By Michael Mroziak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-975236.mp3
Buffalo, NY – They met behind closed doors for less than an hour and decided Dr. James Williams would be allowed to keep his job for one more year. Buffalo Board of Education members gathered for an anticipated vote at City Hall Monday to consider terminating the superintendent's contract.
Superintendent James Williams has come under fire for problems in the school district including a graduation rate of less than 50-percent.
School board members gathered in executive session Monday, then emerged as school board president Ralph Hernandez announced that there would be no action on Williams' contract. He spoke with reporters after the meeting.
Hernandez, whose criticism of Williams is well documented, said he will no longer pursue termination of Williams prior to his planned retirement next June.
In fact, Hernandez is stepping down as school board president on Friday. Fellow board member Chris Jacobs expressed frustration over a meeting that became much ado about staying the course. The next step is getting back to work finding James Williams' replacement.
As for Williams, he said preserving stability by keeping him on the job for one more year ultimately benefits the students.
Williams said there is a lot of work to do right away, including the retraining of teachers and the start of summer school, which opens next week.