Funding secured for planetarium upgrades
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-Amherst, Jordan Kurtzman and Courtney Fitzgerald, students at South High School, and Williamsville Superintendent Howard Smith gathered on Friday for the announcement that North's planetarium would be receiving $200,000 in state funding. Photo by John Rusac

With a $200,000 donation, the Williamsville North High School's planetarium will be making a jump into the 21st century.

Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-Amherst, was able to secure the funding for the planetarium, which was used by 20,000 students and community members last year.

"The Williamsville planetarium is a unique educational tool that provides students exciting lessons about our universe and solar system," Reynolds said. "The current presentation equipment for the planetarium, however, is outdated."

Built in 1968, the same year as North High School, the planetarium features 70 different shows, which don't teach only about constellations.

Thomas Bird, instructional specialist for science, said some of the shows are not related specifically to science.

"One of the most popular shows, 'Follow the Drinking Board,' is about the underground railroad and how those escaping followed the Big Dipper," Bird said, adding that the programs cross over to include social studies, math and foreign language lessons.

Currently, it takes 30-32 slide projectors to produce a single show, and the $200,000 will be used toward the purchase of one large, digital projector, as well as improvements to the planetarium's interior and new programing.

Bird described the current conditions as still using an 8-track player given today's technology.

Superintendent Howard S. Smith said the district is seeking additional outside funding, and $25,000 has already been marked in the general budget for the planetarium.

In addition to offering programs for all Western New York districts, Smith said the district is considering opening the planetarium on evenings and weekends to better accommodate the community.

"This is an awesome resource for Western New York," he said. "It is a really good planetarium, and this (funding) can make it better."

North's planetarium is the only one in Western New York that is in a public school building. Bird said universities and museums have them but it is a unique feature for a local public school district.

When it was built, planetariums were being included in districts across the country.

Mark Percy is the planetarium director but was unable to attend the grant presentation.

Reynolds said when he wasn't able to obtain the funding through federal monies, he spoke

with Gov. George E. Pataki about using state discretionary dollars.

The Williamsville Education Foundation, Inc., spearheaded by foundation board members Marie

Battaglia and Michael G. Rossetti, continues to seek additional funding for the planetarium through the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation and the Oishei Foundation.