The Buffalo Public School District may get $36 million being held by Albany in a dispute over how much parent participation is going on in the school system.
The debate is part of a long-running fight over how much input parents should have, under federal and state law.
District Parent Coordinating Council President Sam Radford told a meeting Tuesday the State Education Department may ignore the lack of parental input and send the money. He said that came from Deputy Education Commissioner Ira Schwartz.
DPCC Title One Committee Facilitator Lloyd Hargrave says parent input is mandatory.
"For Title One it's been part of the legislation since 1965. Part of the problem is that they still think that they can use consultation, which is just seeking advice. But the law there is much more inherent in terms of parent involvement in the law than just seeking advice," Hargrave said.
Radford talked to the DPCC Executive Committee at a special meeting in the Rafi Greene Center. Radford told reporters Tuesday that School Leadership Chief David Mauricio promised he would attend the meeting and explain how there would be more involvement this year. Radford called him a no show, but in a WBFO News interview, Mauricio said he has been meeting 'frequently' with the DPCC's executive leadership and he also attends their monthly meetings with all of the organization's membership.
"There was obviously a significant miscommunication as to whether I was going to be at this meeting," Mauricio said. "Because I was under the impression that they were presenting our work that we've done and would call for a vote form the leadership and membership team. Apparently they were under the impression that I was coming to present and so at no time did I promise to be there, so it was a clear miscommunication from both of our ends. I certainly would have been there. This is something near to the work that I do."
Mauricio also explained that he met with leaders on Monday for two-and-a-half hours and made some 'great progress'. "And I've also been working with other parent leaders and parents in the district as well to really resolve any issues that relate to meaningful consultation and Title I application and the district's comprehensive improvement plan," stated Mauricio. "And we've been working very well together."
Mauricio explained that Title I serves as an additional source to provide additional services and support to student and families to improve the outcome of students. It initially focused on students living in poverty, but the city school district to has been expanded in the district to support all students who have 'great need' in school buildings.
