Island Dispatch, 2005-01-14

              Island DISPATCH  60 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 'Crowns' Triumphant at Studio Page? Chamber Awards Brason Page 5 Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage . www.wnypapers.c_J_ ||cc Us On The Web ; Phone: (716) 773-7676 * Fax: (716) 773-7190 * E-Mail: NFPNews@clmail.com Vol. 60 * No. 43 January 14, 2005 $1.00 24 Pages Interim Sidway principal named; scholar athletes honored by Karen Keefe The Grand Island School Board began its meeting Monday on an upbeat note, with the appointment of an interim principal for Sid w ay Elementary School and the honoring of high school scholar-athletes.The meet- ing was decidedly less upbeat later in the agenda, when a preliminary discussion of the 2004-05 budget took place. Board members talked about the unlikelihood of the district receiving additional state aid and the dilemma of trying to hold the line on taxes while maintaining programs and current class size. Peters Named Henry. Peters received the approval of the board to begin at Sidway on Jan. 11. He wil! serve during the absence of Frank Cannata, who was suspended pending the outcome of a federal drug charge." Peters is an experienced educator and administrator whose background and qualifications are highlighted in a separate article on page 10. He was introduced to the board and audience and received, a round of applause. Scholar-athletes Lauded Also applauded Monday were New York state scholar-athletes, who also received T-shirts and award pins from athletic director Jon Roth. They also were treated, along with their parents and coaches, to an ice cream social arranged by School Lunch Manager Dennis Donovan prior to the board meeting, in recognition of their accomplishments.Roth explained, "To earn a scholar-athlete team award, a certain required number of varsity athletes in each sport must have their report card averages combine for a team average of 90 percent or higher." Henry Peters is the new interim principal of Charlotte Sidway Elementary School.  Roberta Frisoni, chairman of the Grand Island High School Business and Technology Department, pours colorful stones into a jar to represent the different kinds of knowledge and experience that contribute to the well-rounded education of a Grand Island High School student. Her presentation was part of Monday night's meeting of the Board of Education, (photo by Karen Keefe) Icewine Festival opens The Icovvine Bar at tno fool of the escarpment in Joidan. Ontario, a 30-fooi carved block of ice. is an appropriate way to serve mo product o! the grape at the Niagara Icevvino Fosii.ai. opening this weekend in Ni?iyara rails. Ontario. The festival continues next weekend in Niayara-or.-lhe-_ake. For more -on the annual eveni. see page 3. School Board takes stock of 2004-05 budget challenges by Karen Keefe The Grand Island Board of Education had a very preliminary discussion on 2005 budget at Monday night's meeting, with a goal of scoping out priorities on programs, the dollar figures and the tax rate. What board members and administrators agreed on is that the district is facing a cash crunch while trying to maintain at least the same level of instruction and programs as last year. The board wants to achieve.as low a tax increase as possible with the least negative impact on students.Aid Increase Unlikely Board member Jeri Schopp said, "It looks as though we probably should look at the prospect of not receiving any additional aid" from the state. School Superintendent Thomas Ramming agreed, "It doesn't look like a great year in terms of additional state aid for Grand Island." He said the governor's budget proposal — expected within the next two weeks — usually serves -as a starting point. He said that unfortunately, it's the only piece of information the board usually has as it is preparing its budget. With the Legislature's track record of late budgets, the board likely won't know if actual aid will be different than what the governor is recommending.Fiscal Equity Lawsuit One huge factor in the amount of state aid available is the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit filed to gain a fairer share, of funding for New York City Schools. A panel of judicial referees has concluded that the city's schools need an additional $5.6 billion in operating aid and $9.2 billion in facilities to provide their students the education the state's constitution guarantees, them. The governor and Legislature failed to reform the school funding system by the Court of Appeals' July 30 deadline, and the CFE wants state Supreme Court Justice Leland DeGrasse to make the panel's recommendations an order of the court. Ramming said once New York City's fiscal advocates resolve their case, look for other districts, both city and rural, to line up and seek-a bigger piece of the pie for themselves, as well. Major Costs Identified Loraine Ingrasci, assistant superintendent for Finance and Support Services, cautioned board members that they are still dealing, with two major cost components — health insurance and retirement benefits — that they have no control over. She noted that fuel costs are running higher than the rate of inflation, as are many of the items the district purchases. continued on page 24m" continued on page 2 US' At a Glance ' __I___3_ P.W. Gopal Performance National Christian Artist St. Stephen's Church 2100 Baseline Road 7 p.m. Wednesday X of C Soup Night Knights of Columbus Charity Committee 1841 Whitehaven Road 4:30 to 7 p.m. For a complete listing of area events, visit NEP's Web site at www.wnypapers.com fL,n^,S^ach 0| *>».»-__-_'._." ~ I 2nd Section WfA trl Island Agent in the *iH__ "ullle- ■__■■ I ■■■ l_Tn r~\ ' r~> ■__r|*W______ Top Selling Island Company ,' ■„ Wv*2m Iflf _fc __. l_rf__t MrTTrlTlTllvmm I__M___________l 743-7321 ormmfm __k • cal! Linda *«&»>**■ she knows 111 I nlc UmUmUf* Mll!^^^^^m_kmß_H_y_. _ 628-1719 ftfiM Jm@ how and would love to help you j |11l 1 Hllf II ¥ VII 9 IifPIB