The Buffalo Schools superintendent is embroiled in the latest controversy over recent administrative hires. As part of our Focus on Education reporting, WBFO'S senior reporter Eileen Buckley asked superintendent Pamela Brown what the plan is for two top-level administrators placed on unpaid leave.
“We certainly don’t want anything like this to happen again in the future,” said Superintendent Brown.
Superintendent Brown responded to reporters’ questions about Yamilette Williams and Faith Morrison-Alexander. Williams or Morrison-Alexander have the proper state certification for their jobs. But Brown insists that over the past couple of weeks she has called for a stronger review and procedures to take place to prevent hires from coming in without proper certification.
“First of all, to the extent possible, we will not hire anyone until we have evidence of their certification, whether they are within the state or out of state,” noted Brown.
But after last week's school board meeting concerns surfaced that the two women would be allowed to stay on as interns.
“Although the term internship is used, that is relevant to requirements that are specific to the State of New York. I think it is important to acknowledge that they have been in similar roles in other states, so this is not a new kind of position for them, they both have doctorates degrees in educational administration, they both have been in administration for a number of years, so they are not just starting out for the first time administrative role," said Brown.
The superintendent also noted there would be a "much more rigorous" screening in future hires working throughout the city district.
