The Buffalo News - Education http://www.buffalonews.com Latest stories from The Buffalo News en-us Mon, 20 May 2013 22:35:29 -0400 Mon, 20 May 2013 22:35:29 -0400 <![CDATA[ Buffalo School Board fast-tracking budget vote for Wednesday ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130520/CITYANDREGION/130529916/1020
The financial plan would put into place a new budget process that would give principals more autonomy but generally leave the public without any formal input.

Unlike suburban school districts that tend to embrace a more open process and hold public hearings to gain voter support before the budget comes up for a public vote, the Buffalo Public Schools have no independent taxing authority and no separate budget vote. The only public hearing on the budget was held by the Council on May 9, the same night the preliminary 2013-14 budget was introduced.

“At the end of the day, we are stuck working the numbers that we have,” said Finance Committee Chairwoman Sharon Belton-Cottman. “You can talk about it until you’re green in the face. At the end of the day, you still have to balance the budget and move forward.”

She and other district leaders said the current budget cuts costs while protecting the classroom. The $797 million base budget for the next school year would increase spending by $14 million because of rising employee benefit costs despite the net elimination of more than 30 full-time jobs.

Board members said they have been getting information and providing input on the budget for months as part of their Finance Committee deliberations. Though the budget does not have to be approved until June 30, board members rarely take that long to approve it.

Board member John B. Licata said the district needs to start sending out 30-day layoff notices, even though it’s not yet clear how many layoffs will be necessary because final retirement and attrition numbers aren’t yet complete.

Outside of Finance Committee meetings, the board doesn’t have open budget work sessions. Instead, the district sets up separate budget meetings, including several over the last week, with a few board members at a time to circumvent the Open Meetings Law.

Belton-Cottman said the small groups “encourage civil conversation.”

“If we didn’t have small group meetings, everything we breathe would be in The News,” she said. “We can’t have a decent conversation without being scrutinized.”

Questions have surfaced regarding the budget’s impact on individual schools because this year’s budget gives school principals much more discretion in the shaping of its own staff through a process known as “school-based budgeting.” This model, common in many school districts, empowers leadership teams at each individual school to determine how they want to staff their schools beyond bare state requirements.

A number of principals said they appreciate having more control over their own building staffing since they know their school population best.

“I think they like choosing. I think they like building their program,” said Dawn M. DiNatale, principal of Makowski Early Childhood Center and president of the Elementary Principals Association. “In the age now where it’s the principal who’s held accountable for the students’ achievement in their building, principals need to have more control.”

The district provided each school with a base level of funding for positions such as administrators, core subject teachers, guidance counselors and staff for state-mandated class offerings for art, music and physical education, principals said.

Staff allocations were made based on projected student enrollment.

This year, the district also assigned staff for special-education students and English language learners. Staff for “flagship” programs such as gifted-and-talented programs was also maintained.

But many other support positions and unmandated staff were stripped out of each school’s base budget. Instead, schools were allocated certain federal and state block grant dollars to spend on staff as each school leadership team sees fit.

At Makowski, for instance, DiNatale opted to “buy” more reading and math teachers, social workers and in-school alternative education staff, while at Olmsted School at Kensington, Principal Michael Gruber chose to have more foreign language and instrumental music teachers and teachers aides.

Monday, the district was unable to share school-by-school breakdowns or provide information about which schools are receiving fewer dollars because of declining enrollment. Even so, some principals say they prefer the autonomy, even though they receive fewer dollars.

The new system is considered more equitable, more flexible and less “mystifying” than past budgeting practices, principals said. But smaller elementary schools are finding it hard to maintain full-time staffing under the new budget model.

In addition, some schools that have been considered overfunded by the district in the past, have also lost many unmandated positions but weren’t given enough dollars to get them back.

Certain school offerings, such as the district’s instrumental music programs, are also apparently taking a backseat to schools that want more staff focused on core academics.

Instrumental music teacher Nick DelBello, for instance, has spent a couple of years building up the band programs at School 81 and Riverside Institute of Technology. He started two bands at School 81 after sifting through a pile of instruments that had sat around unused for years, he said. Now, he’s uncertain whether he’ll have a place at any school.

In response to a News inquiry, district spokeswoman Elena Cala said six music teachers teaching non-credited courses will be cut from the budget. There is no specific mention of music teacher cuts in the district’s budget summary, and a News request to speak with the supervisor of the district’s music program was refused.



email: stan@buffnews.com ]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 21:59:10 -0400 Sandra Tan
]]> <![CDATA[ Voters in Western New York school districts to have their say Tuesday ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130520/CITYANDREGION/130529923/1020
And this year, like last, the tax cap loomed large in the way districts crafted their proposed budgets.

All except two school boards in the two counties have proposed spending plans for 2013-14 that would keep the proposed tax increases at or below the state limits for each district. For those seeking to exceed the cap – Clarence and Lewiston-Porter – voter turnout for the typically quiet school elections could be higher than usual.

“I think we’re going to have an increase in the voter turnout just because of the nature of the beast of what we’re asking for,” said R. Christopher Roser, superintendent of Lewiston-Porter schools, where the proposed budget would reduce spending but increase taxes to make up for lost revenue. “I don’t know if that’s going to be more negative votes or more positive votes.”

In Clarence, where voters will be asked to approve a 9.8 percent increase in the amount of taxes collected, allegations of sign stealing and vandalism surfaced ahead of today’s budget vote in a community that has seen active campaigning for and against the budget proposal.

Many districts took a cue from last year’s school board elections, when 99 percent of the districts across the state that proposed budgets within the cap passed, compared with a 60 percent passage rate in those that sought to exceed it.

“What we’re seeing is that, by and large, districts are coming in under the cap,” said David Albert of the New York School Boards Association, which has calculated that 96 percent of the school districts across the state will present school budgets to voters today that are within the state-imposed tax cap.

Though the state’s tax cap law, which took effect last year, includes a base 2 percent cap on increasing taxes for school districts, the actual limit for almost all districts in Erie and Niagara counties is above that amount because of exclusions allowed in the formula used to calculate the cap for each district. Next year, payments for teacher pensions will increase dramatically for school districts as the Teachers’ Retirement System makes up for losses during the recession. That increase is factored into the tax cap calculation.

All except two districts in Erie and Niagara counties have proposed budgets that would increase the amount of taxes collected, with the average tax increase across the districts at 3.3 percent. Two districts – Lackawanna and Cheektowaga-Sloan – have proposed budgets that would keep tax revenue flat or decrease it slightly.

Districts that have proposed budgets that exceed a state-imposed cap require at least 60 percent voter approval to pass. All other districts will require at least 50 percent voter approval to pass.

If a budget fails, a school district can submit the same proposal or a new proposal again to voters in June. If the second budget proposal fails to pass, the district must adopt a contingency budget that would not increase the tax levy.

For a complete district-by-district list of poll locations, hours, budget proposals, propositions and candidates, visit buffalonews.com/schools. The News will offer results at BuffaloNews.com after polls close.



email: djgee@buffnews.com ]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 21:56:04 -0400 Denise Jewell Gee
]]> <![CDATA[ Villa Maria, GCC hold graduation ceremonies ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130520/CITYANDREGION/130529981/1020
Robert D. Gioia, president of John R. Oishei Foundation, was the keynote speaker. He also accepted the Founder’s Medal on behalf of the foundation for outstanding advocacy of the Villa Maria mission and the community.

The Catholic college specializes in applied arts and music but recently expanded its programs to include business administration and photography and graphic design, among other offerings.

Also Sunday, about 950 Genesee Community College students received degrees during the school’s 45th commencement ceremonies in the Anthony T. Zambito Gymnasium.

State Sen. Catharine Young, R-Olean, gave the keynote address before the college recognized students who completed or will complete programs last August as well as in January, May and August of this year. Graduates included 54-year-old Aggie Robinson of Batavia, who returned to school to earn a degree in human services after postponing her education to raise a family.

The GCC ceremonies were streamed live to monitors across the campus, including in the cafeteria and student union. ]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 07:40:16 -0400 <![CDATA[ Reinventing an ancient art form ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130519/BUSINESS/130519011/1020
Now, a team of students and faculty from the University at Buffalo is helping the Orchard Park company bring the techniques into the 21st century.

Researchers in UB’s School of Architecture and Planning have introduced the designers and sculptors at Boston Valley to new, high-tech tools that are saving time and helping them work more efficiently.

“We’re extremely lucky to be close to this caliber of facility,” said John Krouse, Boston Valley’s president. “I think it would have been extremely difficult to do it without their help.”

The tools – including a carving tool that works in three dimensions and a program that uses photos to create digital images of terra cotta pieces – aren’t intended to replace the craftsmen at Boston Valley with machines and computers.

Instead, they are meant to free the workers from the most onerous tasks, allowing them to focus on work that requires creativity while giving them training in valuable skills.

And UB students get the practical experience of putting academic concepts to the test in the business world.

“It’s embedded learning,” said Omar Khan, chair of UB’s architecture department.

The owners of Boston Valley Terra Cotta started fabricating architectural terra cotta 32 years ago, after Krouse and several members of his family bought and reconfigured Boston Valley Pottery, a producer of clay pots that began making bricks in 1889.

The new owners sought to recast the pottery company, located near clay deposits in Orchard Park, as a terra cotta manufacturer with a focus on historic restoration.

The company’s first restoration project was the ornate facade of the Guaranty Building in downtown Buffalo, which led to assignments across the United States and Canada.

Their hundreds of restoration projects have included Craigdarroch Castle in British Columbia, Burnham and Root’s Rookery building in Chicago and the Breakers, the Gilded Age mansion in Newport, R.I.

Today, Boston Valley is one of just three companies in the United States that manufacture terra cotta, which is growing in popularity as a building material in new construction, because ceramics are durable, “green” and sustainable.

“We’re hoping that goes for 20 or 30 years,” said Krouse, a ceramic engineer, referring to the terra cotta revival.

Boston Valley, which declined to provide sales figures, employs 130 people at its 180,000-square-foot facility on South Abbott Road. About half of its business is manufacturing terra cotta for new construction and half is for restorations.Khan and UB researcher Mitchell Bring reached out to Boston Valley prior to the 2011 National Preservation Conference, a major annual event that drew more than 2,000 people to Buffalo when it was held here.

UB wanted to demonstrate a more efficient, less invasive approach to restoring terra cotta details on architecturally significant buildings, and it wanted to work with Boston Valley to do this. “How does computing and craft come together?” Khan said.

The traditional process of re-creating terra cotta tiles, statues and other building features requires drafters to create a two-dimensional drawing of the object. They work off photos, measurements taken by hand or a piece of the object or facade in question if it can be removed.

The drafters’ drawing then is sent to the pattern shop, where sculptors produce a model, typically in plaster.

Plaster is poured over the model to produce a hollow mold, before workers press and form terra cotta into the mold. The terra cotta is then finished, dried and fired in a kiln.

UB introduced Boston Valley to digital fabrication tools already used by students in an architecture department lab.

One, a laser scanner, is used to scan an object that remains on the building or that has been removed from the building. Drafters at Boston Valley were trained to use modeling software to take the data generated by the scanner to create a three-dimensional image.

Another high-tech process, known as photogrammetry, uses photographs taken from a number of angles to create a similar 3-D image, and this process is better than a laser scanner for producing images of complex objects. Both approaches make the drafting process and model-making process easier, Khan said.

The 3-D images created by the laser scanner or the photogrammetry process are then used to produce a model, either using a laser cutter or cutting tools known as three-axis or five-axis routers, which UB also demonstrated to Boston Valley.

The routers get their names from the number of directions the router can move while cutting a piece of foam into a model. Three-axis routers cut along an X-Y axis or up and down.

The fourth and fifth axes refer to this newer router’s ability to rotate 180 degrees in a half circle motion around the piece of foam, creating models with undulating peaks and valleys.

A laser cutter creates a tool, made of wood and metal, that is used in turn to produce the plaster model.

Students at UB built their own five-axis router, following online directions, and used the machine to create replicas of the tiles on the Guaranty Building that were handed out to attendees of the 2011 National Preservation Conference in Buffalo.

Boston Valley officials who used the UB router were so impressed they decided to buy an industrial-sized version for themselves, after UB showed employees how to use it.

