Buffalo, NY – A city school designed to deal with school violence is not off to good start.
The Buffalo Board of Education received an update Wednesday night on the district's new alternative school, Academy School 44. After four weeks, attendance is below half. There have been fights and gang activity.
Superintendent James Williams says the program needs help.
"We need people to come in, one-on-one, to talk to our boys and girls," Williams said.
Community groups say they have not been invited by the district to participate in the school's operation.
Diane Collier, a district administrator, says school officials are addressing concerns being raised by parents and teachers about the troubles, noting that it will take time for the program's elements to come together.