Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District
| Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
|
Niagara Falls, New York Niagara  United States | |
| District information | |
| Type | Public |
| Falcons don't glide, they soar | |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Established | 1956 |
| Superintendent | Lynn Marie Fusco |
| Schools | 6 |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | 4,200 |
| Teachers | 208 |
| Athletic conference | Section VI |
| District mascot | Falcons |
| Colors | Black and White and Red |
| Other information | |
| Website | Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District |
Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District is a public school district in New York State located in Sanborn, New York, about 10 miles (16 km) from Niagara Falls, New York. The District serves students from the towns of Niagara and Wheatfield.
Administration
The District offices are located at 6700 Schultz Street, Niagara Falls, New York. The current Superintendent Dr. Lynn Fusco.
District administrators
- Dr. Lynn M. Fusco–Superintendent.
- Mr. Richard Hitzges–School Business Administrator
- Ms. Ashley Wood–District Treasurer
- Ms. Lenore Luciano–Director of Special Programs
- Mr. Patrick Canfield–Assistant Director of Special Programs
- Ms. Mary Ann Buch–Directory of Technology
- Mr. Delbert Ambrosia–Director of Buildings and Grounds
- Mr. Michael Dallessandro–Director of Transportation
- Mr. Mark DiFilippo–Director of Athletics
Board of education
The Board of Education (BOE) consists of 7 members who serve rotating 3-year terms. Elections are held each May for board members and to vote on the School District Budget.
- Mr. Steven Sabo–President
- Mr. Rich Halleen–Vice President
- Ms. Lori Pittman
- Mr. David Breier
- Ms. Kathy Fleming
- Mr. Richard Sirianni
- Mr. Christopher Peters
Selected Former Superintendents
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
- Mrs. Mabel Sarbaugh Lee
- Mr. Charles R. Clark
- Mr. Joel Radin–?-1994 (unknown, retired)
- Mrs. Carol Beebe–1994-1996 (Principal - Colonial Village Elementary, returned to Colonial Village)
- Mr. Peter T. Kachris–1996-1997 [interim]
- Dr. Judith H. Howard–1998-2008 (Assistant Superintendent - Hilton Central School District, retired)
- Mr. Carl Militello–2008-2012 (Retired)
- Mr. Kerin Dumphrey–2012 [interim] (School Business Administrator - Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District, returned to position)
- Mr. James Knowles–2012-2013 [interim] (Interim Superintendent - Warsaw Central School District, retired)
Schools
The school district operates six schools.[1]
Niagara-Wheatfield High School
| Niagara-Wheatfield High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
|
2292 Saunders Settlement Road Sanborn, New York, Niagara, 14132 | |
| Information | |
| Principal | Timothy P. Carter |
| Assistant principals |
James R. Campbell Paula A. Missana |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Website | Niagara Wheatfield High School |
Niagara-Wheatfield High School is located at 2292 Saunders Settlement Road in Sanborn, New York and serves grades 9 through 12. The current principal is Mr. Timothy Carter.
History
Former principals
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted with in parentheses
- Mr. Richard H. Eden–1958-1966
- Mr. Charles T. Pelcin–1966-1995 (Assistant Principal - Niagara Wheatfield High School, retired)
- Ms. Laura Palka–1995-2002 (Principal - Windermer Boulevard School, named Principal of Edward Town Middle School)
- Mr. Michael J. Vallely–2002-2003 [interim] (Assistant Principal - Niagara Wheatfield High School, named Principal of Southwestern High School)
- Mr. Joseph D. Prisinzano–2003-2005 (Assistant Principal - Sweet Home High School, named Principal of Jericho High School)
- Ms. Michelle A. Spasiano–2005–2007 (Principal - Errick Road Elementary School, named Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction of Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District)
- Mr. Donald F. Mills–2007-2009 (Assistant Principal - Williamsville South High School, named Principal of Ithaca High School)
- Mr. Jeffery D. Hazel–2009-2011 (Math teacher - Niagara-Wheatfield High School, named Principal of St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute)
- Dr. Laura Palka–2011-2012 (Principal - Edward Town Middle School, returned to Edward Town)
Edward Town Middle School
| Edward Town Middle School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
|
2292 Saunders Settlement Road Sanborn, New York, Niagara, 14132 United States | |
| Information | |
| Principal | Laura Palka |
| Vice principal | Jordan M. Schmidt |
| Grades | 6-8 |
| Website | Edward Town Middle School |
Edward Town Middle School is located at 2292 Sanders Settlement Road in Sanborn and serves grades 6, 7, and 8. The current principal is Dr. Laura Palka.
