With last week's word that the Buffalo School board is getting ready to launch a search for a new superintendent, some say 'not so fast'. WBFO'S Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley says a state lawmaker and School board member say an outside firm should conduct the search.
"I would really push for a consultant. I have, as had the other members of the minority block," said Barbara Seals Nevergold, Buffalo School Board Minority Member.
Majority Board Member Larry Quinn is expected to present a resolution at Wednesday night's meeting calling for a search process to begin and end by June 1st. But Seals Nevergold said that's not enough time to find a new school leader.
"I have great reservations with the way the process is going now. Just discussing a timeline and having some discussion on the timeline, on the draft of the job posting, on questions we would want to ask on competencies and experiences," said Seals Nevergold.
State Assemblyman Sean Ryan is highly critical of the board's majority search process.
"The inability of the district to conduct a proper search gives me pause and makes me wonder -- can the board actually conduct its basic functions?", said Ryan.
As for mayor control of the city school district, Ryan is still not saying if he would support mayoral control of the district.
"It's a question mark now. There's no details being provided. It's too broad and it's conceptually -- it can mean anything," stated Ryan.
Ryan says proposed legislation by Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples Stokes for mayoral control has not been field in Albany.