Parents blame teen's death on policy

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Jawaan Daniels was sent home on suspension for walking the halls of Lafayette High School. He died later that same day, gunned down at a westside Buffalo bus stop. Was the suspension absolutely necessary?

Kelly Ticco, President of Lafayette High School's Parent Teach Organization, said, "This is ridiculous, that our children can't even wait at a bus stop!"

Freshman Jawaan Daniels was murdered at a bus stop last Friday. The teenager was suspended from Lafayette, and a short time later, gunned down as he waited for a bus to take him home. Ticco told News 4 that the Buffalo School Board has to revise its suspension policy because they are used too much.

"For minor infractions like, wandering the halls, like wearing flip flops, talking during a fire drill," explained Ticco.

And Ticco believes minor offenses can be handled with in-school suspensions.

Ticco argued, "Sometimes kids are going to get a little out of hand. My daughter gets out of hand at home, I am not going to hand her a suitcase and throw her out in the street. I am going to handle that, and that is what needs to be done there."

School Board President Ralph Hernandez also believes suspension police needs to be revised. Even though it has been less than two years since their last revision when a scandal erupted over McKinley High School student Jayvonna Kincannon's excessive suspension.

"We have a full court press on that, and we intend to deal with that issue very quickly, and with the cooperation, obviously, and support of Dr. Williams who will be, pretty much, leading the charge on this," said Hernandez.

Hernandez also believes out-of-school suspensions should be reserved for hardcore discipline, such as weapons or fights.

Hernandez commented, "Some of the kids that are being suspended nowadays, we could certainly do that, but we can also keep them in-house, and work with them, help them with their academics, as opposed to letting them out."

Late Tuesday afternoon, we learned School Superintendent James Williams plans to take up suspension policy with the School Board on Wednesday, especially on the issue of releasing suspended students to parents, or a designated adult, to escort them home.