With the Buffalo school board election a week away, eight candidates turned out Tuesday night for a debate in Lafayette Presbyterian Church. No matter who wins next Tuesday, the school board taking over July 1 will be very different from the current board. Three incumbents won't be back, one by choice and two who didn't get enough legally-valid signatures.
The candidates at a city-wide forum sponsored by an array of community groups included one candidate, John Henry Grant, who is a write-in candidate in the Central District against Board President Mary Ruth Kapsiak and challenger Bryon McIntyre.
North is one of three districts where there is a fight, with Sue Gillick on the ballot along with Wendy Mistretta and Jay McCarthy. Two unopposed candidates were at the forum, Theresa Harris-Tigg in East and James Sampson in West.
Issues ranged from neighborhood schools to kids not getting enough fresh, nutritious food. With poor test scores on Albany-mandated tests, there was a lot of discussion about how well-trained teachers are for their jobs as schools grapple with completely new curriculum.
The big fight is considered to be Carl Paladino against Adrian Harris in the Park District, which covers South Buffalo. On one issue the two essentially agreed: the need to shift back to more neighborhood schools. Paladino says they can work.
"Neighborhood schools worked years ago. Why wouldn't they work again? Why don't we try it? It works. Let's get competent principals, not principals promoted because of the friends and family club but very competent principals promoted because of merit. Let's put them in these neighborhood schools. Let's engage the parents. Let's engage the teachers. Let's keep the schools open at night," Paladino said.
Harris says his son couldn't go to the school nearest to his home and had to be bused. Harris says parents should get first shot at the schools near their homes, but that won't help everyone.
"They should be able to have the opportunity to go to that school. The demographics of this city will not support neighborhood schools where every kid can walk to school. It's just not a reality. Busing is a reality for some individuals. Some of these areas on the East Side and Central and even the West Side are very blighted and just don't have the number of students that will allow that," Harris said.
Paladino is a lawyer and developer and former Republican gubernatorial candidate while Harris is a teacher aide in the Lancaster school system.
