Parents upset over school discipline

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Some Buffalo parents said suspensions are getting out of control at city schools.

Parents in the Buffalo School District are raising their voices to protect their children's education.

In March alone, 2,823 students in Buffalo were either on short or long-term suspension.

Riverside was at the top of the list.

Nearly 30% of the student population there were suspended for one reason or another, archaic and punitive.

That's how the District Parent Coordinating Council describes the current suspension system.

Council Vice President Samuel Radford exclaimed, "You're gonna have to have every kid in the classroom, you're gonna have to have every kid learning every chance they get. You can't have schools that have like 30% kids suspended. You can't have that."

Parents and district leaders are vowing to work together to reduce the number of suspensions.

Radford thinks verbal and written warnings should come before they're taken out of school.

He and supporters are now moving forward with an intervention.

They're calling on elected leaders to help them change the official code of conduct.

"Our particular emphasis is on the parents. We're saying that as parents, we have to be part of a solution," Radford remarked.

High school students in the Buffalo School District who are late to school or talk during a fire drill risk being suspended.
One grandparent told News 4 they even get in trouble for laughing.

Maxine Murphy explained, "I thought it should have been an in school suspension, instead of an at home suspension."

Associate Superintendent Diane Collier said in some cases, other disciplinary measures are taken before suspensions.

But safety supersedes everything else.

Associate Superintendent, Diane Collier said, "If you think about it, you've got a school of 600 students and if students are walking in the halls and not following the rules, then you have unsafe conditions."

Parents said they're not trying to excuse bad behavior, they just want to do all they can to keep them in the classroom or at least at school, learning.

Especially if they're suspended for walking in the hallway.