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With Union Rd. at the top of this diagram, the above sketch shows the proposed
improvements included in the two School Renovation plans currently being considered by the Cheektowaga
Central School District. The dark objects are the current Junior / Senior
high school (upper left) and Union East (lower right) facilities. The lightly shaded
objects located between Union Rd. and the Junior / Senior building represent the proposed
middle school and bus / car drop off and pick up areas. Other improvements shown are
expanded bus and car parking areas located at the front of the Union East building.
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Meeting Notice And Agenda
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Tuesday, October 3rd, 7 P.M.
Alexander Community Center
First Floor - Senior Room
275 Alexander Ave., Cheektowaga
Important Notice:
Our November meeting will be held the SECOND
Tuesday (14th) because the Center will be closed on Election Day
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- Agenda -
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1. Call The Meeting To Order At 7 P.M.
2. Pledge Allegiance To The Flag
3. Roll Call Of The Executive Board
4. Act On New Membership Applications
5. Secretary's Report
Correspondence SENT:
October Newsletter & Agenda mailed to all members & interested parties
Correspondence RECEIVED:
Letter from Supervisor Gabryszak re questions for assistant chief of police candidate
6. Treasurer's Report
7. Committee Reports
State Leg., Town Board and School District
Watch Alert Group (WAG)
Mobile Citizen Patrol - Interim Chairman John Marriott
Pizza & Ciffee Break
8. Sunshine Report
9. Old Business
10. New Business
a. Cheektowaga Central Proposed Bond Issue
b. Citizen's Input Assistant Chief of Police
11. Good & Welfare and Comments From Members
12. Adjourn
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Gathering All The Facts In The Central School Renovation Plan
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This year, district enrollment figures show a total increase
of under one percent from a year ago. Union East showed the most increase with an enrollment
of 1.012, up about five percent from 960 children on the first day of school last September.
Pine Hill dropped from 355 last year to 313 presently.
This article will focus on the district's space crunch at the high school.
Presently, 1,135 pupils are enrolled at the high school compared with 1,123 a year ago.
A proposal to build a new middle school onto the high school to house grades
6 thru 8 would also relieve overcrowding at Union East by removing 25 percent of the children enrolled
at the school.
New construction planned for the high school and middle school would cost
just over $9 million. The middle school changes will contain 15 classrooms, 4 science classrooms,
gymnasium and cafeteria. The high school changes will renovate the cafeteria (share renovated kitchen
with middle school). The middle school and high school will receive a new female team locker room,
new band room and practice facilities.
Renovations planned for the high school and middle school will cost $3.7 million.
The middle school includes updates to 4 classrooms, 2 home and careers classrooms,
and 2 technology classrooms. The high school includes updates to the technology wing into 8 new science classrooms;
new technology (in existing music wing); and adds an elevator with handicapped accessibility to the team area
in the high school basement. The existing library / media center would be expanded.
Site work for the high school and middle school will include bus and car drop off and
pick up areas and will cost $482,783.
Construction estimate subtotal: $13.3 million; plus 5 percent construction contingency:
$734,197; estimated incidental costs: $2.78 million; and district technology upgrade: $800,000. Total bond cost
for middle school and high school: $17.5 million.
Source: C.C. Business Office. All amounts are rounded off.
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Comment From
John Marriott, TPHA Vice President
With the Cheektowaga Central School Board proposing a possible referendum on either an 18.9 million or a $14.7 million
bond issue, the district taxpayers (homeowners) need to have factual information before voting on these proposals. To
make an informed decision we need to know the current, past and projected enrollment figures.
We also need to know what our total out-of-pocket costs will be as reflected in our annual school tax bills. In addition
to the bond issue, we will also have to fund the additional teacher salaries and administrative salaries required for
staffing up to 30 new classrooms.
This year's district enrollment figures show a total increase of just under 1 percent (22 students) from last year. Union East
showed the largest increase, about 5 percent from last year. Pine Hill (K-1) showed an enrollment decrease of about 12 percent.
Do these figures suggest we are seeing a small short-term rise in middle to high school enrollment and the beginning of a future long-term
decrease in our student population? The school board needs to answer these very important questions before asking you, the taxpayer, to
approve a 20-year bond issue.
On both their proposals, the school board or the administration has failed to provide any reliable figures, for long term future
enrollment, to justify the need for more classroom space. So far we have only heard scare talk about split sessions and temporary
classrooms.
If there is a genuine need for more classroom space, it should have been foreseen several years ago. Why the sudden need for more
space now, with only a 22 student enrollment increase this year?
Neither of the current proposals provided has any commitment by the school board to secure the future of Pine Hill School which
is an important anchor on the community and must remain an integral part of any school district plans.