History
Edward Town Middle School opened in 1965. It was named for Edward Town in 1966, who helped organize the Niagara Wheatfield district.
Selected former principals
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted within parentheses
- Mr. F. Lee Pierce–?-1998
- Mr. Anthony Day–1998-2002 (Assistant Principal - Sweet Home High School, named Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction of Sweet Home Central School District)
Colonial Village Elementary School
| Colonial Village Elementary School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
|
1456 Saunders Settlement Road Niagara Falls, New York, Niagara, 14305 United States | |
| Information | |
| Principal | Charles A. Smilinich |
| Grades | K-5 |
| Website | Colonial Village Elementary |
Colonial Village Elementary School is located at 1456 Saunders Settlement Road in Niagara Falls and serves grades K through 5. The current principal is Mr. Charles Smilinich.
History
Selected former principals
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted within parentheses
- Mr. A. Robert Filocamo–1967-1992 (chairman of the N-W science department 1963-1967 and secondary summer school principal at N-W in 1967, retired)
- Mrs. Carol Beebe–?-1994 (unknown, named Superintendent of Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District)
- Mrs. Kathleen A. Cummings–1994-1996 (Assistant Principal - Colonial Village Elementary, placed on assignment)
- Mrs. Carol Beebe–1996-2008 (Superintendent - Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District, retired)
- Mr. Timothy Carter–2008–2012 (Vice Principal - West Street Elementary, named Principal of Niagara-Wheatfield High School)
Errick Road Elementary
| Errick Road Elementary School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
|
6839 Errick Road North Tonawanda, New York, Niagara, 14120 | |
| Information | |
| Principal | Nora O'Bryan |
| Asst. Principal | Maria Zawistowski |
| Grades | K-5 |
| Website | Errick Road Elementary School |
Errick Road Elementary School is located at 6839 Errick Road in North Tonawanda and serves grades K through 5. The current principal is Mrs. Nora O'Bryan.
History
Selected former principals
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted within parentheses
- Mr. John E. Thurmon–1963-1976 (teacher at N-W High School and Tuscarora School, first principal at Errick Road, resigned, died 1995)
- Mr. Ross S. Bellitto–1976-1981 (principal of Bergholtz, Nash Road, Nevada Avenue, River Road, and Military Road Schools, retired, died 2011)
- Ms. Michelle Spasiano–?-2005 (unknown, named Principal of Niagara-Wheatfield High School)
Tuscarora Indian School
| Tuscaroa Indian School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
|
2015 Mount Hope Road Lewiston, New York, Niagara, 14092 United States | |
| Information | |
| Principal | Elizabeth Corieri |
| Grades | K-6 |
| Website | Tuscarora Indian School |
Tuscarora Indian School is located at 2015 Mt. Hope Street in Lewiston and serves grades K through 6. The current principal is Ms. Elizabeth Corieri.
West Street Elementary
| West Street Elementary School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
|
5700 West Street Sanborn, New York, Niagara, 14132 United States | |
| Information | |
| Principal | Theron Mong |
| Grades | K-5 |
| Website | West Street School |
West Street Elementary School is located at 5700 West Street in Sanborn and serves grades K through 5. The current principal is Mr. Theron Mong.
History
West Street Elementary was opened in 1999.
Former principals
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted within parentheses
- Ms. Linda McClure–1999-2006 (Administrator, Del Rio,Texas, retired)
School Colors and Mascot
Niagara-Wheatfield Senior High School's official school colors are black & white and red. The school's mascot is the Falcon, and its sports teams and other competitive teams are also referred to as the "Niagara-Wheafield Falcons."
Academic and Behavioral Statistics
Overall, Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District's academic and behavioral statistics are higher than the New York State average. In 2006 the average attendance rate for all high school students was 93%. Total suspension count for the year was 94 incidents. 96% of the Class of 2006 earned New York State Regents diplomas, while only 4% earned local diplomas. 56.8% of total students earned New York State Regents diplomas with advanced designations (honors). 69.2% of students with disabilities earned New York State Regents diplomas.
