Buffalo's Deputy Mayor Dr. Ellen Grant coordinates all of Mayor Byron Brown's education initiatives, like Say Yes Buffalo. Deputy Mayor Grant attends school board meetings regularly. WBFO'S Focus on Education Reporter Eileen Buckley met with Grant in her City Hall office to discuss the city's education crisis.
"Each meeting I learn something new about how the parents feeling, how the educators are feeling and I feel like I'm a voice back to the Mayor to let him know who those meetings went," said Deputy Mayor Grant.
WBFO News asked the Deputy Mayor about the potential of mayoral control of the city school district.
"Well the Mayor has said over and over again that he really does not want to do this, however, the hue and cry from the business people, the parents, the community, some of our lawmakers, has been pretty strong, but at this point we are really in a wait and see mode," said Grant "He will do what needs to be done to bring this community together."
When asked how the school board should work together to select a new schools superintendent Deputy Mayor Grant stated they need "collaboration -- communications -- just those two things."