[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6213816,"mediaKeyId","3673832-7704971eef6b756614efa7e68f2bd86c","parentId",3673832,"title","Student testimony urges stricter enforcement after Pride flags removed at Niagara-Wheatfield High School","audioSeconds",256,"startMs",3777165,"endMs",4034000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3673832-7704971eef6b756614efa7e68f2bd86c&start=3777&end=4034","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3673832-7704971eef6b756614efa7e68f2bd86c/thumbnail_3777165.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6213816/New-York/Student-testimony-urges-stricter-enforcement-after-Pride-flags-removed-at-Niagara-Wheatfield-High-School","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213816-f3e0e5c42c3a5a7363c0376989d0bf3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770988506&Signature=RtHXp4kanFf7yK0qNMYJ7uUQ1DmsElnyWyV6xQscdG34iiOgrzk5SgsccdKKMZ4djJfi1BbLH29Z7hHJjE-ZE-8MbfYQCvHGRT-fMkdLUM3T8P6hFXDy2nBWRT4PP7t2tJ2SbpDp7aInSMOVNnTkOc9pA71mGU6GQEFg7T-1ZJOOwLz32ZYSv0NtVgvLmwxRLRI~SXEB6iSZlkp2JyG8JSNTGV3krBKaAPy5-boVYLNXS4xDYrKDU~bqhw8Hig6PZnz0fheiMivVicaGxt~YAgMivjRosb84kvSCYQtL7LK9IVIIg1O9YA2P13nvwKOIvYgDpcb0zLCuwLtHO2Y9GA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-05T10:39:49Z","article","A Niagara-Wheatfield High School senior told the board that three Pride flags placed by the Gay–Straight Alliance were removed or stolen over several days and urged stricter enforcement of anti-discrimination rules and broader education.

Amaya Henderson, a senior who serves as president of the Gay–Straight Alliance and a member of the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee, told the board she placed three Pride flags at the high school on Friday. By Monday two of the flags were gone, and by Tuesday all three were gone; one was used, she said, as a \"fire starter,\" another was found near a garbage can, and a third remained unaccounted for. Henderson said similar incidents have occurred throughout her four years at the high school and described the pattern as a recurring threat to LGBTQ+ students’ safety and sense of belonging.

Henderson asked the board to apply the most serious disciplinary options for what she called \"purely hateful acts\" and said the district should explicitly enforce the New York State Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). She also recommended that LGBTQ+ history and anti-bias education begin at the elementary level to build empathy and reduce future incidents.

The superintendent (name not specified) responded that the district takes such incidents seriously, that most of these acts are captured on camera and reviewed during disciplinary processes, and that the district’s existing progressive-discipline plan takes students’ prior records into account. The superintendent said the district’s equity subcommittee has been working on prevention and curriculum that supports tolerance and inclusion across grade levels.

No formal disciplinary outcomes or board votes on new policy were recorded in the transcript excerpt. The board did not announce a change to discipline policy during the meeting; Henderson’s remarks were entered during the public-comment portion of the agenda.

Henderson’s testimony invoked the New York State Dignity for All Students Act as the relevant statutory framework for discrimination and harassment in schools. The transcript shows the student urging immediate implementation of stricter enforcement and earlier, sustained educational measures to address the problem.

The board acknowledged Henderson’s presentation and thanked her for her service on district committees; the superintendent and other administrators publicly thanked student leaders for their contributions and work on district initiatives.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting 6/4/2025","oneSentenceSummary","A student leader told the board that three Pride flags placed by the Gay–Straight Alliance were removed or stolen; she urged enforcement of the Dignity for All Students Act and expanded education beginning in elementary grades. The superintendent said the district reviews camera footage and discipline records.","taxTitle","NIAGARA-WHEATFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",38843,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6213821,"Niagara-Wheatfield honors 18 retiring staff, recognizes new tenured employees",2762,41125,2803920,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3673832-7704971eef6b756614efa7e68f2bd86c&start=41&end=2803","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3673832-7704971eef6b756614efa7e68f2bd86c/thumbnail_41125.jpg","/articles/6213821/New-York/Niagara-Wheatfield-honors-18-retiring-staff-recognizes-new-tenured-employees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213821-6dd2bb951801aa85e208cff1f1a88ab3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770988506&Signature=G329xYnLYTSjSTSkiYD7XPhuLA3YAjtPkG-DB03jMUPMkYUPc0aXkuW7E0ZTAKW32YNUdghnD~QFePJLUO2AVbb-8w0fTaKV6Hlm6-cm10dmylFObsEIqey69pQH8EuRFWAcyDVx7X-uO7az3cnUOlWxgbJryKcTMnAfKx674rGXKxbvHkAPx02L5twTPDsfS31JhivN9gGuDEwH2cDNtNNuRj0qk2n8VrxPxLkSOPyp~pMQVWX4Fcah12IwAOix1BOdT7hQBhZnsd3IJKzp2gFyWgF3bx7SkkQpHAIHumm2PW1Ruyf9guOSBiPYBz1tOOmnblU6GAW7xXOkJvfBCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District board of education recognized 18 staff members who are retiring and announced several employees earning tenure during a board meeting. The superintendent said 14 retirees were honored in person and that staff retiring over the last 12 months account for a combined 457 years of service to the district.

The recognition program highlighted several long-serving employees and trustees. Christine Reeder was honored for 32 years at the high school as a band and music educator; the superintendent noted she taught band, jazz ensemble, pit orchestra and music theory and led dozens of musicals. Dr. Allison Davis, assistant superintendent for finance and management, was recognized for 12 years with the district; the superintendent credited Davis with helping improve the district’s fiscal stress rating from 88.3% to 0% for the 2023–24 school year and with managing budget work tied to projects including a new auditorium expected to open in February 2026 and a state-of-the-art turf athletic complex.

Other retirees and honorees included Liz Carrere, who has worked 38 years in the district and spent much of her career as principal at Tuscarora Nation School; Julie Fago, a nine-year member of the board of education who chaired the policy committee and served on the capital projects committee credited with more than $100 million in capital improvements during her tenure; and a range of food-service, transportation and administrative staff noted for decades of service.

The board approved routine business during the meeting. A motion to accept consensus-agenda items 1 through 9 was moved and seconded and carried after members responded \"aye,\" the clerk recorded. The board then moved to accept personnel items 1 through 31; that motion was also moved, seconded and approved on voice vote. The motions on the consent and personnel agendas were not recorded with individual roll-call tallies in the transcript.

Superintendent (name not specified) and other speakers thanked retirees and noted that several formerly retired employees continue to serve as substitutes. The superintendent also announced scheduling and facilities items for upcoming months: the reorganization meeting for July 2 will start at 5 p.m., and the June 18 board meeting will be held in the district library because exams are scheduled in other rooms.

The board recessed briefly near the end of the recognition program to allow attendees to gather refreshments before continuing with the regular agenda.

The recognition event and related approvals were presented as part of the board’s regular meeting; no additional formal policy changes or disciplinary actions were taken as part of the retiree recognitions.","The Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District acknowledged 18 retirees with a combined 457 years of service and approved routine consent and personnel items at the meeting; several long-serving employees and a board member were singled out for special recognition.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Student testimony urges stricter enforcement after Pride flags removed at Niagara-Wheatfield High School

Niagara-Wheatfield honors 18 retiring staff, recognizes new tenured employees