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Parents & community want say in superintendent search

WBFO News file photo

A big debate is expected at Wednesday evening's Buffalo School Board meeting on selecting the next superintendent. Majority members are expected to name their candidate, Emerson School Principal Jim Weimer, by blocking out minority members.  But as WBFO'S Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley reports the Buffalo Parent-Teacher Organization (BPTO) is demanding a comprehensive and transparent selection process.

"A comprehensive, transparent search for the next superintend. One that include the entire and it includes the community," said Larry Scott, President of the BPTO.
 
Scott tells WBFO News should be presented to the community. 

"And I think he should step up before he is appointed. Meet with the entire board in a public meeting, so that we can get to know who he is and see if he is truly the leader that is going to move this district forward," said Scott.

The BPTO leader also noted that if teachers and principals must go through an extensive hiring process, so should the superintendent candidate.

"They go through several interviews. There's very specific criteria they need to adhere to in order to get hired in their position, so we would expect a superintend, who's going to lead a large urban public school district, would have to go through a similar process with some public scrutiny long with that," noted Scott.

Credit WBFO News file photo
Buffalo School Board.

The organization says the community and entire school board should be part of the hiring process.  Parents will be joined by Citizen Action and alliance for quality education as well as  community members in a rally before Wednesday's school board meeting take place at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. 

"I would like to see the entire board have an open, public meeting on how we should move forward rather than just a few board members dictating next steps on who should lead this district," remarked Scott.