Some members from the Buffalo Public School District will be in Albany Wednesday and Thursday to learn more about Receivership. WBFO's Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley says they will attend a two-day State Education conference on how receivership will effect school districts.
"So we are going to get additional detail, in depth detail on how it will effect our school and how we can move forward," said Interim Schools Superintendent Darren Brown. Brown appeared at Tuesday's special board session notifying the board he will be traveling to Albany with several others to study receivership. The State Education Commissioner is calling for implementation of receivership.
Brown told the board need additional clarification on the regulation.
"We want to get true clarification before we make any move yet regarding receivership," noted Brown. "Most of our schools have already set up or have identified who their community engagement teams will be, so we want to take it a step further so we are not being reactive but proactive with this receivership model."
Under receivership, the superintendent initially has the power to turnaround schools. Buffalo has 25-schools that fall under receivership. Five of those are persistently struggling schools and must be turned around in a year. The other 20-in two-years.
"So we are going to look at what has proven, across the country, to really work to turn schools around," stated Brown.
Among those in Albany with Brown include Buffalo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore, District Parent Coordinating Council President Sam Radford and School Board Members Larry Quinn and Barbara Seals Nevregold.
Quinn told reporters he is thrilled the receivership model is ready to begin.
"I think it's more than appropriate. I think people should be thrilled that it is happening," stated Quinn. "If you look at the problems of this district for 30-years, it's the elephant in the room with these terrible contract that we have that force us to staff schools the way somebody other than the administration wants"
But Minority School Board Member Seals Nevergold is against receivership. "I'm not in favor of receivership. Seals Nevergold said there's not enough time to turnaround the schools.
"I don't think it is fair to the district and I don't see where we are going to see great strides of progress," said Seals Nevergold.
Seals Nevergold admits there's no recourse in stopping receivership.