Lewiston —
A parent defending Advanced Placement classes, young musicians telling the school board of their love for the trumpet and a high school principal recognizing hard-working students and the best graduation rate in Niagara County, all brought resounding applause to the crowd of more than 95 teachers, parents and taxpayers at Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Lewiston-Porter school board.
A standing-room-only crowd lined the walls, showing support for programs that could be lost as the district works to eliminate a proposed $1.8 million budget deficit.
“A quality rigorous education is the strength of a community,” said Robert Minicucci, who spoke to the board in defense of AP classes. “It not only supports our youth, our future, but I look at it as a draw to bring other people to live in our area. Families who may be considering Western New York, I would love for them to consider Lewiston-Porter.”
Minicucci has three children in the district and believes AP classes have a direct relation to college acceptance.
Four middle school students told the board that band is not a non-mandated program, it is a class that they have learned to love.
A concerned parent, who teaches in another school district said her two children have participated in numerous extra-curricular programs and said there importance are what drove her family to live in the area.
“If we go forward (with the proposed elimination of programs), do we really think the children of this district will be recruited to ivy league schools,” she asked the board. “Do you really think I would have chosen this district to live in?”
Superintendent Christopher Roser apologized to parents and staff members saying budget discussions and proposed cuts were hypothetical, and it was never proposed all of those programs would be cut.
“It was basically to say it’s not going to be an easy road for us to go through,” Roser said. “The board is relying on us administratively to give them an idea how much a program or teacher costs to the district.”
Roser said he and the board will work diligently to piece together the cuts and see what fits best for the district.
“It won’t be easy,” Roser said.
In other business, the board appointed a new representative to the BOCES board of education to replace outgoing member Edward Lilly.
Board member Robert Weller motioned to keep Lilly on the board citing his experience. The motion was defeated in a 2-4 vote with Ed Waller being the other yes vote. Weller then recommended Board Member Wendy Swearingen be appointed to the BOCES board and it was approved 4-2.
Following discussion, the Cost Control Referendum was unanimously approved by the board 6-0 and will be voted upon by the public at the May 18 elections.
The referendum authorizes the school board to call a special district meeting and hold an advisory referendum vote whenever a contract between the district and an employee union or the superintendent results in an increase in cost greater than $100,000.
Board member Michael Gentile harshly criticized the referendum questioning if it is lawful and calling the public’s vote “non-binding.”
“I have never supported that, philosophically I don’t agree with it, but I’ll tell you what I’m going to do, I’m going to vote for it,” he said.
Lew-Port
Related Audio
Related Photos
-
Community Banner Sig
LEW-PORT: Students, teachers defend programs
Superintendent says proposed cuts were hypothetical
- Lew-Port
-
-
It's ni hao Lew-Port for Chinese teacher
“Knee how.”
While the spelling is incorrect, the pronunciation is exactly how the Chinese say hello. The sentiment is precisely how Wang Ying, the newest — though temporary — member of the Lewiston-Porter faculty greeted her students for the first time when she arrived in late January. -
Teacher likes this Apple at Lew-Port
Keeping up with technology is a problem almost everywhere. But in the classroom, a deficiency can cripple children as they move through their formative years into post-high school.
-
Emily Lauzonis ‘pooling’ her talents to raise funds at Lew-Port
Emily Lauzonis, a Lewiston-Porter Intermediate student, had one goal this year when it came to the Swim A Cross event which benefits the American Red Cross. She simply wanted to break her totals raised from the 2011 version.
-
Lew-Port's $2.5M capital project plan targets roof, pool liner
The Lewiston-Porter School District is considering asking its residents permission to complete an estimated $2.5 million improvement project.
-
Lew-Port students honor veterans
Kindergarten and first grade students at Lewiston-Porter Primary Education Center welcomed some special individuals to the school for a presentation Tuesday.
-
International Water Forum trickles into Lew-Port
Mother Nature can’t permanently keep a good forum down. At least not when Lew-Port High School students are involved.
-
Lew-Port program helps district get a read on students
Lewiston-Porter will soon be fully implementing new regulations for diagnosing and working with students with learning difficulties.
-
Lew-Port principal gets taste of high (up) life
For Lewiston-Porter Intermediate Education Center Principal Andrew Auer, watching the weather forecast became the most important part of his week.
-
Lew-Port officials tackling issue of bullying
The Lewiston-Porter school board took steps to strengthen its district’s response to bullying and other harassment Tuesday.
-
Lew-Port's academy program growing in second year
A Lewiston-Porter School District program designed to give students a jumpstart on what post-high school life is like is growing after its first full year.
- More Lew-Port Headlines
-
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland
Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots
Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill
Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