The region benefits when more workers are trained in how to use cutting-edge tools and software, Khan said. “We need people who know how to do this,” he said.Boston Valley used some of its new fabrication tools on its most recent major restoration project, the replacement of four aging, terra cotta female figures attached to the corners of the top floor of 150 Nassau, a condominium high-rise in Manhattan that dates to the 1890s.

The 19-foot-tall sculptures, known as caryatids, need to be replaced with terra cotta replicas that will be anchored more securely to the building.

A contractor removed one sculpture from the building, piece by piece, and all 54 of them were placed in separate crates and trucked up to Buffalo.

Boston Valley artisans used photogrammetry and a laser scanner to create 3-D images of each piece. The company then produced 54 models, molds and terra cotta pieces for the first of the replica caryatids, which look like angels and were dubbed “Dorothy” by UB.

Boston Valley’s workers are finishing up the project now, and the first of the replacement caryatids is set to be installed at 150 Nassau in August.

For Boston Valley, the new digital tools allow its employees to finish the drafting and modeling process faster, potentially letting the company take on more work as those skilled craftsmen and women focus on tasks that demand creativity.

Boston Valley is using the tools again for their next large restoration undertaking, the replacement of the terra cotta dome atop the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton.

“It’s something that would be almost impossible to do the old way,” Krouse said.

For UB, the partnership offers its students a chance to gain practical experience, and several students, including Linfan Liu and Peter Schmidt, have worked at Boston Valley part-time and shared what they learned in the lab at school.

The architecture department has set up a Material Culture Research Group and also has started introducing these tools to other companies, including Rigidized Metals, bolstering the region’s push into advanced manufacturing.

“We have a lot of really great manufacturers that are going to be retooling, that are going to be moving to far more sophisticated manufacturing processes, and those are all digital, those are all computationally driven,” Khan said.



email: swatson@buffnews.com ]]> Sun, 19 May 2013 23:00:03 -0400 Stephen Watson
]]> <![CDATA[ Exit polls after school elections offer glimpse of voters’ mind-sets ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130519/CITYANDREGION/130518981/1020
In school districts that conduct them, the surveys are a chance for voters to tell school officials what they’re thinking, why they voted the way they did and, sometimes, to sound off on topics that have nothing to do with budgets, tax rates or propositions at all.

Iroquois Superintendent Douglas Scofield is a big believer in exit polls, calling them a valuable tool that offers insights into the pulse of the community.

“We do it every year because it’s one of the data factors that helps determine the district’s direction. The budget vote, whether it’s ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ is good, but it doesn’t give you the reasons why people voted the way they did,” he said.

Typically, the Iroquois survey starts by asking people how they voted, then goes on to a section where residents rate the importance of various items. This year, the district is adding a question about school resource officers and whether voters would support one with local dollars.

Other districts use the exit poll sporadically or not at all. In Holland, officials said they haven’t had an exit poll since 2000, but interim Superintendent Sylvia Root sees the merit in them.

“It’s nice to know what people are thinking,” she said.

In Springville, Superintendent Paul Connelly said the district conducted an exit poll the last two years but is skipping it this year.

“Sometimes they’re useful, sometimes they’re not. We don’t do it every year,” Connelly said.

Last year, following a budget that cut dozens of employees and saw significant program cuts, he said the negative feedback was intense and not all that helpful.

The Hamburg Central School District has held exit polls for the last three years. Michelle Darstein, community relations coordinator, said the questions are similar year to year but are adjusted to ask about topics of relevance. Last May, the district asked voters if they were aware of the state’s new tax cap law and how they felt about it.

Many residents pass on this opportunity to let their elected officials know what they’re thinking.

Last year, Darstein said, only a small percentage of Hamburg voters opted to fill out an exit poll – about 400 out of thousands of eligible voters.

Nevertheless, results are tabulated and, in districts that hold exit polls, the results are reviewed by both board members and administrators. ]]> Sun, 19 May 2013 21:43:15 -0400 By Eileen Werbitsky

Southtowns correspondent

]]> <![CDATA[ New Grand Island superintendent incorporates world view into leadership, teaching ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130519/CITYANDREGION/130518989/1020
Lawrence was named superintendent of the Grand Island Central School District last month and plans to take the reins June 10.

The director of curriculum and staff development for the Clarence Central School District for the past eight years, Lawrence sought the top position in Grand Island because she had grown to love the community while completing her administrative studies within the district.

“I have admired the school district and community ever since,” she said. “During the interview process, it became abundantly clear that the Grand Island School Board, and the community at large, values education. I believe together we can build upon an already top-notch school district,” she said.

Lawrence believes her combination of educational and career experiences made her an attractive candidate for the position, including her ability to listen and seek common ground with stakeholders while balancing what is best for students; a track record of achieving outcomes through collaboration; a strong work ethic; a history of seeking out educational opportunities; and a strong resume that includes positions with increased obligations and accountability.

These educational and career paths provided the foundation of what Lawrence describes as a global perspective to teaching, learning and leadership.

Her father was a U.S. Air Force officer and her mother is British, and the family moved to Germany when Lawrence was 5. From fifth grade through high school, she attended German schools, completing her studies completely in the language. She studied for and earned the American general education diploma with the intention of completing undergraduate studies in the United States, but she returned to Germany to continue her studies in mathematics before returning to the United States at age 20 to complete her undergraduate work.

“In 1990, I moved to Buffalo with the intention of completing undergraduate studies in statistics and math and returning overseas,” she said. “I never left.”

She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in statistics, an advanced certificate in educational technology and a doctor of philosophy from the University at Buffalo and a certificate in human resources from Cornell University. Her educational career began in 1991 as a middle school math and religion teacher at Queen of Heaven in West Seneca.

From there, she worked for several years as a consultant with LEGO Dacta, the educational division of LEGO Systems, Inc., based in Amherst.

Before joining the administrative staff at Clarence Central, Lawrence served for five years as the instructional specialist for research and evaluation for Williamsville Central Schools; one year as the program supervisor and assistant principal at Roosevelt Elementary School in Kenmore; and three years as the curriculum and staff development coordinator at Erie 1 BOCES.

While she originally was interested in quality control or actuarial work, the classroom beckoned.

“I was drawn to teaching,” she said. “I chose to stay on in Buffalo, where I began my career in education. I am currently in my 22nd year in education. I cannot imagine doing any other work.”

In addition to her work inside the schools, Lawrence has taken an active role in addressing the increase in prescription drug abuse among teenagers by serving as the lead coordinator of the Western New York Medication Drop-Off Campaign through the Drug Enforcement Agency and by assisting Kids Escaping Drugs. Lawrence sees drugs, bullying and other pressures as the larger challenges that students face daily, but she adds that since she began her career, technology has complicated matters.

“Technology has blurred space between ‘private self’ and ‘public self,’ ” she said. “Social media such as Twitter, Vine and Instagram keep more and more parents and trusted adults out of the loop of what they know to be their children, and what we know to be our students.”

Board of Education interim President Paul Krull explained that the field of candidates for superintendent began at 38 before the board narrowed the choice to three, and Lawrence’s blend of personality and background won over board members.

With the post will come several challenges, according to Krull, including increasing retirement costs and unfunded mandates from the state; yearly budget issues; the beginning of two capital projects totaling more than $60 million; contract negotiations with administrators this year and teachers next year;and the growing concern about the state’s testing mandates.

The board, however, is certain that Lawrence can meet the challenges.

“We think she is a great fit,” Krull said. “She will move the district forward and make it better for students, staff and the community.”

For Lawrence, the position is an extension of her mission of helping others within a field that she adores.

“I wanted a career in which I felt I could make a difference,” she said.

“I am at my best when I am working in service of others. After the first few minutes of teaching, I knew I was where I was supposed to be.” ]]> Sun, 19 May 2013 19:05:04 -0400 By Lisa A. Johnson

Suburban Correspondent

]]> <![CDATA[ Niagara County School District Elections ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130518/CITYANDREGION/130519040/1020
The following capsules introduce the school board candidates and give the financial information voters can use to see how their money would be spent. All figures related to tax rates and tax bills are estimates, either provided by school officials, or calculated based on information they provided. The taxes on a $100,000 home do not include the STAR rebate.Candidates (elect 2): William Smith (i); Mary Jo Clemens-Harris and John McDonald.

Total budget: $19.01 million, down 2.4 percent.

Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 90 percent.

Tax levy: $3.91 million, up 3.5 percent.

Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $15.96, up 54 cents

Taxes on a $100,000 home: $1,596

Percentage of budget from property taxes: 20.5 percent

Percentage of budget from state aid: 34.4 percent

Proposition 2: Proposal to convert Barker Free Library into a school district library with a $75,000 budget.

Proposition 3: Candidates for Library Board (Elect 7): Roy Anderson, James Trinder, Pamela Atwater, Terrence Upton, Henry Charache, Marilyn Zaciewski and Seanna Corwin-Bradley.

Polls open: Noon to 8 p.m. in the Barker High School Auditorium, 1628 Quaker Road.

Web link: www.barkercsd.net

...

Voters will consider a $19 million budget that cuts spending nearly $467,000 from its current level, a 2.4 percent reduction.

“While our expenditures have steadily risen, our revenues have decreased, primarily from our PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) with the Somerset coal plant (now Upstate Power Producers) , which will drop $3 million in 2013-14,” said Superintendent Roger Klatt.

To help cut down on costs, Barker and the Royalton-Hartland districts will share a superintendent. Effective July 1, Klatt will oversee both districts.

The district has also taken on other collaborative agreements with Roy-Hart “by sharing our football program, and we will share wrestling and some special education programs and a business teacher. We are also eliminating 6 full-time positions and will not fill vacancies created with retirements,” Klatt said.

Voters will choose from a field of three candidates for two school board openings. Candidates are:

• Incumbent William Smith, 73, retired Barker elementary teacher who has served on Barker School Board for 18 years, was board president for seven years and currently serves as vice president.

• Mary Jo Clemens-Harris, 44, is an optician. This is her second time running for a seat on the board.

• John McDonald , 65, retired General Motors toolmaker. Also taught vocational education for BOCES for 10 years. First time running for elected office.• Candidates (elect 3): Jodee L. Riordan, Anna Boulay Wright, Betty VanDenBosch Warrick.

• Total budget: $40 million, down 1.16 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 4 percent.

• Tax levy: $23.6 million, up 5.52 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 or assessed value: $24.06 in Lewiston, up 5.22, and $20.69 in Porter, up 4.86 percent.

• Taxes on $100,000 home: $1,966.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 59 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 34.8 percent.

• Proposition 2: $26 million capital improvement project for interior and exterior reconstruction and renovation work for code and safety measures and upgrades throughout the district, as well as a number of enhancements and upgrades including the pool and locker room and air conditioning for the computer labs.

• Polls open: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Community Resource Center [board room], 4671 Creek Road.

• Web link: www.lew-port.com.

...

Despite an overall decrease from budget to budget, the proposed $40 million Lewiston-Porter budget would affect taxpayers with a 5.5 percent tax increase. The increased tax levy exceeds their district’s tax levy threshold and the proposed budget will need a 60 percent majority to pass. Superintendent R. Christopher Roser said the increase is caused by the loss of state aid from New York State’s gap elimination adjustment, which for each of the past three years took away $2.4 million in state aid from their district. “This is the fourth year in a row we are trying to operate with significantly less funds than we had four years ago.” He said they have attempted to avoid increases, staying at the same tax level for three years and at the threshold this past year, but he said this past year they were one of eight districts in the state operating with no fund balance. The proposed budget also cuts 23 positions – nine teachers, nine support staff and five they are not filling. “There is not a stash of money floating around in our budget. We’ve cut lots of positions, but this year we hit the wall. This will maintain the programming that our community wants for our students,” said Roser

Three candidates are running for two three-year terms on the board. They are:

• Board President Jodee L. Riordan, 44, of Youngstown, the mother of four, just completed her first three-year term, serving as president for two of those years. She has been active in a number of community organizations and served as president of the Lewiston-Porter Parent Teachers Association, including her first year as president of the Board of Education, serving for one year as president of both boards. She has lived in the district since 1987 and is a graduate of North Tonawanda High School and has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University at Buffalo. She is employed in sales as a contract administrator at Modern Disposal.

• Betty J. VanDenBosch Warrick, 45, of Youngstown is seeking her first term on the board. She has lived in the district for the past 20 years and is the mother of three children. She previously served as treasurer, vice president and president of the Lewiston-Porter Parent Teachers Association. She works as the general manager of U.S. operations for Yorkville Sound and has a background in credit management.

