Published: August 30, 2007 12:30 pm            

EDUCATION: Things settle down at Niagara Charter School

More than two weeks into the academic year at Niagara Charter School, officials are happy with how things have gone there.

The school, in its second year of operation, opened for the year Aug. 13. Most of the hiccups that were experienced last year have been dealt with or never appeared this year, CEO Gary Stillman said during a Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday.

“It’s been quiet hallways and receptive students,” he said. “The general demeanor in the school is just kind of ... wow.”

There has been some student movement, but enrollment remains at 100 percent (288 students), he said. About 10 of the 20 students who couldn’t be tracked down before the start of the year didn’t return, but Stillman said many of those students’ families had moved out of the area. Their spots were filled from the school’s waiting list, which has 31 students on it.

The charter school expanded to a K-5 facility this year, with plans to grow each subsequent year until it becomes a K-8 building. While all of last year’s students had to get used to a new facility, the fact that most of them returned for a second year made things easier to start this year, said Janet Hill, a teacher who holds a seat on the board.

“Now we just took off running,” she said.

Most of the school’s students still come from Niagara Falls, but children from as far away as the Sweet Home School District in Amherst are now in the student body, chief academic officer Karen Marchioli has said. Other districts sending students include Niagara-Wheatfield and Lewiston-Porter, she said.

Classes begin Wednesday in Niagara-Wheatfield and Lew-Port, and Sept. 6 in the Falls. At 204 days, the charter school calendar is about 24 days longer than those of most public schools.

Citing fewer discipline problems and greater ease transitioning into work mode, school officials agreed that this year should be better than last.

“The kids walked in and have just gotten to work right away,” Marchioli said.

Contact reporter Paul Lane at 282-2311, ext. 2251.

        

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