NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- Boosting graduation rates and student success in the classroom for the more than 7,000 students in the Niagara Falls City School District has been a priority for Superintendent Cynthia Bianco since she stepped into the role eight years ago.
"We've worked very hard over the last several years to make sure all of our procedures and departments and resources are in our schools, look at the big capital projects to make sure we have safe good and up to date facilities for our children," said Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent Cynthia Bianco.
Bianco has worked in the district for the past 50 years and held several positions.
The board approved current Deputy Superintendent Mark Laurrie to replace Bianco when she retires at the end of the academic school year.
"With Mark's appointment I just couldn't be more pleased because he shares the vision and mission and he'll take the next step he'll carry our district further," said Bianco.
Mark Laurrie has been Deputy Superintendent since 2009, but has worked in the District for the past 31 years. He started as a monitor and moved up the ranks to principal at Gaskill. As the new Superintendent he says boosting grades, state assessments and graduation rates are a top priority.
"The goal is 100 percent graduation rate. It sounds very pie in the sky maybe pollyanna, but that's the goal, 100 percent of the students who come in our district in pre-k or 3-year-old k are going to graduate with their class," said Laurrie.
Almost 50 percent of kindergarten students in the district are below the state average in math and language arts. Laurrie says pushing for additional funding is vital to improving that.
"There is no question that there's a correlation between poverty and achievement. It's not an excuse, but areas of poverty that have high needs need high needs funding," said Laurrie.
Laurrie will take over as Superintendent on the first day of July.