• Anna D. Bouley Wright, 32, of Youngstown has lived in the district for the past seven years. She is the mother of two children and is seeking her first term on the board. She has worked in management for 15 years and is currently employed as a general manager for a retail denim store.• Candidates (elect 3): Diane Phelps; John Williams; Randall Parker; Marietta Schrader; Edward Sandell; Todd McNall.

• Total budget: $83.06 million, up 3.96 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 5.04 percent.

• Tax levy: $35.2 million, up 2 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: about $25.37, up 2 percent.

• Taxes on $100,000 home: $2,537.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 42.4 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 47.8 percent.

• Proposition 2: A $22.2 million capital project package including improvements to the kitchens of four elementary schools, and added security cameras and upgraded Internet connections and fiber optic cable at all schools.

If approved, the district intends to borrow $19.2 million on a 15-year bond at 2≤ percent interest. The state will reimburse the district’s costs at 92 cents on the dollar, but the district must spend the money up front. The remaining $3 million will be appropriated from a reserve fund.

•Polls open: Noon to 9 p.m. in Washington Hunt Elementary School, 50 Rogers Ave. (1st Ward); Board of Education, 130 Beattie Ave. (2nd Ward); Anna Merritt Elementary School, 389 Green St. (3rd Ward); Charles Upson Elementary School, 28 Harding Ave. (4th Ward); Roy B. Kelley Elementary School, 610 E. High St. (5th Ward); Lockport High School, 250 Lincoln Ave. (towns).

• Web link: www.lockportschools.org.

...

Spending rises $3.1 million, or nearly 4 percent, in the $83 million budget voters will consider Tuesday. The major increases are in state-mandated pension contributions, driving a $3 million increase in employee benefits, according to a district newsletter. The budget also includes $1.2 million to pay debt incurred for the 2008 high school renovation project. On the other hand, retirements and the closure of Washington Hunt Elementary School this June have produced $1.3 million in savings. The board deleted nearly $500,000 it had intended as a contingency fund in case of federal budget cuts, assuming Congress will restore the sequestration of funds for local schools.

Candidates (Elect 3): Diane Phelps; John Williams; Randall Parker; Marietta Schrader; Edward Sandell; Todd McNall.

Schrader is a former board president who retired in 2010 after one year in her last term.

Six candidates are running for three three-year terms on the board. They are:

• Incumbent Diane Phelps, 49, is seeking her second term. She was elected as a write-in candidate three years ago. She holds a doctorate in English education and has taught education at Niagara University and the University at Buffalo.

• Incumbent Jon A. Williams, 66, is running for his third term. He has been a professor of public communication and speech at Niagara County Community College for the past 29 years.

• Randall J. Parker, 52, has been a City of Lockport firefighter since 1986, and has served as president of the Lockport Professional Fire Fighters Association.

• Marietta G. Schrader, 60, served on the board for 12 years, including four years as president, before stepping down in 2011. She is a retired nurse practitioner.

• Incumbent Edward P. Sandell, 55, is running for his third term. He is an engineering manager at the Delphi Thermal technical center in Lockport.

• Todd G. McNall, 35, is a former shop chairman of United Auto Workers Local 686 at Delphi. He now works at the GM Powertrain plant in the Town of Tonawanda and is the son of Niagara County Legislator W. Keith McNall, who was a previous School Board president.• Candidates (elect 3): Donna Lakes of Charlotteville Road; Michele Malone of Corwin Ave.; James Schmitt of Rounds Road; Margaux Lingle of Charlotteville Road; Joseph Flagler of Lockport-Olcott Road, Lockport.

• Total Budget: $33.69 million, up 2.31 percent.

• Tax Levy increase allowed under tax cap: 2 percent.

• Tax Levy: $12.78 million, up 2 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: Newfane, $28.35; Lockport, $26.08

• Taxes on a $100,000 home: $2,608.

• Percentage of budget from taxes: 38 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 52 percent.

• Polls open: 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Newfane Elementary School, Main St.

• Web link: www.newfane.wnyic.org.

...

Voters are being presented with a budget that holds the tax increase to a flat two percent, the amount usually referred to as the tax levy limit.

Instead of seeking a larger increase, the district will cover more than nine percent of its budget from its reserve savings or about $3.2 million, officials said.

Although the state tax levy limit is frequently believed to be two percent, districts are permitted to make adjustments for items such as indebtedness and pension obligation increases. Such adjustments usually allow districts to seek a larger tax hike without needing a supermajority of voters or 60 percent to pass the budget.• Candidates (elect 2): Ronald J. Barstys, Kevin Dobbs, Michael S. Gawel, Don J. King, Herbert L. Lewis, Anthony F. Paretto.

• Total budget: $124.06 million, up 1.32 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 3.77 percent.

• Tax levy: $25.82 million, up 3 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 or assessed value: $19.21, up 3 percent.

• Taxes on $100,000 home: $1,922.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 21 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 73 percent.

• Polls open: Noon to 9 p.m. at eight neighborhood polling sites. Polling places can be found on district’s website.

• Web link: http://www.nfschools.net/nfschools.

...

Voters will consider a $124.06 million budget that would increase spending by $1.62 million over the current budget.

The budget is the first in 20 years to include a tax levy increase.

District officials say the increase is driven by employee pension contributions and other contractual items.

Six candidates are running for two five-year terms on the board. They are:

• Incumbent Don J. King, 80, a more than 30-year veteran of the School Board who is a retired retail business owner.

• Incumbent Kevin Dobbs, 58, a school board member since 1997 who is a retired supervisor for Occidental Chemical.

• Ronald J. Barstys, 40, director of student services for the North Tonawanda City School District.

• Michael S. Gawel, 56, an accountant and real estate broker.

• Herbert L. Lewis, 41, a former City Council candidate and security guard at the Seneca Niagara Casino.

• Anthony F. Paretto, 46, an electrician for the City of Niagara Falls.Candidates (elect 2): Lorna Tilley-Peltier, Lori Pittman and Amy Deull.

Total budget: $62.75 million, up 3.69 percent

Tax levy increase allowed under cap: 5.91 percent

Tax levy: $30.35 million, up 5.91 percent

Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: Town of Niagara, $29.27 (homestead), $39.35 (nonhomestead); Wheatfield, $24.71 (h), $33.78 (n); Lewiston, $20.86 (h), $28.06 (n); Cambria, $17.11 (h), $17.11 (n).

Taxes on a $100,000 home: $1,711.

Percentage of budget from property taxes: 49 percent

Percentage of budget from state aid: 46 percent

Proposition 2: Whether to allow a representative from the high school senior class to sit on the School Board as a member who would not have voting rights or be allowed to attend executive sessions. Students who apply to be a board member would have to meet specific criteria and would be selected by the board.

Polls Open: 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Adult Learning Center, 2292 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn, N.Y.

Web link: www.nwcsd.k12.ny.us/nwcsd/site.

...

Voters will decide on a budget that had to address a $1 million deficit by eliminating six teaching positions, but not touching kindergarten, as threatened, or sports and the arts programs.

According to school officials, the cuts to cover the budget shortfall total $1.07 million. The instructional cuts come to the equivalent of six teaching positions, while other items in the savings are $414,975 in retirements, $40,975 for three school monitors, one cleaner at $29,415, and $115,000 for 18 hours a day in teaching assistants. School board members had suggested cutting kindergarten back half-time or even entirely until they were approached by dozens of residents who objected.

If the budget goes down, they said kindergarten, a nonmandated program, would be reduced or eliminated for a second budget vote.

This budget represents the third year the district has had to make significant program and personnel cuts and increase taxes since it was pressured into depleting its reserve fund by the State Comptroller’s Office.

Voters will elect two members. The highest vote-getter of the three candidates would begin serving on May 21, immediately after the vote to fill the remaining term of a previous vacancy to June 30. The term would continue to June 30, 2016. The term of the second highest would begin July 1 for three years.

Candidates are:

• Lorna Tilley-Peltier of Ward Road, Wheatfield

• Incumbent Lori Pittman of Lauer Road, Town of Niagara

• Amy Deull of Millville Circle, Wheatfield.• Candidates (elect 2): Colleen Osborn, Arthur Pappas, Robert D. Schmigel, Susanne Williams, and Randy Bradt.

• Total budget: $65.74 million, up 1.53 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 2.56 percent.

• Tax levy: $26.83 million, up 2.56 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 or assessed value: $21.48, up 2.558 percent.

• Taxes on $100,000 home: $2,084.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 41 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 49 percent.

• Polls open: noon to 9 p.m. in Alumni Center at North Tonawanda High School, 405 Meadow Drive.

• Web link: www.ntschools.org.

...

Voters will consider a $65.74 million budget that would increase spending by $987,861 over the current budget.

The rise in spending is driven by benefit costs, primarily the retirement system and contractual increases in salary, said Alan Getter, assistant superintendent for administrative services.

This year nine retirements helped the district keep costs down. “Last year we had zero,” Getter said.

Five candidates are running for two three-year terms on the board. They are:

• Colleen Osborn, 38, an incumbent, a medical office manager studying for a master’s in nursing, running for a second term. She wants to continue to find ways for the community to use school buildings and to encourage the district to share information in a transparent, accountable way.

• Arthur Pappas, 68, an incumbent, served on the board for 15 years, a decade of those as president. A retired elementary and middle school teacher with Starpoint Central School, he is now running for his sixth term. He aims to collaborate with the city to save costs on such things as snowplowing and bring an educator’s perspective to the board. “With education it’s the students that should come first. Discussion should revolve around that,” he said.

• New are: Robert D. Schmigel, 44, a father of three and store manager at CVS, wants to balance school needs with keeping the budget and taxes down.

• Susanne Williams, 46, an office manager in dental and medical practices, would work to maintain sports and art programs and draw on her experience developing an educational program with her son.

• Randy Bradt, 42, a father of three and an accountant and owner of Nicastro Accounting Services in Amherst.Candidates (elect two): Daniel Bragg; Sara Fry.

Total budget: $22.02 million, down slightly.

Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 6.1 percent.

Tax levy: $9.36 million up 3 percent.

Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $22.49, up 3 percent.

Taxes on a $100,000 home: $2,249.

Percentage of budget from property taxes: 42 percent.

Percentage of budget from state aid: 49 percent.

Polls open: noon to 8 p.m. in Roy-Hart High School gym, 54 State St., Middleport.

Web link: www.royhart.org.

...

Voters will take to the polls to consider a $22 million budget, which represents a 0.17 percent decrease in spending from the current budget, according to Superintendent Kevin MacDonald. “We made significant cuts in the past four to five years and while the cuts were made in past years, they have had significant benefits that continue,” he said.

One of the cuts included a new agreement with Barker schools to share a superintendent. Barker’s Roger Klatt will oversee both districts, while MacDonald leaves Roy-Hart to head Genesee Valley Educational Partnerships.

Other cost-saving moves have included laying off teachers “and we have had a fair number of retirements that has helped,” MacDonald said. “We’re trying to be understanding of the community’s needs, while still managing the cuts in state aid we suffered years ago and not balance the budget on the backs of the taxpayers. We feel we’re as close to bare bones as we can get.”

There are two candidates running unopposed for two three-year terms. They are:

• Daniel Bragg, 58, completing his ninth year on board and is its current vice president. He is manager of Standish Jones Building Supply.

• Sara Fry, 46, office manager for Hypertherm, Lockport. This is her first time running for a seat.• Candidates (elect 4): Susan M. Brooks, Jeffrey D. Duncan, Michael D. Zimmerman, Eugene E. Stanwich, Andrea L. Wick, Kevin P. Duffy, Dennis P. Toth, Sherri Weber.

• Total budget: $46.55 million, up 2.6 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 4.86 percent.

• Tax levy: $25.81 million, up 3.18 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $22.23, up 1.99 percent in Cambria.

• Taxes on $100,000 home: $2,223.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 55.4 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 39 percent.

• Polls open: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the middle school gymnasium, 4363 Mapleton Road, Pendleton.

• Web link: starpointcsd.org.

...

Superintendent C. Douglas Whelan said the proposed Starpoint budget of $46.55 million, which shows a spending increase of less than $1.2 million, doesn’t really cover the district’s cost increases. “The cost of doing business as usual is $3.5 million,” he said. “We have reduced quite a bit, about $950,000, plus $300,000 in extra state aid.” He said the district has had 24 retirees in the last four years that haven’t been replaced.

