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Niagara Falls City School District board meeting, Sep 10, 2026

1 h 44 min · 0 public speakers

AI in schools ▶ 0:23Reading and test scores ▶ 0:23Safety, weapons and police ▶ 44:05Vouchers and school choice ▶ 26:49

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 1 h 44 min.

  1. Who spoke · first speaks at
What happened

What happened at this meeting

Niagara Falls board adopts policy on safeguarding rights of immigrant students 1:13:03

  • The superintendent presented a strategic vision for the district built on 6 pillars and said a strategic plan would follow. 3:04
  • The board went through 5 proposed bylaw amendments and 28 proposed resolutions from the New York State School Boards Association, and a staff member confirmed the board's position on a resolution to reduce lockdown drills as a no. 22:15
  • The board waived tabling and adopted the policy, with one board member voting no. 1:31:48

Until Nov 4, lines where a board member takes a side don't name the member. Why →

Item by item (9)
  1. Audit committee and strategic vision 0:01
    • The superintendent described pillars including organizational focus, AI, equity and access, engaged communities, pathways to success and transformational leadership. 0:23
    • The superintendent said the audit committee met at 4 o'clock, the auditors will do field work between the 24th and October 9th, and findings are expected October 15th. 0:46
    • The superintendent said a timeline for a 3⁠-⁠5 year strategic plan would come in the coming months. 19:57
  2. State school boards association resolutions 22:12
    • A staff member presented 5 proposed bylaw amendments and 28 proposed resolutions, which the staff member said came from school districts across the state. 22:15
    • One board member asked whether anyone had considered what the resolutions would cost, saying buses and aides are big money. 41:24
    • A staff member said the district spends maybe $90,000 to $100,000 on athletic transport with zero aid and would receive 90% back if it became aid eligible. 42:12
    • A staff member confirmed the board's position on proposed resolution 26, on reducing lockdown drills, as a no. 43:52
  3. Board representative for NISBA resolutions vote 50:42
    • The superintendent said the board needed to appoint a member to participate in the October virtual vote on the resolutions. 50:42
    • A staff member thanked Kristen M. Grandinetti for stepping up to be the representative and said the vote is October 15th. 52:07
    • Vincent Cancemi said the meeting would be 5 and a half hours. 52:28
  4. Personnel report 52:39
    • The presenter of the certificated report listed resignations, a revised probationary appointment and the involuntary transfers of 3 art teachers. 56:02
    • The presenter reported retirements in the classified staff and a lot of movement in early head and associate staff. 57:48
  5. Short-term contracts 58:44
    • A district staff member outlined contracts including a coaching and mentoring program costing $18,000 that works with up to 20 students at Gaskill Preparatory School. 58:44
    • A staff member said students are recommended for the mentoring program through START meetings and that at least 80 to 90% of students improved in the area they were recommended for. 1:07:36
    • A district staff member said a boxing program is expected to fill 40 spots for students from October through May. 1:10:30
  6. Resolutions on meetings, contracts and insurance 1:13:03
    • A district staff member said resolution 6.1 moves the review meeting to October the 15th. 1:14:30
    • A district staff member said the Say Yes Buffalo contract is for $320,000. 1:20:45
    • A district staff member said the district is seeking an additional $2 million of cyber insurance coverage, which cost $32,000 last year, and is waiting on a quote. 1:22:43
  7. Immigrant student rights policy 1:13:03
    • A district staff member said Policy 7134 is required by state law and calls for 2 liaisons to review immigration authority requests to enter district buildings. 1:26:07
    • A speaker said the law took effect in May of 2026 and the district must adopt the policy by September 21st. 1:29:44
    • One board member said the policy hampers law enforcement agencies in performing their duties and voted no. 1:32:30
    • Tabling was waived, and a staff member announced the policy adopted. 1:31:48
  8. Closing comments 1:33:07
    • A staff member noted that the following day was the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. 1:36:14
    • One board member said they were impressed with the community liaison team and the coaching program. 1:38:20
    • One board member called the school opening one of the smoothest openings they had ever seen. 1:41:32
  9. Adjournment 1:43:14
    • The chair called for a motion to adjourn. 1:43:14
    • The meeting was adjourned. ~1:43:37

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

What was said

What board members said, in order

Anything can be called a pre-K class. A universal pre-K has certain guidelines that need to be followed, and that's why this, this is important, right?Kristen M. Grandinetti · Board member39:38
Other meetings

Other meetings of this board

Video: posted by the district as “NFCSD Board of Education Meeting - 9/10/2026”