Article: Elementary school principal issues challenge: Urges board to focus on 'quality' of academics rather than 'simply consolidating schools'.

Byline: Paul Westmoore

Dec. 28--NIAGARA FALLS -- While city education officials plan to close at least two schools next year, Lawrence Martinez, principal of 66th Street School, said the School Board also should consider reconfiguring its elementary buildings to improve pupil performance.

While Martinez admits closing schools -- maybe his own -- "has to happen" because of declining enrollment, he said the board also should take the opportunity to improve the quality of its educational programs.

That can happen by considering setting up one or more fourth- through sixth-grade academies designed to help pupils do better, he said.

The ...

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