Eight candidates are running for four seats on the board. The top three finishers receive three-year terms; the fourth-place finisher wins a one-year term. The candidates are:

• Susan M. Brooks, 42 of Pendleton, a director of nursing at Buffalo General Medical Center.

• Incumbent Jeffrey D. Duncan, 40, of Pendleton, who is running for his second term. He is a service account engineer at Siemens in Amherst.

• Incumbent Michael D. Zimmerman, 47, of Pendleton, is a chief master sergeant in the 914th Airlift Wing at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, working as a load master superintendent on C-130 cargo planes. He is seeking his third term.

• Eugene E. Stanwich, 64, of Wheatfield, has a doctorate in education and retired after 32 years as a librarian in Amherst schools.

• Andrea L. Wick, 38, of Pendleton, works at a Buffalo accounting firm.

• Kevin P. Duffy, 42, of the Town of Lockport, served two terms on the Lockport School Board when he lived in that district. He is a psychologist in the Buffalo public schools and in private practice.

• Incumbent Dennis P. Toth, 57, of Pendleton, is a captain in the Niagara Falls Fire Department, where he has worked for 27 years. He is running for his second term.

• Sherri Weber, 42, of the Town of Lockport, is a professor of elementary education and reading at SUNY Buffalo State.Candidates (elect two): Timothy Kropp, Mark Randall and Amy Phillips.

Total budget: $24.29 million, up 3.5 percent.

Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 5 percent.

Tax levy: $11.32 million, up 4 percent.

Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $27.42, up 4 percent.

Taxes on $100,000 home: $2,523.

Percentage of budget from property taxes: 47 percent.

Percentage of budget from state aid: 48 percent.

Polls open: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in R. Zipp Gym at Wilson High School, 412 Lake St.

Web link: www.wilson.wnyric.org.

...

Voters will consider a budget that increases spending 3.5 percent due to debt service, salaries, BOCES contracts, materials and supplies, according to school officials.

There are three candidates running for two board seats. The candidates for three-year terms are:

• Timothy F. Kropp, 63, an incumbent, has served on the board 18 years and is current board president. He is a retired lineman for the New York Power Authority.

• Mark Randall, 57, an incumbent, is a truck driver and has served on the board for six years. He also serves as vice president of Niagara-Orleans School Board Association.

• Amy Phillips, 36, is executive secretary for the chief of surgery for Kaleida Health Systems and chairman of the department of surgery at the University at Buffalo. This is her first time running for public office. ]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 22:36:09 -0400 <![CDATA[ School District Elections ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130518/CITYANDREGION/130519041/1020 Candidates (Elect 1): James Yoerg (i).

Total budget: $33.23 million, up 3.56 percent.

Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 4.68 percent.

Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $14.55 million, up 3 percent.

Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $37.74 in Alden, up 2.22 percent; $19.25 in Lancaster, up 2.23 percent; $41.84 in Marilla, up 2.30 percent; $19.25 in Newstead, up 2.23 percent; $21.78 in Darien, up 1.92 percent; and $44.01 in Bennington, up 1.88 percent.

Percentage of budget from property taxes: 43.8 percent.

Percentage of budget from state aid: 39.9 percent.

Proposition 2: Voters will be asked to approve the purchase of four 66-passenger buses at a maximum cost of $460,000. The money would come from a reserve fund and would not impact the 2013-14 budget.

Proposition 3: Voters will be asked to authorize the purchase of a one-ton pickup truck with plow package, a used 14-foot box truck and a snow blower attachment for a lawn machine for the Building and Grounds Department at a maximum cost of $63,000. The money would come from a reserve fund and would not impact the 2013-14 budget.

Polls open: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the gym at Alden High School, 13190 Park St.

Web link: www.aldenschools.org.

...

Voters will consider a $33.2 million budget that would increase spending by $1.1 million over the current budget. The rise in spending is driven by a $655,434 increase in spending for benefits and a $361,140 increase in salary obligations.• Candidates (Elect 2): Dominic Vivolo, William Shaflucas.

• Total budget: $49.47 million, up 3.7 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 4.34 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $32.55 million, up 3.7 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $21.79, up 3.7 percent

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 66 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 21 percent.

• Propositions B: Authorization to transfer $400,000 from the district’s unrestricted fund balance to the district’s Repair Reserve Fund, as established by the board in July.

• Polls open: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the south gym at Amherst High School, 4301 Main Street

• Web link: www.amherstschools.org

...

Voters will consider a $49.47 million budget that would increase spending by $1.77 million over the current budget. The rise in spending is driven by rising personnel costs and a decrease in state aid.• Candidates (Elect 1): Heather DuBard and Dennis S. Kusak Jr.

• Total Budget: $39.9 million, up 2.09 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 3.58 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $22.43 million, up 2.93 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $28.44, up 2.97 percent.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 56.2 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 30 percent.

• Proposition 2: Voters will be asked to approve the establishment of a seat for a non-voting student member of the Board of Education.

• Polls open: Noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, in the band room of Cheektowaga Central High School, 3600 Union Road.

• Web link: www. cheektowagacentral.org.

...

Voters will consider a $39.9 million budget that would increase spending by $817,039 over the current budget. The rise in spending is driven by a $4.4 million increase in employee benefits and an increase of $3.1 million for retirement costs.

Two running for one seat: Heather DuBard and Dennis S. Kusak Jr.• Candidates (Elect 1): Claire Ferrucci (i), Sean Kaczmarek, Richard Piontek (i)

• Total Budget: $33.4 million, up 1.06 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 4.1 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $14.8 million, a slight decrease.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $52.87 in Cheektowaga, a 21-cent decrease; $72.87 in West Seneca, a 29-cent decrease.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 44.5 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 35.1 percent.

• Proposition 2: Elimination of all mileage boundaries for transportation to schools.

• Proposition 3: Reform Board of Education election policy to reward candidates with highest total votes.

• Proposition 4: Allow a student position on the Board of Education with non-voting, non-compensation status.

• Polls open: Noon to 9 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy High School gym, 305 Cayuga Creek Rd., Cheektowaga.

• Web link: www.sloanschools.org

...

The district is offering a slight tax decrease for its proposed $33.4 million budget, which raises spending by 1.06 percent. The budget plan includes an increase in transportation for regular and handicapped students, benefits and instructional equipment and supplies.

Current vice president Claire Ferrucci is running unopposed. Richard Piontek (i) faces challenger, Sean Kaczmarek, 2012 co-valedictorian of John F. Kennedy High School, current University at Buffalo student.• Candidates (Elect 2): Tricia Andrews, Beth Bivona, Joseph J. DePasquale, Martha Root Dippold, Jason Lahti, Ian Scaduto, and Roger Showalter.

• Total budget: $73.3 million, up 1.1 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 3.8 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $43.6 million, up 9.8 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 or assessed value: $15.52, up 8.8 percent.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 60 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 29 percent.

• Proposition 2: Borrow to purchase 12 school buses and one pickup truck with plow – not to exceed $995,000

• Polls open: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., High School gymnasium, 9625 Main St.

• Web link: www.clarenceschools.org

...

Voters will consider a $73.3 million budget that would increase spending by $800,000 over the current budget. The district is attempting to cover a budget gap with a combination of staff, spending cuts and an increase in the property tax levy.

Seven running for two seats: Tricia Andrews, 39, stay-at-home mom and former P.E. teacher; Beth Bivona, 42, partner at Damon Morey; Joseph J. DePasquale, 40, senior manager at VMware; Martha Root Dippold, 55, retired special education teacher; Jason Lahti, 40, president of iQ Modular Homes and treasurer of Buffalo Tungsten Inc.; Ian Scaduto, 19, UB student; and Roger Showalter, 42, president of Niagara Refining LLC and VP of Buffalo Tungsten.Candidates (Elect 2): Paul Kunkel (i); Robert Polino (i).

Total Budget: $30.1 million, up 1.36 percent.

Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 4.76 percent.

Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $12.18 million, up 3.49 percent.

Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $45.83.

Percentage of budget from property taxes: 40.4 percent.

Percentage of budget from state aid: 40.8 percent.

Polls open: Noon to 9 p.m. in Cleveland Hill High School auditorium, 105 Mapleview Rd.

Web link: www.clevehill.wnyric.org

...

With a $30.1 million budget plan that raises spending 1.36 percent and increases the tax rate by 3.49 percent, the district wants to maintain the current educational programs it offers for students.• Candidates (Elect 3): Nancy Fumerelle (i), Patrick Law, Gabrielle Miller, Nicole Simon and President John Spencer (i).

• Total budget: $38.5 million, up 2.85 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 4.31 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $16.6 million, up 2.97 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $34.31 in Cheektowaga, up 2.97 percent, and $21.27 in Lancaster, up 2.97 percent.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 42.57 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 40.93 percent.

• Proposition 2: Voters will be asked to approve the use of $460,851 from a reserve fund to purchase two large school buses, four 28-seat vans and a plow truck for the Buildings and Grounds Department. The money would be taken from a reserve fund that was established in 2009 and would not affect the 2013-14 budget.

• Polls open: Noon to 9 p.m. May 21 in the library at Cayuga Heights Elementary School, 1780 Como Park Blvd.

• Web link: www.depewschools.org.

...

Voters will consider a $38.9 million budget that would increase spending by $1.1 million over the current budget.

Five running for three seats: Board President John Spencer, 35-year Depew resident, firefighter, preside nt of the Aetna Hose Co.; Nancy Fumerelle (i), 49, 42-year resident of Depew, career includes planning, implementing and teaching preschoolers; Patrick Law, 42, labor relations officer with the Department of Homeland Security, president of Southline Little League/Southline Athletic Association; Gabrielle Miller, 48, volunteered with Depew schools for 20 years, attended board meetings for 15; and Nicole Simon, 36, lifelong Depew resident, senior project contract administrator for a local construction company.• Candidates (Elect 2): Judith A. Malys; Clark Martens and Terri Ohlweiler.

• Total budget: $29.89 million, up by 2.7 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 3.37 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $17.99 million, up by 3.37 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 or assessed value: $37.10 for Aurora; $33.08 for Colden; $313.66 for Elma (not on full valuation). All tax rates reflect a 3.37 percent increase.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 60.2 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 25.3 percent.

• Proposition 2: None

• Polls open: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Middle School cafeteria, 430 Main St.

• Web link: www.eastauroraschools.org.

...

The district’s $29.89 million budget plan ended up achieving the School Board’s ultimate goal of preserving programs and avoid cutting any teacher positions, given painful cuts that were made last year.

Three running for two seats: Judith A. Malys, 64, retired East Aurora school teacher; Clark Martens, 49, engineer; and Terri Ohlweiler, 45, stay-at-home mother of three and treasurer of Parkdale School PTO.• Candidates (Elect 2): Kristen D. Pinker (i), Patricia M. Krouse, Steven P. Cerne (i), Paul R. Shephard.

• Total budget: $25.72 million, up 2.1 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 2.9 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $13.05 million, up 1.99 percent

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $19.33 in Boston, up 1.7 percent; $41.60 in Concord, up 2.9 percent; $28.99 in Eden, up 2.2 percent; $19.14 in Evans, up .67 percent; $19.14 in North Collins, up .67 percent.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 50.7 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 38.8 percent.

• Proposition 2: Voters will be asked to spend up to $32,000 from the district’s repair reserve fund to purchase and install a new catalytic converter for the district’s co-generation plant, which is required by Environmental Protection Agency regulations. The purchase will have no impact on the 2013-2014 tax levy.

• Polls open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Eden Central Junior/ Senior High School, 3150 Schoolview Road, Eden.

• Web link: www.edencsd.org

...

Voters will consider a $25.7 million budget that, among other changes, would cut about eight teaching positions as the district changes from block scheduling to a traditional schedule at the Junior-Senior High School. Superintendent Sandra Anzalone said the changes would be made without affecting programs.

Four running for two seats: Board VP, Kristen D. Pinker, 45, international marketing manager; Patricia M. Krouse, 44, consultant for NutraMetrix; Board President Steven P. Cerne, 48, management consultant; and Paul R. Shephard, 49, emergency medical service instructor, spent eight years in the Air Force.

• Candidates (Elect 2): *No board race this year because voters last year approved a referendum downsizing the board from nine to seven members. As of July 1, board seats now held by veteran board member Nancy Wood and Jeremey Rosen will be eliminated.

