It is that time of year when the Friends of the Village volunteers plant flower boxes all along Main Street. “We take pride in how our Village looks,” say the Friends of the Village. Funds to purchase the flowers and hanging baskets that decorate Main Street are raised by the Friends along with a matching grant from GOYA. This year the Friends of the Village have instituted a contest to help keep the flower boxes beautiful called Businesses Beautifying Main Street. Friends of the Village volunteers planted the flowers on Wednesday, May 25. The businesses on Main Street are encouraged to maintain and fertilize the box in front of their storefront on a regular basis. Flowers may be added to the box and they may also be decorated with a specific theme representing each business. Everyone starts with the same flowers. It’s up to each business to use their imagination. The contest will run from Memorial Day, May 30 to Labor Day, September 5. The business with the most attractive box, as decided by committee, will be the recipient of a dinner gift certificate at Hideaway Bay Restaurant.

     The Lake Shore School Board met on Tuesday, May 24. All members were present. It was announced that the Lake Shore High School Drama Club participated in the Kenny Awards and won Best Choreography and senior Sara Ruffles won Best Supporting Actress. School Board William Connors presented certificates to the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) for their participation in the State competition. It was the first time the group competed. They chose to compete in the Community Service Award category. The Lake Shore team took first place for their presentation which documented their participation in “Going Bald for Bucks”. “Going Bald for Bucks” raises money for cancer research and was started as a tribute to the sister of Lake Shore teacher Tony George. When she was going through chemo for breast cancer, Mr. George shaved his head in a show of support. That act translated into a project, by students, who gather pledges to have their heads shaved. The money collected is donated for cancer research. The Lake Shore FBLA team will now be going to the National competition June 24 in Florida. One of the members, a senior, will be missing graduation so he can be in the competition. President Connors also presented certificates to the Lake Shore Symphonic and Concert Bands. Each band won first place in the National Freedom Festival competition which pitted their skills against bands from 8 other states and Ontario, Canada. Several students who participated, thanked the Board for allowing them to take the trip to NYC and for all the experiences they were able to have because of the trip. They explained that they learned a great deal for the experience and encouraged the Board to allow similar trips for students in the future. The Band members also presented the Board with group pictures taken on the trip, a documentary CD, t-shirts with the band member names on them and invitations to the Band Banquet. Mr. Connors also presented the Bands with a Certificate of Accomplishment from the Village of Angola. Mr. Frank Nicotra presented the Board with an updated timeline for the Building Project. Parts of the project have gotten underway (the bus garage, bus parking and student parking). The work on the Middle School will actually drive the schedule when work can begin on that building. Mr. Nicotra plans on updating the timeline monthly since it will be changing based on work completed, weather and unforeseen conditions. Board member Rick Vogan thanked Mr. Nicotra for his efforts with the timeline saying that it was “user friendly” and Board member Jill Barrett reported that a resolution was sponsored by the Cheektowaga School District asking for harsher penalties for possession of marijuana on school grounds. The Board made a motion to support Cheektowaga’s resolution and will notify the Erie County School Boards Association of their support. Board member Cindy Latimore reported on the National School Board Conference she attended. She brought back information on Strategic Planning that some other districts are doing that appears to be a good idea. She also mentioned that some of the workshops discussed “new” ideas that Lake Shore has been using for several years now. She said it was refreshing to learn that Lake Shore is on the right track for future progress. In other matters, the Board • Accepted with regret the resignation of Brian P. Newton as Science Education Teacher, effective June 30, 2005. • Approved the tenure appointment of Paula Eastman as an Elementary Principal, effective July 1, 2005 and Christopher J. Walsh as a Secondary Assistant Principal, effective July 1, 2005. • Approved the tenure appointment of the following teaching personnel, effective September 1, 2005: Music: Alicia Akin, Nicholas Capitummino, Todd Creech; Elementary K-6: Jennifer Crupe, Amy Nelson; Science: Eric Duma; Technology Mark Gardner; Reading: Angela Karpinski; French: Shelly Meyer; Health: Rosanne Miller; Speech Debra Rayhn; Mathematics: Peter Shepard • Approved the three-year probationary appointments of the following individuals in the areas and steps as listed, effective September 1, 2005: Secondary Mathematics Education: David A. Milazzo - Step 1 — Bachelors; Secondary English Education: Jeffrey J. Connors - Step I — Masters, Ryan Helen Negroni - Step I — Bachelors; Reading Education: Erin M. Clark - Step I — Masters; Elementary Education: Kristy S. Porter and Shannon L. Dutchess - Step 1 Masters, Amy L. Iannuzzelli, William D. Sills and Amanda Galenda - Step 1 — Bachelors. Connors abstained. • Certified the results of budget vote and Board election. • Approved the Art, Technology, Health and GOES Bids. • Approved the appointment of the attached list of people to the Evans-Brant Central School District (Lake Shore Central Schools) Board of Registration from June 16, 2005 to June 16, 2006. • Approved requests for Special Transportation for the 2005-06 school year. • Approved coaching staff for the 2004-05 sports season • Approved Robert Mahany and Anthony DeMarco for Temporary appointments as Driver Education Teachers for the Summer 2005. • Approved the attached list of temporary professional staff for appointments in the 2005 Summer School Program, to be compensated at the rate of pay of $32/hour. • Approved the one-year probationary appointment of Kathleen Fioretti as a Bus Monitor for the District, effective May 25, 2005. • Approved the CPSE reports and the Committee on Special Education reports as attested. • Approved the appointment of the Department Chairpersons and Team Leaders through the 2006-07 school year, and Grade 6 Team Leaders for the 2005-06 school year. Smith abstained • Accepted with regret the resignation of John D. Wilson from his position as Grounds Worker, effective August 1, 2005. • Approved the one-year probationary appointment of John D. Wilson as Maintenance Mechanic Crew Chief7Supervisor of Central Store, effective August 1, 2005. • Appointed Dr. Richard Timbs Search Consultant for the new District Superintendent, effective July 1, 2005 at a rate of $5,000 plus expenses. • Approved an extension to the Teachers’ Contract for 3 years, 2006 through 2009. Connors and Smith abstained. The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, June 21 at 7:30pm.