Sports and Academic Organizations
Athletics: NW has an array of sports programs, including baseball, football, basketball, bowling, wrestling, cheer-leading, track, cross country, tennis, volleyball, swimming, golf, soccer, hockey and softball. Niagara-Wheatfield competes in the NFL (Niagara Frontier League) with rival schools such as Lewiston-Porter, Niagara Falls, and Lockport. Niagara-Wheatfield is in New York's Section 6.
Academic Organizations: Niagara-Wheatfield also offers a wide variety of other organizations that students can join based on their interests.
Notable alumni
Rashad Evans, Class of 1998, is a former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion. During his time at Niagara-Wheatfield, he was known for his significant contributions to the NW Falcons' varsity football and wrestling teams, with guidance and leadership from Coach Ace Cacciatore.
Coach Armand "Ace" Cacciatore, a 2002 inductee into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, and a 1999 inductee into the New York State Wrestling Coaches' Hall of Fame. Ace dedicated his career to teaching and coaching at Niagara-Wheatfield and formed the school's wrestling program in 1963, compiling a record of 330 wins and 30 losses during his wrestling coaching tenure, sending over 35 wrestlers to New York State Finals. He was named to head varsity football coach in 1970, and within three years led the Falcons into their first league championship. His football record is highlighted with 158 wins in 26 years, three Section VI Class Double A championships (two of them consecutive, in 1996 and 1997), seven divisional championships, two Connelly Cups, and five trips to Rich (Ralph Wilson) Stadium. Cacciatore became known not only as a superb coaching tactician, but a molder of men. A strong believer that character matters, he instilled a strong sense of purpose and values in every athlete who ever played or wrestled for his teams. Coach Cacciatore often took an interest in the personal lives of struggling student athletes, and assisted many in obtaining college scholarships or otherwise achieving to their best potential.[2]
Michael Pittman, Class of 2009, is a member of the University of Rochester's male a cappella group, The YellowJackets. The group appeared on season 3 of NBC's singing competition, The Sing Off.
Post-High School Career Paths
The majority of each year's graduating classes go on to pursue two and four-year college-level degrees. 38.5% of students in the Class of 2006 went on to start a 4-year degree program (91 students in-state and 4 out of state), 46% went on to start a 2-year degree, 4.3% went on to start other vocational training programs, and 28 students total started employment immediately post graduation.
2008: 50 Year Golden Anniversary
In 2008, Niagara-Wheatfield celebrated its "golden anniversary" of 50 years with a 1950s-style sock hop, inviting all NW alumni who have graduated from the school since its opening 50 years ago.[1]
Brief History and Student Demographics
Prussian Immigrant Foundation: The original high school was built on the Haseley family farm land in 1958, which the family sold to the state. The dual Edward Town Middle School and Niagara-Wheatfield Senior High School complex is located on Saunders Settlement Road (NYS Route 31) near the hamlet of "Walmore",[3] an original Franco-German (Prussian) Lutheran settlement formed in the 1880s, to which the Haseley family is related. There are still several families living in the town of Wheatfield today who are descendants of the original Franco-German (Prussian) immigrant families. The families established the hamlets of Johnsberg, Bergholtz and Walmore after escaping harsh religious persecution in their former European homeland.[4]
Tuscarora Nation History: There is also a Native American population (the Tuscarora Nation, one of the Six Nations of Haudenosaunee) with a deep history that has a historical presence in the school district. The Tuscarora reservation (founded in 1803) is located directly across the street from the middle school and high school, and is home to the Tuscarora Nation.
Italian, Irish and Other Heritages: The school district also is home to several students of Italian ancestry, as well as students many other diverse origins and backgrounds such as Irish-American, Asian-American and African-American.
A Growing Population in a Difficult Economy: Despite issues with job loss in the manufacturing industry due to globalization and the transition of America from a manufacturing-driven economy into a service-driven economy, the Town of Wheatfield is one of the fastest-growing towns in Niagara County. West Street Elementary School located in Sanborn, NY was built and added to the school district in the late 1990s to accommodate the growing population of school-aged children.