Bennett High School supporters turned out Monday in front of the North Buffalo landmark. Current students and some alums were singing in support of the troubled high school, worried the school board wants to shut Bennett down.
Two board members, Sharon Belton Cottman and John Licata, were on hand, denying that any such plans were in the works.
It will be a new Bennett with the freshman class this fall entering a new science and math school while the upper grades continue in the old Bennett, all in the same building.
"Bennett has a rich tradition. There are a lot of people who have graduated from this high school," said Bennett alum and former State Senator Antoine Thompson.
"It's had its ups and downs and just because it's going through a difficult time now doesn't mean we need to end the school. We have to put our arms around the school, get people involved and increase students achievement...increase the graduation rate."
Bennett has bad test scores and a worse high school graduation rate. About two-thirds of the students do graduate.
According to one current Bennett senior, the school has had three principals in his four years. He says each principal focused on a different set of priorities.