Meaningful meetings, not just public information meetings, must be held between community representatives and the school board
to secure the future of the Pine Hill School.
The taxpayers who will be footing the bill for this proposed expansion need to see accurate enrollment projections for the
school district, before we can be asked to vote on a multi-million dollar bond issue. These numbers must be based on current U.S.
census information for our area to be valid. - JM
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Comment From
Rick Jachimiak, TPHA Member and Central School Board Trustee
When the district residents voted against the bond resolutions in April, the district was left with a space problem; a shortage of
science labs at the high school and overcrowded conditions at the Union East Elementary School.
The district residents face several options including installing temporary classrooms; creating some sort of split sessions at the high
school; re-voting on one or both of the original resolutions; placing a smaller resolution up for a vote; or do nothing.
At one time or another at least one district resident seems to have supported one or more of these possibilities.
At this time, the Board of Education is attempting to determine what district residents will support before making a firm commitment to
one course of action.
There seems to be significant resident support for another bond resolution vote that will allow a building project smaller than the one
voted on in April.
However, a consensus has not yet developed on which path district resident prefer.
There appears to be three primary alternatives emerging:
(1) District residents should vote on smaller-than-before bond for a project which includes the middle school concept favored by
educational leaders;
(2) Residents should vote on the bond for an even more-modest building project, which adds spaces at Union East and the high school but
skips the middle school; or
(3) Skip the vote and develop the temporary classrooms / split-sessions solution.
The Board of Education is seeking community input on which alternative should be pursued.
The decision is important because it will affect the future character of our schools, tax levels, and the quality of life in our
district.
I am a true believer in the democratic process. Whatever the good people of the Cheektowaga Central School District decide to do I
will ultimately support. In my position as a Board of Education member, I believe that I am close to many of the issues that the
voters face. - RJ
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Annual Halloween Parade in Pine Hill Set For October 31
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The fire fighters from Pine Hill Hose Co. #5 will
be having their Annual Halloween Night Parade, Tuesday, October 31 at 7 P.M.
The parade lead by the Pine Hill Drum & Bugle Corps
will start from the Sliwinski Funeral Home on George Urban Blvd. and proceed
up Peachtree Road to the fire hall.
After the parade the fire fighters will be handing
out treats at the fire hall to neighborhood children.
Remember - Trick or Treats is ONLY ONE NIGHT, Tuesday, Oct. 31.
Children should wear reflective clothing, should be accompanied by an adult
and should go only to homes that are lighted.
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News From The Hill
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Inside... Pine Hill Fire Hall
September 2000 Report
by Edward Dean Jr. Fire Chief
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Inside... The Commissioner's Room
August 2000 Report
by Leonard Luh District Secretary
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Pine Hill Hose Gets $2,500 County Grant
We have just received grant money through Legislator Greg Olma's office for the sum of $2,500,
this for a new laptop computer. This is the second time Pine Hill Hose received grant money
through the efforts of Mr. Olma, and we thank him.
New Truck
For the past 2 years the truck committee has met with company members, outside firefighters,
and factory representatives. The committee has worked extremely hard researching what would
be the safest and most cost effective truck for the residents of our district and for our fire
fighters. This truck is designed to be two trucks in one. Most companies run a $300,000 heavy
rescue and back it up with a $300,000 pumper and costing their district over $600,000. We have
designed two trucks in one, combining a Class A Pumper with a Heavy Rescue and costing just over $400,000.
The new dual-purpose truck has been ordered and the district will get a unique pumper and rescue
truck which will serve both as an engine pumper and rescue truck. The vehicle is a state of the art
2000 Salsbury Rescue-Pumper. In late October we will be going to the factory for a pre-construction
meeting. Delivery should be no later than May 30, 2001. I will keep you updated on progress. Drawings
should be here for viewing in a month or two.
One of the truck bays has been widened a foot to allow more clearance and make it easier to maneuver
the new truck while backing into the fire hall.
On The Good Note
Calls are down this year from last year, fire prevention is working. The commissioners have been
purchasing the needed equipment asked for by the firematic officers.
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District Meeting
The fire district met Tuesday, August 8 at 7:30 p.m. (Note: The next meeting is changed from Oct
3 to Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m.)
Correspondence
Letters received from fire fighter Steve Moeller requesting use of the fire hall. From the company
president giving results of election for 1st assistant chief. From fire fighter Tim Tryjankowski
expressing interest in vacant custodian position. From fire fighter Joseph Morsheimer expressing
interest in vacant custodian position. From Horder Agency concerning lost pager insurance settlement.
Copy of letter received from the district lawyer sent to TRK Manufacturing who bid on new Engine 2.
Letter received from Salsbury Fire Apparatus concerning truck bid award.
