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Grand Island BOE: Audit shows district in good standing

by jmaloni
Fri, Nov 2nd 2012 10:00 pm

by Kathleen Duff

The Grand Island Board of Education held a joint meeting with the Grand Island Town Board Monday evening at Grand Island High School. In the latter part of the meeting, trustees considered a varied agenda consisting of mostly updates on long-standing projects and issues.

An accountant from Lumsden and McCormick LLP gave a brief summary of the 2011-12 external audit of the district's "books" as required by the State Education Department. Grand Island continues in very good standing financially. Trustees accepted and approved the report.

In capital project updates, Director of Business and Finance Joe Giarrizzo told the board that he has several avenues of public communication planned before the public vote on the new transportation center on Tuesday, Dec. 18. The information will go out on www.k12.ginet.org, the district's Facebook page, the Grand Island PennySaver and Island Dispatch, "lobby boards" in all school buildings and via public presentations at:

•Charlotte Sidway School, Thursday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 11, 6:30 p.m.

•Upcoming PTSA meetings at all schools

Also regarding the capital project, the board approved the State Environmental Quality Review which found that the capital project would not negatively impact the environment in terms of wetlands on Grand Island. The $51 million plus project includes a large technology wing and major auditorium renovations at Grand Island High School, a connecting addition to Kaegebein School, and many health, safety and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) upgrades and repairs. Details may be viewed at the district website.

In his Superintendent's Report, Robert Christmann said that the local and Regents exam testing day is Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. He explained that in previous years, students not taking exams did not attend classes for a full five days of "Regents Week," but that in this coming year, two days of instructional time would be restored to the schedule. He also told the board that technology teachers met with the Niagara Sunday Fliers to discuss at length how the club would be interfacing with students in the program.

The next meeting of the Grand Island Board of Education will be at Huth Road School on Monday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. Administrators and trustees will tour the school.

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