N-W School Board gives staff high marks for custodial work

by Larry Austin
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, September 14, 2006

With the first day of school already in the history books, Niagara-Wheatfield’s Board of Education gave an “A-plus” to the custodial staff for their work opening day.

The cleaning crew at the high school especially “did an amazing, amazing job making that building sparkle,” Superintendent Dr. Judith Howard said during the meeting on Sept. 6.

The school is in the middle of a giant capital project with construction work ongoing inside and outside the buildings.

“You’d swear they widened the hallways,” Howard said. She said the staff did yeoman’s job to get the school ready in “circumstances that were quite dire.”

Howard praised the efforts of the high school staff and head custodian Kathy Aul.

Board member Don Moyer echoed the superintendent’s remarks. “I’ve lived here for 30-plus years, and the school system has never looked as nice,” he said. Moyer also praised the efforts of the staff and Del Ambrosia, the director of facilities and operations.

On another note, the board members also congratulated August graduates, who took part in a ceremony prior to the board meeting.

Also at the meeting:

Howard said the board will take a formal tour of the buildings on Sept. 20, at 6:30 p.m. as part of its monthly board development meeting.

Howard provided a brief update on something that she said changes daily: the school enrollment figures. She said the studentry is up by 119 in the high school and 11 in the middle school. Colonial Village Elementary is level with last year, though that school sees changes by the moment, Howard said. West Street Elementary is even, but Errick Road Elementary is up 36.

The changes in enrollment forced the district to add a kindergarten teacher at West Street at the last minute, Howard said.