Island Dispatch, 2004-04-30

              Island DISPATCH Rivers Receives Award Page 10 | The Farmer's Almanac ! predicts: j SUNNY h.' n-hi' Cli.iktlu i '■icu'iicr oin-^2 H59 Years As the Voice of Grand Island Award Winning Newspapers The Official Newspaper of the Town of Grand Island and the Grand Island School District ___-<**  _No. 8 April 30. 2004 SI.OO 24 I\i»i»s GI Rotary Lobsterfest Page 4 Phone: (716) 773-7676 « Fax: (716) 773-7190 * K-Mail: MPNc^s^clinail.coni - Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage GI School district receives achievement results by Larry Austin Just as students receive report cards, so do school districts, and Tuesday's Grand Island Board of Education meeting was the district's opportunity to present its achievement results to the public. "We're doing exceedingly well at the middle school level in all areas, English language arts, math and science in particular," said Dr. Karen S. Karmazin, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the Grand Island Central School District. "And that's very unusual relative to the national trends in middle schools as well as local schools, so our results are quite competitive." The report card shows students at Veronica E. Connor Middle School exceeded the state standard in grade 8 English and math, and their proficiency levels outperform the average of similar size schools in English, math and science. Students in elementary school and high school show performance levels that exceed the overall state public school averages and trail similar schools by narrow margins. The tests were administered during the 2002-03 school year. The district received its report card from the Ne*w York State Education Department in March, and js required to present the results to the public, but the presentation was delayed this year because of the budget process undertaken at the time, Karmazin said. By 2011, all students at each school must show proficiency at the elementary and middle school levels, Karmazin said. In high school, students must receive a score of 65 or better on the Regents exam with 95 percent of students seated for the exam. 90 Percent of Students "We're assuming that 100 percent of our students will get Regents diplomas, barring the kids with special cd. needs," Karmazin said. "Our goal with our comprehensive district education plan is that by the Hometown horo added to display iJl* Asn-sinN Man*,.., rWiy i:s\ir.' .-,.j.|s iho yzlwo o' Srw Fn.j to «,r d-spl-y of hoinotovkr. he-o*-, f »r.i n-is L'.-t-n sorvinj it. for tr._ r.,,*t ss-.t..-/., mo-vr:-. Grand Island, Erie County take steps for re-striping town roads photo and story by Robin M. Woolson Erie County Legislator Charles M. Swaniek, R-Tonawanda/Grand Island, joined Grand Island officials last week to announce a new regionalism effort for re-striping roads on Grand Island. "The town of Grand Island is turning quickly into a testing ground for regionalism," said Swaniek. "The Erie County Highway Department and the Grand Island Highway Department are working together to perform important re-striping projects throughout the town more efficiently, and more beneficially to taxpayers."First in County The new, state-of-the-art equipment, which features the latest electronics and computer technology, has been offered by Erie County to individual towns for their re-striping projects. Grand Island is the first to take advantage of this costsaving opportunity. "While most towns in Erie County have only a handful of roads that need re-striping, they can realize great cost savings by using county Highway Department's equipment, rather than bidding out Legislator Charles M. Swaniek, R-Tonawanda/Grand island, joined Grand island officials last week announcing the regional re-striping effort between Erie County and the town of Grand Island. From left are Erie County Interim Deputy Commissioner of Highways Gerard Sentz, Councilmember Richard Crawford, Swaniek, Councilmember Gary Roesch, Town Supervisor Peter McMahon, Highway Superintendent Ray Dlugokinski and Councilmember Mary Cooke. continued on page lies' continued on page 18 & Ik fliic lli^ At a Glance I Saturday & Sunday j River Lea Qnilter's Guild I 'Fantasy in Bloom' 1 Sixth biennial quilt show I Veronica Connor Middle School 1100 Ransom Road Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday School Board Candidates Night Grand Island High School cafeteria 7 p.m. For a complete listing of area I events, visit NFP's Web site at 1 www.wnypapers.com } *I8_» °n Now MNiV Office ___ jBHCT*" 6 RorescentGarage Sale Signs • 60 Price Stickers  6 Directional Arrows Marking Pen • inventory Sheet *N_HHl* Tip Sheet for a Successful Sale • "Garage Sale Leftovers" ad coupon