Published: September 03, 2008 01:31 am            

EDUCATION: It's back to school in Niagara County

tudents in pre-kindergarten straight through 12th grade are heading back to school today for the first day of school all across eastern Niagara County.

Students will notice a few changes, some in the form of new people or curriculum, and others in physical improvements school districts are making. A number of schools have building improvement projects that will continue during the school year, but the majority of projects are completed.

The school districts of Barker, Lockport, Newfane, Starpoint and Wilson start off the 2008-09 school year today. Students in the Royalton-Hartland School District started Tuesday with an early dismissal, but will have a full school day today.

This is what’s in store for students and parents in eastern Niagara County for the 2008-09 school year.

Barker

Barker students will start the school year today at Pratt Elementary School, Barker Middle and High schools. Barker hired Scott Hoot as its new business administrator, with a $90,000 annual salary. Hoot was formerly with the Medina Central School District as financial services director.

The district has hired Deborah Sinnott as the principal at Pratt, at an annual salary of $85,000. Barker has also hired Barbara Converso as the new principal at Barker Middle School, at an $88,000 annual salary. Converso was director of alternative education in Lockport.

Students will pay $1.25 for breakfast at Barker and $1.75 for lunch.

Lockport

Today will be a half day of school for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Some personnel changes include Heather Walton being named an assistant principal at George Southard Elementary School with a $77,032 salary. DeWitt Clinton Elementary School Principal Marianne Currie-Hall has been given the additional title of director of elementary education, for which she will receive approximately an additional $2,000 a year, for a total salary of $90,095.

Russell Buckley was appointed the new director of alternative education, at a salary of $88,630, and Jennifer Gilson was appointed principal at Charles Upson Elementary School, at a salary of $82,604.

Some physical work has been done throughout the district, including new digital security cameras that have been installed in and outside school buildings.

New lockers were installed on the school’s first and second floors and in the sports locker rooms at the high school.

The Lockport High School swimming pool has been closed because the roof was badly damaged. The district is aiming to have the pool ready for the start of the boys’ swim season in November.

Student meal prices increased for the new school year. Elementary students will pay 75 cents for breakfast and $1 for lunch. Middle school students will pay 80 cents and $1.10 for a lunch, while high school students will pay $1 for breakfast and $1.25 for lunch.

Newfane

Today will be a full day of school for Newfane students in the district’s four schools, the Early Childhood Center, Newfane Elementary, Middle and High schools.

The district has made a few personnel changes. The district appointed Debra Zapp as an administrative intern in the role of assistant high school principal last month. The position of assistant principal was vacated by Peter Young, who has been appointed director of curriculum, instruction and assessment and Early Childhood Center principal. Sharon Smith was appointed as assistant principal and chief information officer.

The district is also in the middle of a capital project, but schools are open today. Cannon Design on Tuesday night told the Newfane School Board that the vital work was finished and students can return safely. Superintendent Gary Pogorzelski said the project is under budget.

The district purchased 200 computers and has installed new broadband Internet connection. Newfane also added Advanced Placement Chemistry at the high school.

Lunches for all students cost $1.75.

Royalton-Hartland

Roy-Hart started Tuesday with a half day for students, but today will have a full day of school. The district consists of three schools, Roy-Hart Elementary, Middle and High schools.

There are only a couple of changes for Roy-Hart this year, and one won’t happen until June. Superintendent Paul Bona said last week he will retire at the end of the school year after 10 years in the district.

Also, John Fisgus is beginning his new post as the principal of Roy-Hart Middle School with a salary of $85,000. He replaces Jared Taft. The cost of lunch at the elementary school remains at $1.15 for students and at $1.25 at the middle and high schools.

Starpoint

Starpoint’s main personnel change is the hiring of James Peiffer as the new assistant principal for Starpoint Middle School. His annual salary is $75,000. He replaces Anthony Panella, who held that post for the past two years. Panella left Starpoint this summer to be a principal in the Akron Central School District.

Students will see the new corridor building that will connect Fricano Primary School to Starpoint Intermediate School. It contains five new classrooms, including a double-sized music room. Superintendent C. Douglas Whelan said there was still some work left to do with the corridor, but the work is contained and won’t affect students. The district aims to have the corridor complete by the end of the year.

There will be a new athletic storage building located by the football fields. Other improvements include new roofs on the primary and intermediate schools.

“We’re not adding a whole lot, but improving what we do have,” Whelan said.

Lunches at Starpoint will cost Fricano and Intermediate student $1.55 and middle and high school students $1.80.

Wilson

Wilson students will begin school today at all three district buildings, Thomas Marks and W.H. Stevenson Elementary Schools and Wilson Middle-High School. One personnel change: John Diodate was hired as principal of Thomas Marks Elementary School, with a $77,500 salary. He will replace Elaine Moon, who retired.

Superintendent Michael Wendt said there was a little work that still needed to be done for the $8 million project, but schools are open today.

“There’s some work to do, but we are ready to go,” he said.

The work included improvements to the main entrances of the schools, installing air conditioning and the middle-high school library and media center had been renovated and expanded.

Meal prices at Wilson include $1.25 for breakfast and $1.75 for lunch.

DeSales Catholic School and Christian Academy of Western New York

Students from kindergarten through eighth grade will start today at DeSales Catholic School. Christian Academy of Western New York will also start today for all of its students, kindergarten through 12th grade. Also, Christian Academy will be staying on Main Street for the 2008-09 school year. The school is in the process of purchasing a building on Davison Road, which it is planning to move for the next school year.

Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.

        

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