Officers Reports
Chief Ed Dean applied for grant money through the county for a laptop computer. 2 nd asst. chief Tim
Bull discussed members lacking in drills and that he and the chief may make some changes concerning
playing softball and drill attendance.
Alarms & Drills
During the month of July, the company answered 25 alarms with an average of 13 members per alarm.
The officers ran 9 drills with an average of 6 members per drill.
New Business
The fire hall will be used as an emergency shelter when necessary. The 2001 fire district budget
was adopted in the amount of $296,200. Fire fighter Chris Zemrac was approved as a qualified driver of EMG 7.
Any officer is approved to attend a Command Seminar at Getzville FD on September 23 at a cost of $15 per person. Martin
Schultz was appointed 1 st assistant chief.
Commissioners and officers were approved to attend the Legislation Work Session in Batavia on September 16.
This program will address upcoming legislation in the state, and legal aspects for the fire service. The district
will cover the cost of registration, mileage at 31 cents per mile and lunch at the work session.
A new computer printer was approved for the commissioners room computer.
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Disaster Chief To Address TPHA Nov. 14
Dusza Authorizes County Funds To Fight Virus
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The town's disaster coordinator Earl Loder is preparing
guidelines for town residents to follow to help battle the West Nile Virus. He will
share the town's latest plans to fight the mosquito-borne disease at the November 14
meeting of the Town Park Home Owners Association.
The county took steps last week to pay for expenses to fight
the disease. Erie County Legislator Ray Dusza approved a resolution authorizing the
transfer of $500,000 in additional funds to the county's Health Department to address
West Nile Virus control, rodent control and rabies control.
"The well-being of our residents is a to priority," said
Legislator Dusza, Vice Chair of the Legislature's Public Safety Committee. "We have
actively pursued preventative measures and public education to limit the health
impact this has on our community."
"The Erie County Health Department is experiencing an
increased workload and requested these additional funds to pay for the supplies
and manpower needed to address these health concerns."
Presence of the West Nile Virus in Erie County was
confirmed in August and again last week when another 4 dead birds, found in
Tonawanda and Amherst, tested positive for the virus.
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Parks, Recreation & Youth Services Director Comments On Sports Behavior
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The fall 2000 booklet just released by the parks department
includes a message from executive director Ken Kopacz about the adult behavior at
youth sports events.
Kopacz wrote, "One of the saddest news stories that occurred
this summer was the death of a Massachusetts hockey coach at the hands of a parent.
Such a tragedy! I can't imagine what those youngsters are thinking as a result of
that incident."
"To watch as another parent murders a man who is trying to
impart character and good sportsmanship into the lives of some young people. Sad
to say, this was only one of many news stories that surfaced about parental
behavior at sporting events that involved young children."
"One of the worst sights to see is the irresponsible
behavior and language of parents who attend their children's sports activities.
I've seen it first hand and am embarrassed by it, and often times, so are
the children."
"This department is a strong proponent of good coaching
and good sportsmanship. As a member of the National Youth Sports Coaches Association,
we promote and offer the coaches training workshops."
"As public opinion focuses on parental and coach behavior,
we will continue to take a lead as is evident in our publication 'Youth Sports and
Your Role as a Parent.' For a copy, call our office at 897-7207 or pick one up at our
main office at the Alexander Center, or at the Town Park Rec Center (ice rink),"
Kopacz said.
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TPHA Members Elected To Committee
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Primary Day was a good day for a number of our members
who were elected to serve as members on the Cheektowaga Town Democratic Committee.
Newly elected to the committee are Ed Dean and Scott Kowal in
election district 31 and Paul Charvat in election district 33. John Marriott was re-elected
as a committee member in district 35 as was his partner Al Kane.
Stan Kaznowski and Ben Kline were unopposed and remain the two
committee members in district 34. Sophie Sunday, district 36; and Tom and Mary Grace
Mazur, district 42 also ran unopposed. Our Treasurer, Chet Kasprzyk lost the race in
district 41 by only two votes. We are sure Chet will be back in 2002!
With nine TPHA members on the Town Democratic Committee our
organization can participate in the democratic process at the grass roots level
for the betterment of your local community.
There a 222 members on the Cheektowaga Town Democratic
Committee; two representatives from each of the 111 election districts in town.
The committee meets once a month and every two years votes to endorse the
candidates for public office on the Democratic Party ticket.
Committee members also elect the Town Democratic
Party Chairman and officers. Along with committee members from other towns,
they also elect the County Democratic Party Chairman.
Congratulations to all our members who won or lost
who took the time out from their busy schedules to campaign for a committee
seat in their district. And thanks to all those who voted on Primary Day to
help make our members election bids successful!
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