• Total budget: $73.21 million, up by 1.28 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 3.51 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $34.96 million, up by 3.5 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 or assessed value: $25.20 in Hamburg, up by 3.08 percent; $22.90 in Eden, up by 3.08 percent.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 47.8 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 38.3 percent.

• Proposition 2: Asking voters for approval to purchase $863,739 for a total of eight buses to help supplement a bus fleet that has some buses with high mileage that need to be retired. The purchase would include five, 66-passenger buses; two 30 to 35-passenger buses and one 35-passenger bus with wheelchair accessibility.

• Polls open: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at just one polling site this year: The Frontier Community Learning Center at 4540 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg.

• Web link: www.frontier.wnyric.org.

...

Voters will consider approving a $73.2 million budget, which calls for the elimination of 24.8 full-time equivalent teachers and support staff for the next school year. The budget increases spending by 1.28 percent and uses the maximum tax levy cap of 3.51 percent.Candidates (Elect 3): Acting President Paul Krull (i), Donna Tomkins (i) and Lisa Pyc.

Total budget: $54.4 million, up 2.52 percent.

Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 2.67 percent.

Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $30 million, up 2.67 percent.

Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $19.10.

Percentage of budget from property taxes: 56 percent.

Percentage of budget from state aid: 29 percent.

Proposition 2: Voters will be asked to consider the purchase of school buses and other vehicles for an amount not to exceed $709,860. The Board of Education would determine the tax levied and the finance terms at a later date if the proposition is approved.

Polls open: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 21 at Grand Island High School, 1100 Ransom Road.

Web link: www.k12.ginet.org.

...

Voters will consider a $54.4 million budget that would increase spending by $1.3 million over the current budget. The rise in spending is driven by an $886,033 increase in salary obligations and an increase of $764,250 for pension costs.• Candidates (Elect 3): Joan Calkins (i), John R. Callahan, Catherine Schrauth Forcucci, Laura Heeter, Gary R. Klumpp, Sheila Ruhland and David Yoviene.

• Total budget: $60.25 million, up 6.45 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 5.4 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $33.51 million, up 5.4 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $33.62 in Hamburg, up 5 percent; $20.48 for Boston, up 5.14 percent.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 55.6 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 34 percent.

• Polls open: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the high school gym, 4111 Legion Dr.

• Web link: www.hamburgschools.org

...

The proposed budget continues current programming in academics, athletics and extracurricular activities for the 2013-14 school year, unlike the past three years where there were major staff and program reductions.

Seven running for three seats: Board president Joan Calkins, 59, pediatrician; John R. Callahan, 43, financial analyst; Catherine Schrauth Forcucci, 50, U.S. Postal Service letter carrier; Laura Heeter, 43, homemaker and former special ed teacher; Gary R. Klumpp, 56, baseball instructor and clinic director at New Era School of Baseball; Sheila Ruhland, 50, Erie County Probation Department supervisor; and David Yoviene, 55, part-owner of Sellmore Industries Inc.• Candidates (Elect 2): Jenelle Nadler, Brian Jones, Paul Rowe

• Total budget: $18 million, up 5.5 percent

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 4.5 percent

• Tax levy: $6.9 million, up 4.5 percent

• Property tax rates per $1,000 assessed value: $14.52, up 4.3 percent in Holland.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 37 percent

• Percent of budget from state aid: 49 percent

• Proposition 2: Purchase of one 66-passenger bus, one 34-passenger van, and one 10- passenger van for a total cost of $198,000.

• Proposition 3: Authorize transfer of up to $150,000 from the unrestricted fund balance to the district’s Repair Reserve Fund

• Polls open: 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. Middle School Cafeteria, 11720 Partridge Rd.

• Web link: www.holland.wnyric.org

...

Residents in the Holland Central School District will vote on an $18 million spending plan that increases the tax levy by the 4.5 percent allowed under the tax cap formula.

Three running for two seats: Jenelle Broom Nadler, Holland Central alumni and mother of two, works in health care, former PTO president and recipient of Holland’s “triple H” award; Brian Jones, father of five, works at a specialty cement and adhesive manufacturer, involved in Holland Raiders, wrestling club, and Boys and Girls Club; and Paul Rowe, father of three, employed in the computer technology field, former president of Holland Raiders.• Candidates (Elect 2): Sharon Szeglowski, Daniel T. Behlmaier

• Total budget: $44.1 million, up 1.39 percent

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 2.24 percent

• Tax levy: $26.1 million, up 2.24 percent

• Property tax rates per $1,000 assessed value: $340.76 for Elma, up 2.2 percent; $35.92 for Marilla, up 2.2 percent.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 59.2 percent

• Percent of budget from state aid: 27.4 percent

• Proposition 2: Purchase 3 (62-passenger) buses and 2 van at a maximum cost of $400,000

• Proposition 3: Expend $60,000 from the district’s Capital Reserve Fund known as the “Technology Reserve Fund

• Polls open: 7:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Iroquois Intermediate Gymnasium, Girdle Road

• Web link: www.iroquoiscsd.org

...

Residents in the Iroquois Central School District will decide on a $44.1 million budget that carries a tax levy increase of 2.24 percent- the lowest in 15 years. The spending plan maintains current academic programs and class sizes as well as all extra-curricular programs offered in 2012-13.• Candidates (Elect 2): Bob Dana (i), Richard Harned, Stephen Hart and Todd Potter.

• Total budget: $149 million, up .84 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 5.66 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $75.2 million, up 4.66 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 or assessed value: $45.20.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 50.5 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 32.06 percent.

• Proposition 2: purchase up to two diesel 65-passenger school buses; four gasoline 30-passenger school buses; and one gasoline wheelchair bus, at a total cost not to exceed $525,046.

• Polls open: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Herbert Hoover School, 249 Thorncliff Road.

• Web link: www.kenton.k12.ny.us

...

Voters will consider a $149 million budget that would increase spending by $1.23 million over the current budget. The proposed budget is the first in four years that doesn’t directly reduce student programming or increase class sizes. This year’s voting will return to a single polling place.

Four running for two seats: Board president Bob Dana, 67, retired business teacher for the Williamsville Central School District; Richard Harned, 67, who taught social studies for more than 30 years at district’s two high schools and Hoover Middle; Stephen Hart, 31, former employee of Ken-Ton’s Building and Grounds Department, teaching assistant at Amherst Middle School and also serves as a coach; and Todd Potter, 22, 2009 graduate of Kenmore East High, 2012 graduate of D’Youville College, current UB Law student.• Candidates (Elect 2): Jennifer R. Grzybowski, Ronald S. Miller (i), Nicholas Sobaszek, and Richard P. Zybert.

• Total Budget: $47.5 million, up 4.89 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 5.3 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $8.59 million, no change.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: Homestead rate of $12.43 per $1,000; Non-homestead rate of $32.02 per $1,000.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 18.1 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 61.9 percent.

• Polls open: Noon to 9 p.m.

• Polling sites: First Ward, Bocce Court, 175 Madison Avenue; Second Ward, Queen of Angels Hall (St. Michael’s), 144 Warsaw Street; Third Ward, McKinley School, 245 South Shore Boulevard; Fourth Ward, Lackawanna Senior High School, 550 Martin Road.

• Web link: www.lackawannaschools.org

...

Voters will consider a $47.5 million budget that would increase spending by $2.2 million over the current budget. The proposed spending plan would eliminate the equivalent of 11 of the district’s 154 teaching positions.

Four running for two seats: Jennifer R. Grzybowski, 2000 graduate of Lackawanna High School, bachelor’s degree from UB, worked in insurance industry before becoming stay-at-home mother to three, current president of Truman School PTA; Board President Ronald S. Miller, retired Lackawanna police officer; Nicholas Sobaszek, 2004 graduate of Lackawanna High School, SUNY Buffalo State student, works as sales manager for Unicorn; and Richard P. Zybert, retired Lackawanna police officer, ran Lackawanna schools D.A.R.E. program.• Candidates (Elect 3): Cynthia Latimore (i), William J. Connors Jr., Jennifer S. Farrell.

• Total budget: $53.28 million, up 1.02 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 2.37 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $16.28 million, up 2.34 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $17.13, up 2.3 percent in Evans; $17.31, up 2.3 percent in Brant; $25.58, up 2.3 percent in Eden.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 30.5 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 49.7 percent.

• Proposition 2: Purchase of three full-size, 71-passenger school buses for a total cost of $340,639.

• Polls open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the lobby of Lake Shore Senior High School, 959 Beach Road.

• Web link: www.lakeshore.wnyric.org.

Voters will consider a $53.28 million budget for the 2013-14 school year, an increase in spending of $535,694. The increase is driven largely by growing retirement costs.• Candidates (Elect 2): William J. Gallagher, Kenneth E. Graber (i), Julie Gies Kaska.

• Total budget: $94.72 million, up 3.5 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 5.99 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $46.21 million, up 3.96 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $16.54, up 3.05 percent in Lancaster; $26.68, up 3.05 percent in Cheektowaga; $341.03, up 3.07 percent in Elma.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 48.8 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 29.8 percent.

• Proposition 2: Spending $906,107 from the bus reserve fund to buy eight, 65-passenger replacement buses, with no tax impact.

• Polls open: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Lancaster High School’s Java Gym, One Forton Drive.

• Web link: www.lancasterschools.org

...

Next year’s $94.72 million budget for the Lancaster School District would increase spending by 3.5 percent over the current budget while raising the tax levy by 3.96 percent.

Three running for two seats: William J. Gallagher, 36, math teacher at Frontier Middle School; Board President Kenneth E. Graber, 62, administrative law judge with NYS Board of Parole; and Julie Gies Kaska 44, a stay-at-home mother and active district volunteer, serves as a parent representative on the Advisory Council.• Candidates (Elect 1): Julianne Renczkowski.

• Total Budget: $36.4 million, up 1.46 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 4.39 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $19 million, up 2.94 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: Ranging from $30.29 to $30.44, which translates to 2.45 to 2.94 percent.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 52.2 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 37 percent.

• Polls open: Noon to 9 p.m. in Robert A. Brinner Educational Center, 1050 Maryvale Dr.

• Web link: www.maryvale.wnyric.org

...

Maryvale Schools is proposing a $36.4 million budget plan that would raise spending 1.46 percent. The proposed budget would raise the tax rate up to 2.94 percent, but the increase may fall to as low as 2.45 percent when tax rolls are finalized in August.







North Collins

• Candidates (Elect 1): Tammy Winter.

• Total budget: $14.87 million, up 3.2 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 6.2 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $5.02 million, up 2.92 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $21.05, up 2.9 percent in North Collins.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 33.78 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 47.63 percent.

• Proposition 2: To purchase one bus and one vehicle at a cost not to exceed $220,000.

• Polls open: Noon to 9 p.m. in North Collins Jr/Sr High School Gym, 2045 School St.

Web link: www.northcollins.com

...

North Collins could have raised the tax levy over 6 percent and still stayed within the tax cap, but the board wanted to say within the 3 percent increase range, according to Superintendent Benjamin A. Halsey.• Candidates (Elect 3): Anthony Agnello, Dwight D. Mateer, Donna M. Omar (i), Natalie A. Schaffer, (i), Christopher T. Shively and Christine Gray Tinnesz.

• Total budget: $86.04 million, up 2.87 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 3.29 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $54.81 million, up 3.28 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 or assessed value: $32.01 in Orchard Park, up 2.39 percent.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 63.7 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 25 percent.

• Proposition 2: To spend up to $700,000 to buy four buses, three vans and one wheelchair van

• Polls open: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Orchard Park High School Gym, 4040 Baker Road. Use the Freeman Road entrance for ease of parking and entrance to gym.

• Web link: www.opschools.org

...

Next year’s budget would keep class sizes within current School Board guidelines, with a net reduction in staff of 8.25 full-time equivalent positions. The budget also preserves the gifted and talented program in the elementary and middle schools and increases counselor and social worker support on the elementary level.

