Another meeting with no decisions

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Buffalo School Board has decided not to decide whether to appeal a ruling that blocked the transfer of teachers from under-performing schools. The decision will be left up to the superintendent.

Yet another meeting, yet another night of no decision from the board on whether to appeal or comply with a judge's ruling on involuntary teacher transfers violating the union contract. Instead, board members voted to pass the buck to the superintendent.

"I appreciate the fact that the board has placed it's confidence in me to make such an important decision," said Dr. Pamela Brown, Buffalo School Superintendent.

The teacher's union has vowed to continue to fight the board in court and in the mean time will cease talking about teacher evaluations.

The incessant squabbling among the adults in the district is taking attention away from directly impacting students. Case in point: literacy.

Helene Kramer of the United Partners for Public Education Buffalo said, "Literacy experts tell us that children are supposed to read by the time they finish third grade so they can read to learn after that. The district's own data says that over half of the children in third grade are not reading at proficient levels."

It gets worse.

"Seventy-five percent of the children who don't read proficiently by the end of the third grade will more likely drop out of school," Kramer continued.

It's just one example of a serious issue that is left unaddressed by the Buffalo School Board and educators while talk of court cases dominate the discussion.

Kramer said, "Children who can't read will not likely get a job. So what does that mean? A life of poverty. Probably more children as adults going into the underground economy. Being frustrated and struggling throughout their lives."

During the public portion of Wednesday's board meeting, Kramer raised these points to board members, who later went into executive session to discuss the court ruling.