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Judge rejects Paladino's suit against school board hiring of new superintendent

WBFO News File photo
Dr. Pamela Brown appears in the superintendent's office at City Hall during a visit to Buffalo

State Supreme Court Justice Donna Siwek has ruled against a lawsuit filed by Buffalo developer Carl Paladino against the city school board for the hiring process of a new schools superintendent.  

Paladino claimed the Buffalo School board should have have vetted the candidates in public,  not behind closed doors.

Paladino went to court to block the hiring of Dr. Pamela Brown, He said the if the school board was really interested in doing something positive to change things, they would have vetted Brown in the community  and opened up the discussion.  And they would have debated and discussed why they were persuaded to vote for her. 

Paladino says he's not casting any stones at Dr. Brown, but believes the public was not made aware of some of the negatives about Brown.  

School Board Special Counsel Karl Kristoff argued in court the Board did not violate the open meetings law.

Paladino maintains the Board should have shared their decision with the public before voting to hire Brown. He pointed out that Brown has no experience supervising a district.  He said just because she has a Harvard degree does not mean she has the ability to supervise.  

Paladino said he would work with the new superintendent if the court ruled against his suit.

The District Statement school district issued the following statement:   The lawsuit filed last week by Buffalo developer Carl Paladino was found to have no merit today in the court of State Supreme Court Justice Donna M. Siwek.  Buffalo Board of Education President Mary Ruth Kapsiak and fellow board members are happy for the verdict.   "Dr. Brown was hired to lead Buffalo's schools in a new direction and to make changes, as needed, to better ensure that Buffalo's children receive an unparalleled public education," Kapsiak stated.   Mrs. Kapsiak acknowledges that the success of the schools and the students in them has the potential to affect the entire region. “These are very hopeful times for the Buffalo Public Schools, and we encourage groups and individuals to work together with the District's new leadership to help realize the full potential of our school system.  Together we will accomplish our goal of delivering the best educational experience to all of Buffalo's children."