Six running for three seats. Two candidates with most votes will be elected, candidate in third will fill the remainder of the term of former board President Alfred McClymonds. They are: Anthony Agnello, 65, retired biology teacher, football, track and wrestling coach at Orchard Park High School; Dwight D. Mateer, 44, civil engineer; Donna M. Omar (i), 46, certified fitness specialist and owner of Anytime Fitness; Natalie A. Schaffer (i), 44, attorney and project manager for construction of a medical facility in Lancaster; Christopher T. Shively, 47, assistant professor of elementary education at SUNY Buffalo State; and Christine Gray Tinnesz, 40, instructor for education schools at SUNY Buffalo State and Medaille College.• Candidates (Elect 1): William Bursee, Allison Duwe

• Total budget: $34.9 million, up 3 percent

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 5.1 percent

• Tax levy: $14.7 million, up 1 percent

• Property tax rates per $1,000 assessed value: $17.20, up 1 percent

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 42 percent

• Percent of budget from state aid: 46 percent

• Proposition 2: The purchase of four 66-passenger buses, two 16-passenger buses, and one 24-passenger bus with wheelchair lift at a maximum aggregate cost of $577,127

• Polls open: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the following locations: High School Library Media Center, 290 North Buffalo St.; Colden Elementary School, 8263 Boston-Colden Rd., Colden and Collins Center Fire Hall, Main St., Collins Center.

• Web link: www.springvillegi.org

...

Voters will decide on a $34.9 million budget, an increase of 3 percent. The spending plan maintains class sizes, athletic and extracurricular programs, returns team teaching to the Middle School, and allows for the implementation of a Family Support Center.

Terms of three board members expire June 30, but due to voter-approved Board reduction from seven seats to five, one is vacant: William Bursee, local business owner, lived with his wife and two children in Springville for 14 years and Allison Duwe, Springville-Griffith Institute graduate, former president of Springville Center for the Arts, sending her first of three children to kindergarten this fall.• Candidate (Elect 1): Scott M. Johnson (i).

• Total budget: $68.16 million, up 1.24 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 4.45 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $38.68 million, up 3.58 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 or assessed value: $14.99, up 3.52 percent in Amherst; $31.85 in Tonawanda, up 3.51 percent.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 57.04 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 28.51 percent.

• Proposition 2: Purchase four, 65-passenger school buses at a cost of $442,000.

• Polls open: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Vergils Community Center at Sweet Home High School, 1901 Sweet Home Road.

• Web link: sweethomeschools.com

...

Voters will consider a $68.16 million budget that would increase spending by $833,386 over the current spending plan.• Candidates (Elect 3): Geraldine Angelo, Fred Busch, Elizabeth Olka, Danielle Opalinski (i)

• Total Budget: $29.8 million, up 1.07 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 4.5 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $11.2 million, up 3.2 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $17.84, up 3.2 percent

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 37.6 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 51 percent.

• Proposition 2: Approve the sale of Central School to David Capretto for $220,000.

• Polls open: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Tonawanda High School Wellness Gym, 600 Fletcher St.

• Web link: www.tonawandacsd.org

...

The Tonawanda City School District is asking voters to approve a $29.8 million budget that will raise the tax levy rate by 3.2 percent. The proposed budget makes some reductions to the BOCES special education program and eliminates three full-time teaching positions.

Four running for three seats: Danielle Opalinski (i) appointed to the board in February, running for first full term; former board member Elizabeth Olka and newcomers Fred Busch and Geraldine Angelo. Top vote getter will assume Opalinski’s seat immediately.• Candidates (Elect 3): Frank Calieri, Julie Goodwin, Timothy Elling, John C. Oshei, Karl Spencer, Carol Jarczyk (i), Christen Buchholtz and Kate Newton.

• Total budget: $106.82 million, down 1.26 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 4.69 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $54.08 million, up 2.92 percent.

• Property tax rate per $1,000 or assessed value: All are up 2.51 percent. $38.99 in West Seneca; $28.30 in Cheektowaga; $28.81 in Hamburg; and $30.25 in Orchard Park.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 50.6 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 38.2 percent.

• Polls open: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. West Seneca East High School, 4670 Seneca St.

• Web link: www.wscschools.org

...

Voters will consider a $106.82 million budget in which spending is down by approximately $1.35 million over the current budget. While there’s a reduction in personnel of more than 100 people, the costs related to dozens of pending retirements is almost $3.27 million.

Eight running for three seats. Top two vote-getters will serve three- year terms, person with third highest total will serve a year: Frank Calieri, 46; Julie Goodwin, 28; Timothy Elling, 52; John C. Oshei, 18; Karl Spencer, 49; Carol Jarczyk (i), 57; Christen Buchholtz, 30; and Kate Newton, 45.• Candidates (Elect 3): Anthony J. Lafornara III, Michael Kane, Thomas J. Navarro Jr., Carrie Kahn (i), Peter U. Bergmann (i), Mohan Devgun (i).

• Total budget: $170 million, up 3.32 percent.

• Tax levy increase allowed under tax cap: 4.34 percent.

• Tax levy (total amount to be raised through property taxes): $110.5 million, up 3.89 percent

• Property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value: $18.96 in Amherst and Clarence, up 3.29 percent; $29.60 in Cheektowaga, up 3.29 percent.

• Percentage of budget from property taxes: 65 percent.

• Percentage of budget from state aid: 19.78 percent.

• Proposition 2: Voters will be asked to authorize the district to spend up to $920,000 from the transportation capital reserve funds to lease or purchase replacements for eight buses.

• Polls open: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in North High School Gymnasium, 1595 Hopkins Road, Williamsville.

• Web link: www.williamsvillek12.org

...

Voters will consider a $170 million budget that would increase spending by 3.32 percent over the current plan.

Six running for three seats: Anthony J. Lafornara III, 47, teacher in the Buffalo City Schools with three children in Williamsville schools; Michael Kane, 24, local attorney and 2006 graduate of North High School;Thomas J. Navarro Jr, 50, local attorney and parent in the school district; Carrie Kahn, 59, current board president who is executive dean of workforce development at Erie Community College and mother of South High School graduate; Peter U. Bergmann (i), 42, president and CEO of Sisters of Charity Hospital with three children in the district; Mohan Devgun (i), 70, SUNY College at Buffalo professor and father of an East High School graduate. ]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 22:34:14 -0400 <![CDATA[ School budgets rise as districts run out of things to cut ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130518/CITYANDREGION/130519067/1020 Options for paying for public schools are running out, so some districts are taking rare steps to save money.

Two local districts will share a superintendent. Two have wiped out their savings. An elementary school will close.

But for most schools, cuts haven't been enough to scale back spending that continues to rise faster than the money is coming in. To make up the difference, voters on Tuesday will be asked to raise taxes in all but two districts, with more than half proposing to increase the amount of taxes collected by 3 percent or more.

Faced with fewer students, higher expenses and less money, school districts across Erie and Niagara counties have done everything from mowing the grass less often to reopening teacher contracts during the last three years.

Some districts that held off steep tax increases in previous years found themselves with fewer options as they crafted budgets for 2013-2014, including:

• Clarence has kept tax increases down as state aid dropped by dipping into savings for the last five years. With those funds nearly gone, the district will now need a 9.8 percent increase in the amount of taxes collected to balance the budget despite roughly two dozen job cuts.

• Lewiston-Porter has wiped out its savings and would cut 23 jobs next year, but will ask voters to exceed the state-imposed tax cap with a 5.5 percent increase in tax revenue in order to balance its budget.

• Niagara Falls for years has used layoffs and other cuts to keep taxes steady, but on Tuesday will seek a 3 percent tax increase for the first time in 20 years.

School leaders across the region say they've done what they could to trim spending with as little impact as possible on students, but some taxpayers wonder if more could still be done.

“Why are all of our tax increases always more than inflation?” asked Marlese Wacek, a Clarence resident who has become an outspoken critic of the district's budget. “We have seniors in this community. They're on a fixed income, and they can't afford these tax increases.”

Only one district – Cheektowaga-Sloan – is proposing to decrease the amount of taxes collected next year. All but two districts – Clarence and Lewiston-Porter – have proposed budgets that remain within a state-imposed tax cap. Those two districts will need a 60 percent voter approval rate on Tuesday to pass their budgets.

Educators, meanwhile, worry about the impact of years of school cuts on students. As schools continue to struggle to make up for promised state aid that never arrived and to pay for the rising benefit costs, districts are also dealing with implementing sweeping curriculum changes and teacher evaluation plans that require more training, materials and time.

“There's a fundamental clash between the capacity of school districts to survive under the revenue scenarios that we face with the professional obligation to provide the best program we can,” said Donald Ogilvie, district superintendent for Erie 1 BOCES, which provides finance and other services for area districts.
The cuts in many districts haven't been enough to make up for lower-than-expected state aid in recent years and pension and health care costs that continue to rise

In West Seneca, where enrollment has dropped 8.1 percent during the last five years, the district has looked at spending large and small as it trimmed expenses. Double-sided copies have become the norm, lawn maintenance has been scaled back and computers are shut down at night. The district also tackled its largest expense – labor costs – by renegotiating contracts with employees to implement salary delays and freezes in 2010.

Before classes begin in September, 132 employees will take a retirement incentive and an elementary school will close to address the drop in the number of students. But the changes aren't enough. The district is one of four in Erie and Niagara counties that plans to reduce spending in 2013-2014, but is still seeking an increase in property tax revenue.

“Even though we've substantially reduced the budget, we just have less on the revenue side,” said District Treasurer Brian Schulz.

Like West Seneca, Barker also reduced spending in its proposed budget, but will ask voters to approve a 3.5 percent increase in the amount of taxes collected as other revenues drop. To cut costs, Barker has taken a path few districts in the state have taken – it will share a superintendent with Royalton-Hartland next school year.

Those types of “functional consolidation” measures may become more common as districts run out of options to trim their budgets if current trends continue. Ogilvie of BOCES said he expects more districts will take a look at items such as back-office operations and transportation, but so far, state incentives for consolidating districts or creating regional high schools haven't been enough to nudge schools in that direction.

“There's still a strong feeling that if we analyze our own operations, if we cut costs, we'll be able to weather this,” Ogilvie said. “But we're at a point now where we don't want to trade the threat of fiscal insolvency for the reality of educational insolvency. So there's a lot of very serious thought focused on the long-term sustainability and workable strategy for ensuring that programs are there in the future.”

Like other districts, maintaining classroom programs and extracurricular activities was a priority for school leaders in Clarence, where the district has proposed the largest increase in taxes collected in Erie and Niagara counties.

Clarence relied heavily on reserve funds during the last five years to keep tax increases down as state aid dropped below expectations. That strategy has run out, and despite cutting 90 positions and $5.8 million from the budget during a three-year period, district leaders have proposed a 9.8 percent increase in the amount of taxes collected next year.

“The district utilized the reserve and fund balance dollars as a means to maintain programs and keep taxes low,” said Clarence Superintendent Geoffrey Hicks. “We don't have the ability to utilize those funds anymore. They've been depleted.”

With that tax hike, spending would increase by 1.1 percent and the district's $15,302 spending-per-student for 2013-2014 would remain second-lowest among school districts in Erie and Niagara counties.

“There's a belief that additional spending cuts would have a significant, detrimental impact on the core programs of the district,” Hicks said.

But Wacek, who is a member of a group known as Clarence Taxpayers, which is advocating for voters to turn down the Clarence budget proposal, wants more to be done. She would like the district to reopen its contract with teachers.

“The people I'm talking to when I go out and hand out flyers and put out signs, they're all saying, 'This is too much,' ” Wacek said. “What are they doing with all that money?”
While school budget cuts continue to be the norm across the region, some districts have proposed budgets that attempt to bring back items that were severely cut back during the last few years.

In North Collins, for example, cuts in recent years to music and technology meant that popular programs like select choruses and ensembles came to a standstill. The district has proposed bringing back a part-time music teacher and reinstating drafting and design courses in technology.

“We have seniors that are leaving at a half a day because there's nothing left for them to take as students,” North Collins Superintendent Benjamin A. Halsey said. “And we're trying to address that, but on a very small scale.”

The district has proposed a 3 percent increase in property taxes collected – about the norm for districts across Erie and Niagara counties – but because of its small size, its $24,063 per-student spending projected for next year is the highest across the two counties.

That's because North Collins has about 600 students and just three administrators, but still has to provide all of the special education, transportation and other services as other districts, Halsey said.

“Those costs are going to have a larger impact even though our enrollment has come down,” Halsey said. “It hasn't come down far enough to where we can make ourselves any smaller as far as our capital facilities and our administration. We're in that area where we've gotten smaller, but not small enough to where we can make any significant changes in our facilities or our staffing.”

