Parents boycott to change city schools

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Is a Buffalo school boycott making the grade when it comes to improving education? Parents are taking their crusade straight to the steps of City Hall.

Almost half of Buffalo's students took the day off from school on Monday. Attendance hovered around 53 percent. It was a half-day for teacher training. Organizers of Monday's boycott say they need to create a sense of urgency to change a system that they claim is failing its students. The last half day, on May 9th, only 63 percent of students went to school.

Rallying to a drum beat on the steps of Buffalo City Hall, the District Parent Coordinating Council sought to justify its one day boycott of Buffalo city schools.

Council vice president Sam Radford said, "And we said we have to have the courage and take the risk to interrupt the way the system is operating. The system is broken."

A system, they say, that has become comfortable, even though as many as 70 to 75 percent of its African American students become "drop outs."

Common Council member Darius Pridgen said, "And because they have become comfortable, then will take agitation to make change."

Change as radical as having the state take over Buffalo schools as an emergency option.

Businessman Carl Paladino said, "I'd get rid of all the whole echelon up there, the board, the superintendent, all of them. They all got to go."

The school boycott was opposed by the superintendent and the teachers union. They said it sent the wrong message to children. Another critic blamed poor student achievement on a lack of parental involvement.

Teachers union alternate delegate Kimberly Kaliszewski said, "Parents need to get involved. They don't come, and they don't see their children's work."

The boycott organizers are also calling for 100 percent school attendance on June 1st.

Council member Kim Walek said, "Don't forget June 1st. We're asking for a hundred percent, every student, in school. I don't want to here we're pulling kids out. We're saying all parents in this community have to be invested in education."

Superintendent Dr. James Williams released this statement about the boycott:
Today's attendance numbers didn't tell us anything new about the need for students to be in school on a daily basis. Overall attendance in the district was near 53 percent today, compared to 61 percent on the last half day, May 9th. Without a doubt, attendance needs to be better every day for continuity of instruction.

While I applaud our parent's passion and their right to a voice for themselves and their children, I ask that we move together positively for change. It's time to stop talking about boycotts and instead focus on the substantive issues of public education reform.

Given the increased academic expectations as a result of Race to the Top, the entire school community needs to make a concerted effort toward attendance and learning. Being present and fulfilling obligations is a skill that if learned young, will continue to pay off for years to come.

The bottom line is that we know the best place for our children is in school, and children learn best when they are in school every day.