By Nick Mattera
The Tonawanda News
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The Niagara-Wheatfield school board voted last week to begin meeting just once a month, with an opportunity to meet twice if needed.
In a 4-2 vote, the board voted to hold just one meeting on the first Wednesday of each month, opposed to the two monthly meetings to board has been holding.
The board resolution allows for Superintendent Carl Militello to call a second meeting if justified.
Militello said in his opinion all of the work can be accomplished in one meeting.
“It is more proficient, if there is a need for another meeting the board will call for one,” he said. “Or we can use that third Wednesday of the month and have a worksession.”
Militello said he has heard no negative public comment on the change and believes it is on par with other local districts. Lewiston-Porter holds just one meeting a month, but occasionally holds special meetings when issues arise.
Militello said if the board is forced to call second meetings on a regular basis than the district would return to the previous format of holding meetings on the first and third Wednesday’s of each month.
Board President William Conrad said the decision was made after much discussion and because it was a logical route to go.
“In general our meetings are quick and mundane. So by cutting a meeting out we are saving the board time and the public’s time,” Conrad said. “It also frees us the administrative staff, who put together board packets and agendas and they can worry more about their day-to-day work.”
He said the will feel it out and see how it goes and the opportunity is definitely possible to return to holding two meetings a month.
Board members Lori Pittman and Michael Brock voted against the measure.
The next meeting on the Niagara-Wheatfield School Board will be Oct.6.
