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School district referendum picks up support

Supt. Cynthia Bianco, “68 percent of our kids are living in poverty. We have to go above and beyond what ordinary districts have to do to get kids in school and achieve. Obviously, a more comfortable environment means a better learning environment.”
Roger Spurback, long time block club organizer, was recognized by the
National Sheriff’s Association as having the ‘National Organization of
the Year.’ Spurback opposed last year’s referendum. He told the Reporter he reviewed the plan for this year’s referendum and endorses it.
School Board member Russ Petrozzi, “Special legislation enacted for ‘high needs’ districts makes capital projects 100 percent reimburseable.
If voters vote ‘yes,’ the referendum passes; the state pays for the needed
repairs. Otherwise, local property owners will pay for it. "

People are starting to figure it out.

After a strong outreach program by the Niagara Falls School District, and a half dozen stories in the Niagara Falls Reporter, it’s beginning to sink in that it isn’t going to cost local taxpayers anything to get their hands on more than $65 million to do much-needed maintenance and capital improvements on the 11 campuses that comprise Niagara Falls schools.

“A neighborhood school is like an anchor for a neighborhood,” said Frank Soda, a retired social studies teacher who is heading an ad hoc group of civic-minded business men and community leaders trying to persuade Niagara Falls voters to approve a referendum on September 25. The referendum asks voters to allow the district to issue bonds for capital improvements for schools which will be paid off 100 percent by the state.

“It will be 100% reimbursed by the state,” said School Board Member James Cancemi, also a former school teacher, and owner of Cancemi Furniture. “98% of the reimbursement comes from the state due to Niagara Falls being a ‘high needs’ district, and 2% comes from state EXCEL money, already in hand.”

Last year the district attempted a similar referendum at twice the amount. Less than 10% of registered voters came out and these narrowly voted down the chance to get $130 million in state aid to fix the schools.

Niagara Falls was the only city in the State to vote down 100% state aid to remediate their schools.

Mark Laurrie, chief administrator for the district, told The Reporter there are more than 400 different improvements and repairs urgently needed for the schools, including roof replacements, energy efficient HVAC’s, ADA compliance, improved restrooms, lockers and showers, ceilings, asbestos removal, windows that work, updated communications systems, fire alarms, proper locks, useable parking lots, lowered ceilings, a new bus loop, kitchens that provide hot lunches, pools that have dehumidification and more. All are improvements that will need to be done sooner or later.

Affluent school districts make these repairs as a matter of course.

The question to be decided by the referendum is whether the district gets state aid to make these repairs, or whether local taxpayers pay through increased property taxes.

Voting "yes" on September 25 is a vote for state aid to pay; a “no” vote means local taxpayers pay.

Ernest, Lucantonio, a realtor active in promoting public awareness of the referendum, got involved because voter apathy clearly caused the district to fail to take advantage of the state aid when last year's referendum failed.

“It’s a good opportunity for us, and we don’t want to lose it,” he said. “Let’s face it, we have work to do on the various schools, and this is, as far as local people are concerned, free money. On the other hand, if the voters vote 'no' again, they will, sooner or later, have to make these repairs and it will be done with their money.”

A former opponent of last year’s $130 million referendum, block club president Roger Spurback supports passage of this year’s smaller effort.

“$68 million for five years is approximately $12 million per year,” Spurback said. “That pays for a lot of parking lots, roofs, maintenance, repairs, new furnaces, and other good things. And it will pay for a lot of jobs.

“The education of our children is one of the most important things. It’s going to help improve schools, provide a safe and secure environment, and the money is reimbursed by the state.”

The school board and its administrators, by law, cannot endorse or try to persuade voters. They may only explain the program, according to School Superintendent Cynthia Bianco, adding, “Like your house and mine, school buildings need regular maintenance and upkeep. Now the question is, and it will be decided September 25, who’s to pay for it? State or local taxpayers?”

A super majority of 60 percent of the voters must vote “yes” for the referendum to pass.

 

 

Niagara Falls Reporter www.niagarafallsreporter.com Sep 04 , 2012