Other schools face the same dilemma. As enrollment has dropped in schools across the region, the cost per student has continued to climb. There are fewer students in all but three school districts in Erie and Niagara counties than five years ago. During that time, the median per-student spending has increased by 15.2 percent to $17,406.

Many expect the trends to continue.

“If you think this year is tough,” said Frontier Board President Janet MacGregor Plarr, “we have another few tough years ahead of us.”



email: djgee@buffnews.com News Staff Reporter Karen Robinson contributed to this report.
]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 18:02:12 -0400 Denise Jewell Gee
]]> <![CDATA[ Retiring superintendent spent lifetime in Lancaster ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130518/CITYANDREGION/130519069/1020
In fact, many fondly call him “Mr. Lancaster” and can’t imagine how different it will seem without him walking the halls after June 30, when he retires.

“I sound Pollyannish, but I do enjoy working for Lancaster,” Myszka said in a sit-down interview last week in his office. “The only place I’ve ever been in is Lancaster. It has made it rewarding to see the growth in the community and vast changes. I’ve enjoyed every minute of my experience here at Lancaster. Some days better than others, and some more challenging. I’ve been there for the good times and the bad times.”

Myszka is a legacy, both in the classroom and in the front office, as well as throughout the community, where he’s involved in a smorgasbord of Lancaster-based organizations.

“Ed is the ultimate Lancaster person from many perspectives – growing up here, he taught here, was the business manager, assistant superintendent and then superintendent. It doesn’t get any more involved and committed,” said retired Lancaster Superintendent Joseph L. Girardi, who worked with Myszka for 16 years.

“In this changing world, Ed has risen to the challenge, and for lasting as long as he has, he deserves all the credit,” said Len Jankiewicz, retired from teaching math for the district and a former high school athletic director and football coach. “He has been productive in the length of his tenure, which makes it remarkable.”

Myszka’s roots go deep. As a young boy, he grew up near farmland on William Street, starting school in what was once a one-room schoolhouse on Aurora Street for his primary grades. A few years later, he moved to another school for fourth grade, before moving on to the higher grades. Over time, some of the schools closed, as he graduated to a new grade level. “I close schools,” he quipped, referring to ones that closed after he left them as a student, and also as he presided over them as superintendent during downturns in enrollment and the fiscal climate.

The striking thing about Myszka, a tall, husky guy with a head of bushy white hair, is his quiet, reserved demeanor. He has a humble way about him and is soft-spoken as he recalls the achievements, along with some of the challenges faced in his long career at a district that he grew up in, graduated from in 1961, and taught business to students for a dozen years. It’s also where he met his wife, Marcia, a high school French teacher at Lancaster, and eventually raised his three children – before rising through administrative ranks to become the district’s top leader in 2007.

Myszka has seen Lancaster go through spurts of growth. The 1970s started out with nearly 7,000 students, then dipped to just below 4,000 pupils after Westinghouse closed in the late 1970s. A short while later, Bowmansville Elementary School was closed and then sold. The Central Avenue Elementary School was closed for a decade before being re-opened in the early 1990s, only to be closed again in 2010.

Myszka clearly remembers how sensitive the school closing was to the community. “They weren’t calling me Eddie,” he said.

Critical to Myszka’s success has been his knack for having a keen sense about the community he served. “He knew everything and has incredible insight into the community’s pulse,” Girardi said. “Knowing the pulse of the community is his greatest asset. You could count on him.”

Myszka also has “a great ability” to handle any vocal critics of the district with grace, without losing his cool. “Ed has the incredible ability to tell critics to come on down to his office. He would calmly put them to rest on any issue,” Girardi said.

And through it all, Myszka realizes the value in a healthy sense of humor. “You have to see the light side of things, or else it will really wear you down,” he said.

When the changing of the guard occurs July 1, Michael L. Vallely, who has been the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and pupil personnel services since 2006, will succeed Myszka.

At the top of Myszka’s retirement “to do” list? “I promised my wife I’d take her to Provence, France. It’s time to pay up,” Myszka said, with a grin.

Aside from trying to better his golf game and holding onto his Bills season tickets, he and his wife want to remain active in the school community and Lancaster civic groups.

Another thought has crossed his mind, as well. “I should write a book,” he said.



email: krobinson@buffnews.com ]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 17:48:51 -0400 Karen Robinson
]]> <![CDATA[ Rumore wins re-election as BTF president ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130518/CITYANDREGION/130519044/1020
Rumore received 758 votes to 398 cast for his opponent, Marc Bruno.

Rumore, who has held the union president’s post since 1981 after working for 13 years as a special education teacher, did not return a call to comment.

Bruno, a history teacher at Riverside High School and longtime member of the union’s governing Council of Delegates, said he was pleased with the turnout, which was almost twice the number cast in the last election.

He said there were some issues Saturday morning when his observers were briefly blocked from watching the vote-counting process, which is carried out by a computer company.

“The counting process definitely needs to be reviewed and revised, that’s for sure,” said Bruno. “It’s not a CPA firm that counts the votes, so it’s not like they have a license to lose, like a CPA.”

“I’m not going to contest the election,” said Bruno, “I don’t think that would be very good for the union, and it would probably cost a lot of money, but the process definitely needs to be changed.”

Bruno said he was happy with the number of votes he got.

“Phil Rumore is like a Ted Kennedy or a Strom Thurmond; he’s been there for 32 years. I’ve been on the council for 10 years, but it’s all name recognition. Phil beat me not quite 2-to-1, and for a 32-year incumbent and a virtual unknown, I think I had a pretty strong showing. He had a decent victory, though, and I’m going to support him every step of the way.”

About 3,500 active teachers received ballots, which they filled out and mailed back to a post office box. Bruno said 1,172 valid ballots were received.



email: aneville@buffnews.com ]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 21:34:53 -0400 Anne Neville
]]> <![CDATA[ Forestville student makes video to deter bullying ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130518/CITYANDREGION/130519045/1020
Sylvea Cleary, a sixth-grader at Forestville Central School, said she witnessed an incident of bullying several months ago and told her father how much it upset her.

Sylvea also said she has been the target of bullying.

“I didn’t want to talk about it and I thought it would just go away,” she said.

Sylvea said she learned, however, that the bullying does not go away unless there is intervention.

Her father, Sylvester Cleary, a musician and retired banker who is president of the School Board, was motivated by his daughter’s observations and set to work writing a song. “Word Against the Bully” – set to a hip-hop beat.

Cleary took the effort one step further, envisioning a video that could be posted on the Internet and used as a teaching tool to educate students about bullying.

In the meantime, word has spread at the school that a video with dance moves and music was going to be filmed. In the small district of just 544 students, 118 – from elementary through high school grades – agreed to participate.

The students learned dance moves from Kathryn “Kat” Kucvka, a local dance instructor.

“I think a lot of my friends really enjoyed learning the dance moves,” said Sylvea, who noted the effort also brought out local business owners and even members of the local fire department.

“Everybody came together,” said Cleary, who added that technical help was provided by technology adviser Mike Murphy. Music teacher Jeff Geblein helped with instruments and production.

The video is poised to be posted on the Internet, and hopes are high that the video will receive lots of attention. The song is available through the website of the New York State School Boards Association.

“I hope students everywhere get the message, ‘If you see something – say something,’ ” Sylvea said. “I know I won’t just sit by and watch bullying happen.” ]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 21:29:47 -0400 By Susan Chiappone

chautauqua correspondent

]]> <![CDATA[ Howard addresses graduates at Edinboro University ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130518/CITYANDREGION/130519049/1020
Howard is currently president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

Nearly 900 undergraduate and graduate students collected diplomas during Saturday’s ceremonies.

In her speech, titled “Today’s Graduates and the American Century,” Howard predicted that the skills of college graduates will be in high demand as the United States continues its pre-eminence as a global power.

She pointed out that the national unemployment rate, 7.5 percent in April, is at a four-year low, and the unemployment rate among college graduates is just 3.9 percent.

Howard was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in recognition of her “compelling advocacy, as president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, for the value of higher education.”

She also was praised for her work to influence federal policy on behalf of member colleges, her commitment to diversity and opportunity and her pioneering role as a woman and African-American in educational leadership.

She is the first woman to lead the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the first African-American president of one of six presidentially based higher education associations in Washington, D.C.



email: citydesk@buffnews.com ]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 20:58:00 -0400 <![CDATA[ Local college students take first step into future ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130518/CITYANDREGION/130519064/1020
But for Matthew Faulkner, graduating Saturday from Canisius College took on a more special meaning.

That’s because he was not expected to survive following a car crash in 2009 that left him with a traumatic brain injury and in a coma for nearly two months.

But Faulkner was among 725 students receiving undergraduate degrees Saturday in Canisius’ commencement ceremony in Alumni Arena on the University at Buffalo’s North Campus.

“It feels like quite an accomplishment,” Faulkner said, after getting his diploma.

The crash occurred at an East Aurora intersection about three months before he was slated to graduate from West Seneca West High School. Faulkner was a passenger in a car driven by a friend who pulled into oncoming traffic. He was flown by Mercy Flight to Erie County Medical Center, where doctors were uncertain he would survive.

“But I proved them wrong,” said Faulkner, who penned a book, “Most Likely to Survive,” about his harrowing experience.

Twelve days after emerging from the coma, Faulkner walked out of the hospital and was able to attend his high school graduation. He then took a year off to recover more, and during that time studied at Erie Community College, where he earned nine college credits to add to the 18 he had earned while a high school student.

He enrolled at Canisius in the fall of 2010, graduating on time with a major in economics and finance.

“I love that stuff,” he said.

These days, Faulkner – who is totally independent – has been working part-time as a market analyst for BidURenergy for about a year while completing his studies.

Now, he is looking forward to working full-time.

Bishop Richard J. Malone, who delivered the keynote address, shared a lesson about a research experiment that showed people who practice gratitude are happier than those who do not.

The experiment involved three groups of people: The first group was tasked to list things for which each member was grateful; a second group was asked to write down daily hassles from the previous week; and members of the other group listed five events occurring during the same time period but were told not to focus on positive or negative aspects.

The study showed that members of the first group were 25 percent happier, more optimistic about the future, had higher alertness and enthusiasm, were more empathetic, less depressed and stressed, less envious and less materialistic, Malone said.

“Without gratitude,” he said, “it is difficult to appreciate the awesomeness of God’s grace. ... It’s good for the soul, good for society, and commencement is a prime time to say thank you.”

Malone also received an honorary degree, along with Donald L. Trump, president and chief executive officer at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and Walter Sharrow, Ph.D, emeritus professor of history at Canisius.

Commencement ceremonies also were held for four other colleges.More than 2,030 students received undergraduate degrees during Sports Arena ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The keynote speaker for each was Carl Wilkens, an activist and humanitarian who founded World Outside My Shoes, a nonprofit educational and professional development agency tasked with inspiring and equipping people to stand up against genocide, racism and intolerance.

“We are not defined by what we don’t have, what we lost. We are defined by what we do with what we have. And just don’t quit,” he said.

Donna M. Fernandes, president and chief executive officer of the Buffalo Zoo, delivered remarks during the 6 p.m. ceremony for about 600 Buffalo State students receiving master’s degrees.

She offered advice for successful careers and what lies ahead.

“You will have to remain lifelong learners,” she said.

“The journey isn’t over. It has just begun, and you will discover that it is a very long road. And remember, it is not about the destination. It’s about the journey.”D’Youville College graduated about 700 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students during a ceremony at 9 a.m. in Kleinhans Music Hall.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. M. Eileen Schmitt, a member of D’Youville’s Class of 1968, who drew on the life of Marguerite d’Youville – founder of the Grey Nuns and for whom the college is named – for inspiration. She challenged graduates to live their lives according to three rules of St. Marguerite.

“Mercy, frugality and humility: They will enable you to live a fully integrated life,” she said. “Compassion is what life is all about.”Kleinhans Music Hall also was the setting as Daemen College awarded more than 800 undergraduate and graduate degrees during ceremonies that got under way at 2:30 p.m.

Delivering the keynote address was Daemen President Gary A. Olson, who emphasized the importance of critical thinking.

“You have acquired a habit of mind – the ability and the responsibility to think critically and analytically about the world,” said Olson, who holds a Ph.D in criticism and rhetoric. “This is an ability that will help you make wise choices the rest of your life.”Fredonia State College celebrated its largest graduating class – numbering about 1,500 undergraduate and graduate students – during two ceremonies, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., in Steele Hall Arena.

