falls. Authorities say Ventry, Vitagliano, and a third unidentified man, all wearing ski masks invaded a woman's house on the night of August 1, 1996. They are accused of holding a gun to her head while they ransacked her home looking for money. Ventry was released Wednesday on $100,000 bail. Starpoint Central School Superintendent C. Douglas Whelan told media he first became aware of the charges when he was told that Mr. Ventry would not be in school on Wednesday. He declined further comment. (2/8/01)
11-Year old charged with attack on school bus driver. Niagara County Sheriff's investigators say an 11-year old boy has been charged with third-degree assault for an attack on a Starpoint School bus driver. The woman driver, who was kicked, punched and scratched, was taken to Lockport Memorial Hospital. Authorities say the incident took place when the driver attempted to intervene in a student fight on the bus. The child was immediately granted juvenile status and the public will hear no more about the resolution of the case. (11/12/00)
Board approves $57-million in new construction; proposal now goes to the voters. The Starpoint Board of Education voted unanimously Monday, 2/14, to go ahead with a mammoth new construction project that includes a new high school, 1,100-seat auditorium, new gym and cafeteria, and an all-weather athletic field. Proponents of the new spending claim the State of New York taxpayers will pay 88.6% of the costs. The matter goes to a public vote on April 11th. In other action the board approved teacher raises of about 7.5% to be granted over a two year period. (2/15/00) Update: Proposal approved by voters by wide margin.
Wilson school superintendent claims 12.8% raises for administrators justified.
When members of the Wilson school PTA found out that the school board voted 12.8% pay raises for five already-highly paid school administrators they were not happy. The action came, it was discovered only this week, after a November 13th meeting, following a late night "executive session." By the time the "executive session" was over public observers had gone home. Then, an agenda item labeled "negotiation update" actually turned out to a pay raise for administrators. Some PTA members heard about the matter only this week and were irate since they are doing volunteer work raising $20,000 to fund various projects the school district can't afford. But School Superintendent Daniel T. Conner, when asked to comment on the pay hikes, told the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, "When you think about it, it's quite noble." (1/4/02)Wilson parents protesting teaching of sex acts in school.
Parents in the Wilson school district are up in arms over revelations that the school district has brought in an outside sex "facilitator" to teach their children how to have sexual intercourse and engage in masturbation. The hiring of the sex teacher, reportedly not a member of the regular school teaching faculty, is one of several changes residents are finding in education at Wilson since the retirement of long-time school superintendent, Richard Zipp. Some parents are outraged about the program which has a woman "facilitator" giving sex lessons to mixed classes of boys and girls of the 5th grade under a program titled, "Perils of Puberty." (11/13/01)$1.7-million spending program to go before voters October 11th. The money would be spent for capital school improvements including renovating homes and careers classrooms into regular classrooms and transferring such instructional activities to the Middle School, upgrading the fire-alarm system, and rehabilitating the high school parking lot plus installation of additional lighting. The work would begin, if approved by district voters, sometime in the summer of 2001. Voting will be from 10 AM to 8 PM at the Zipp Athletic Center in the middle/high school building. (9/30/00) Approved.
Steven LaRock leaving Wilson to take charge at Barker. The Director of Instructional Services at Wilson Central School is leaving the school district with just over 2 weeks notice to take over as Superintendent of Schools at Barker. Steven LaRock was approved as Barker's new Superintendent to start no later than February 22nd. Barker has been without a Superintendent since Judith Staples left to take over at Medina schools. According to unconfirmed reports, LaRock will get a base salary of slightly over $100,000 a year in the new position plus benefits which would inflate the salary another 15%. (2/1/00)
Spending referendum approved 397-71. At the vote residents also elected Rebecca H. Albright to fill out the term of Kevin R. Cornell who resigned. See story immediately below. (12/11/99)
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