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Buffalo Teacher Federation unanimously calling for "the immediate removal" of McKinley principal

WBFO news file

The Buffalo Teachers Federation is calling for the immediate removal of Temporary McKinley High School Principal Marck Abraham.

Concerns over the schools safety have been raised recently—- most notably after a student was charged with "slamming a teacher over a chair" earlier this month.

BTF President Philip Rumore said there have been several incidents over the past year, including insulting behavior towards one of the school’s woman teachers.

"This is the first time I've ever heard of a teacher who complained about three students coming in to her room and making obscene gestures, and then she complained about the discipline to the principal, then the principal (Abraham) brings her in to the office and says, 'What were you afraid of? Being groped? Being raped? Being thrown to the ground?' It's disgusting," Rumore said.

Rumore said there are hundreds of students getting in to fights and that the situation has not been getting better.

As the school's interim principal, Abraham has already faced challenges, such as a No Confidence vote that was recorded by the BTF Council of Delegates one year ago.

Abraham took over for suspended McKinley High School principal Crystal Boling-Barton who is under investigation for $22,000 in potentially questionable purchases she made using public funds.

WBFO's Mike Desmond asked earlier this month if black male students were failing at McKinley High School.

The BuffaloPublic Schools released this statement:

The Buffalo Public Schools are in full turnaround mode.  Due to strategic innovation within the Education Bargain, graduation rates are rising, student growth and achievement scores are rising, innovation is a hallmark attribute, and the district is providing greater programmatic access, quality, and opportunity for all students than ever before. 

McKinley High School under the leadership of Principal Marck Abraham, engenders this spirit of transformation as well as any high school in the city.   For example, during Mr. Abraham’s principalship, the graduation rate at McKinley has increased to 84%, higher than the state average.  Within this impressive statistic, the graduation rate of McKinley’s black male students, one of the largest concentrations of this population in New York state, reached 87%, more than 20 percentage points higher than the state average of 63%.  Moreover, student attendance is up, teacher attendance is up, year-to-date suspensions are down, and the school’s accountability designation is poised to improve to the highest level.  McKinley has also expanded its CTE programs, partnerships, and student participation rates...

As a result of these observable characteristics and confirmed data points, my executive cabinet and I, as Superintendent of Schools, are united in our expressed statement that we have “100% confidence in the current principal, and we commend the progress being made in all areas under his leadership.”

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