The keynote speaker was Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, whose son, John, was one of the graduates.

Higgins urged the graduates never to lose sight of love, hope and faith.

“In you, the Class of 2013, we have hope,” Higgins said. “You see, God created the world, but he didn’t finish it. That’s up to you.”

Other featured speakers included Fredonia President Virginia S. Horvath, Ph.D., and Frank A. Pagano, former mayor of Fredonia and chairman of the Fredonia College Council.



email: dswilliams@buffnews.com ]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 20:54:48 -0400 Deidre Williams
]]> <![CDATA[ 'Four-year' degrees often take longer ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130518/CITYANDREGION/130519079/1020
Now, give yourself an extra pat on the back if you did so in four years. That is no easy feat, given the challenges students and college administrators face. Increasing the percentage of students graduating in four years has emerged as an important goal for higher education.

“I took the maximum amount of credits I could each semester,” said Chakriya Chear, 21, among the 2,030 undergraduate students receiving diplomas today at SUNY Buffalo State.

“It was hard,” added Gabriel Casillas, 23, another graduate. “You have to have a lot of motivation.”

In fact, only Geneseo State College, Niagara University and Canisius College – out of the dozen area colleges with commencements this weekend or last weekend – graduate a majority of their students in four years.

Fewer than half of University at Buffalo students earn their bachelor’s degrees in the traditional four-year time frame, federal figures show. At D’Youville College and Buffalo State, fewer than a quarter of students graduate within four years.

The numbers are not an anomaly.

Just more than 38 percent of first-time, full-time college students in the United States graduate with a four-year degree within four years, according to the latest figures from the National Center for Educational Statistics.

“It’s not good, and it’s pervasive,” said Tom Sugar, senior vice president with Complete College America, a national nonprofit that works to increase the number of Americans with college degrees.

Graduation rates have come under scrutiny in recent years, and not only from state and local government officials who want a better return on public dollars.

Parents, too, want their children in and out of college as quickly as possible amid soaring tuition and fees, which now average $8,655 a year at public schools and $29,056 a year at private ones.

“People are very much more concerned about the investment of time and dollars they’re making in a college education,” said Bonnie Rose, executive vice president at Niagara University. “Time is dollars in the sense you pay for that extra fifth or sixth year.”

The U.S. Education Department tracks graduation rates as the percentage of first-time, full-time students who enroll in the fall and complete their bachelor’s degree within six years.

The most recent data, released in 2012, show four-, five- and six-year graduation rates for students who started college in the fall of 2005.

Geneseo recorded the highest local four-year graduation rate – 69 percent.

At Niagara, 60 percent of students graduated in four years, followed by Canisius, 55 percent; St. Bonaventure University, 50 percent; Alfred University, 43 percent; Medaille College, 41 percent; Hilbert College, 31 percent; and Daemen College, 25 percent.

Among the SUNY institutions, 47 percent of UB students graduated in four years, compared with Fredonia State’s 44 percent and Buffalo State’s 23 percent.

But some consider the rates misleading.

The figures do not count students who attend part time, take longer than six years to graduate or transfer, said Terry Hartle, a senior vice president with the Washington, D.C.-based American Council on Education.

Casillas and Chear, for example, spent two years at community colleges before studying at Buffalo State.

At D’Youville, 23 percent of students admitted in 2005 graduated in four years.

But that figure does not reflect the 38 percent of that class that transferred to another college, said Robert Murphy, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.

And it does not include the students who transferred to D’Youville and eventually graduated from the West Side college, Murphy said.

Still, institutions are feeling pressure to get their numbers up. That has led a growing number of schools like Medaille and UB to offer programs guaranteeing incoming freshman a diploma in four years.

At UB, nearly half of last year’s freshman class signed on to take part in the first year of the university’s “Finish in 4” program.

“We want to improve our graduation rates and have really made a strong commitment to advising and tracking our student progress,” said Scott Weber, senior vice provost for academic affairs at UB. “We have also invested heavily in additional course sections to make sure students get the courses they need when they need them.”

But the problem is complex, the college officials say.

In recent years, as enrollment grew and budgets tightened, students could not always get the classes they needed to graduate on time, particularly at the public colleges and universities.

Many arrive from high school unprepared for college work and must take noncredit remedial classes, which add to their length of stay.

Many students – still wrestling with a career path – change majors midstream.

And many college students – an estimated 75 percent of them on campuses across the country – juggle school, family and work, which limits how many classes they can take, or when they can take them, prolonging the duration of their education.

At Buffalo State, the biggest challenge to graduating in four years is financial, said Mark Petrie, associate vice president of enrollment management.

“They stop out and work for a semester to save money and come back,” Petrie said. “They can’t afford to stay in school, which is going to take them a little longer to graduate.”

Casillas and Chear know the feeling.

They worked nights and weekends at a grocery store to help pay for tuition and expenses. But both thought it was important to get their bachelor’s degree in four years.

“I didn’t want to be with that debt problem,” said Casillas, a criminal-justice major from Buffalo.

“The best way to make college more affordable is for our students to finish a four-year degree in four years,” said Sugar from Complete College America.

He puts the onus on colleges.

Colleges should provide “block” scheduling so working students have more predictable class schedules, he said.

They should place remedial students in full-credit courses with tutoring and extra class time, Sugar said.

And they should make sure students do not waste time taking unnecessary courses that do not fulfill graduation requirements, he added.

“It does not mean creating diploma mills or making college easier,” Sugar said. “Students aren’t asking for college to be easier. They’re asking for their lives to be more manageable.”



email: jrey@buffnews.com ]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 13:32:11 -0400 Jay Rey
]]> <![CDATA[ Tax woes trouble 3 School Board candidates in Falls ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130518/CITYANDREGION/130519080/1020
The other incumbent was delinquent on his city taxes for the past three years.

A third candidate served federal prison time for tax fraud.

They are half of the candidates on the ballot for voters in Tuesday’s School Board election. They are seeking a five-year term overseeing a district with a $125 million budget.

The federal and state governments are pursuing incumbent Kevin Dobbs for more than $45,000 in unpaid taxes, according to public documents on file in the Niagara County Clerk’s Office.

The IRS placed a tax lien in the amount of $35,257.54 on property owned by Dobbs and his wife, Norschenia P. Payne, in September of last year.

A tax warrant for $10,586.54 was issued by the state Department of Taxation and Finance in November 2011.

Dobbs, who has served on the board since 1997, said the situation arose after he dipped into his 401k account.

His income “hadn’t been that great,” and things “just snowballed,” he told The Buffalo News.

It all stemmed from not paying enough tax when he withdrew from his 401k, then penalties and interest built up, he said.

“I paid so many taxes on it, and I thought I had paid enough taxes,” Dobbs said. “It wound up that I didn’t pay enough taxes.”

Dobbs is pastor of Christ Redemption Tabernacle at 22nd and Niagara streets, which he said he purchased in 2010.

Dobbs said he has set up a payment plan with the state and has been making payments on his debts. The money he was owed from his most recent state tax return was applied to what he owes, he said.

“I’ve been doing everything I can,” Dobbs said.

Water bills at Dobbs’ Seymour Avenue home haven’t been paid in more than a year, according to the Niagara Falls Water Board. The property is on the board’s shutoff list.

Dobbs downplayed what he believes his tax situation should mean to voters.

“I don’t think it would affect my ability to sit on the School Board,” he said.

Incumbent Don J. King, who has been on the board for more than 30 years, has recently caught up on back taxes he owed the city, according to the City Comptroller’s Office.

It wasn’t until this April that King paid the portion that remained of his 2010 and all of his 2011 city taxes.

King paid his delinquent 2012 city taxes just this week, in the amount of $1,032, the Comptroller’s Office said.

He is currently not delinquent on any city taxes.

King is also being sued by Capital One Bank for $3,202, according to public records on file in the Niagara County Clerk’s Office.

City records also indicate King does not pay any city school taxes because of the state’s STAR exemption program.

King did not respond to phone messages left more than two days.

Michael S. Gawel, a certified public accountant who was sentenced to 17 months in federal prison for tax fraud and money laundering in 1995, had a state tax warrant for $252 issued against him in August 2005.

Gawel said the warrant was over unpaid sales tax from his business and said he paid it the next month. County records show the state officially recorded the payment of the debt that November.

Gawel, who was elected to the City Council before his prison stint, said the prison time has no effect on his ability to govern.

“That was a long time ago,” he said.



email: abesecker@buffnews.com ]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 07:26:37 -0400 Aaron Besecker
]]> <![CDATA[ Depew School Board candidate removed from the ballot ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130517/CITYANDREGION/130519093/1020
Brady announced Tuesday that he was ending his campaign after his employer – the New York State Police – informed him that employees cannot run for office. Brady hopes to run in the future and is working with union leaders to convince supervisors in Albany to allow it. He argues that such a position is different from other elected offices because service is on a volunteer basis and no party affiliations exist for candidates.

According to District Clerk Jessica Neischel, the ballot will include Gabrielle Miller, Patrick Law, Nancy Fumerelle, John Spencer and Nicole Simon. They are competing for three seats.

Also, the district has dropped a proposition that would have asked voters to allow the sale of the Terrence Education Center because no bids were received, according to Superintendent Jeffrey Rabey. Officials, who were looking to sell the building for no less than $700,000, will solicit bids soon. If that is successful, either a special election will be held on the sale or voters could consider the issue during next year’s election.

Two propositions remain on the ballot: the $38.5 million budget plan that includes a 2.97 percent tax increase and a request to use $460,851 from a reserve fund to purchase vehicles. Voting will be held from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Cayuga Heights Elementary School. ]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 23:28:15 -0400 By Lisa A. Johnson

Suburban correspondent

]]> <![CDATA[ Hamburg Schools get amnesty on $1.3 million owed state ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130517/CITYANDREGION/130519094/1020
The dispute with the state involved 14 transportation contracts going back eight years. The state had maintained Hamburg violated state reimbursement policies in the submission of the bus transportation contracts. The district had submitted the contracts and was reimbursed through clerical errors, the district said.

The state Education Department then sought to subtract the money Albany was owed from Hamburg’s state aid payments, and the district turned to its state legislators.

Several different state lawmakers sponsored legislation forgiving Hamburg. The measures reached the governor’s desk three times, and they were vetoed three times by two different governors, the latest by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo last year.

Barbara Sporyz, the district’s director of administrative services, said the district wrote a letter again last November asking for amnesty of the clerical error on the transportation contracts. The district heard back in late April that any aid due will be paid. Since Hamburg already received the aid, it would not have to pay it back, she said.

“We were worried we would be subject to some sort of state aid take-back,” Sporyz said.

“Thank goodness the state has come through and given us amnesty,” Board President Joan Calkins said.



email: bobrien@buffnews.com ]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 23:16:00 -0400 By Barbara O’Brien

News Staff Reporter

]]> <![CDATA[ Niagara USA Chamber urges defeat of Lew-Port budget ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130517/CITYANDREGION/130519116/1020
That means the Chamber gave a thumbs-down to the budget at Lewiston-Porter Central School, where the tax cap this year was 4 percent, but the proposed budget includes a tax levy increase of 5.52 percent.

The $40 million Lew-Port budget reduces spending by 1.16 percent below this year’s level and cuts 23 positions. Superintendent R. Christopher Roser blamed the tax increase on a reduction of state aid.

“This isn’t a case of a frivolous increase and we recognize the difficulty school board members have in making these types of decisions,” said Kory Schuler, director of government affairs for the Chamber. “But businesses and residents simply cannot pay more in taxes.”

The state’s 2 percent tax cap allows several exceptions, such as employee pension costs, which push the allowable increase above 2 percent. ]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 21:12:18 -0400 <![CDATA[ Falls sets anti-drunk driving program ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130517/CITYANDREGION/130519119/1020
Sponsored by the Niagara Police Athletic League and the Niagara Falls Youth Court, the program, called “Every 15 Minutes,” will symbolically remove 30 seniors from class starting at 8:30 a.m. Monday. That will represent the toll of drunken driving crashes, which occur on an average of every 15 minutes in the U.S.

A mock crash will be held in the high school’s rear parking lot at 1:20 p.m. Monday. The next day, the school will hold a mock funeral for those students removed from class to represent the dead. That’s set for 1:20 p.m. in the high school Performing Arts Center. ]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 21:12:03 -0400