Paladino loses case against Board of Ed

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A judge has ruled against a Buffalo developer suing the Buffalo School Board over executive sessions and the hiring of a new superintendent.

Carl Paladino looked on in State Supreme Court on Wednesday as his attorney Shannon Heneghan made the case before Justice Donna Siwek that the Buffalo School Board had allegedly violated the state's Open Meetings Law by not sharing with the public their reasons for finding Dr. Pamela Brown the most qualified candidate to become Buffalo's new schools superintendent.

"And when you cloak things in secrecy, and when you deny transparency, you get corruption. You get agendas and games being played," Paladino argued.

The school board has said the public had been given ample knowledge about Dr. Brown's qualifications as well as the other two finalists.

Board Attorney Karl Kristoff said, "There was so much public discussion and so many public forums which preceded the board's ultimate nomination and appointment in this case, that the public was sufficiently aware."

Paladino brought race into the discussion outside of the courtroom, when he alleged that the five African-American females on the board had insisted that the new superintendent be black.

"Now that gives rise to the question of manipulation in the executive session," the developer contended.

Several African-American observers who attended the proceedings were offended by his allegations.

Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, "I'm a black woman in America. I love this country, but I do realize that we live amongst a lot of racists."

Paladino said he would work with Dr. Brown if she officially becomes superintendent, although he questions her credentials for the job. And now, he may have to.

Wednesday night, a judge found Paladino failed to prove his case and that the board did not violate the Open Meetings Law by using executive sessions. You can read the full decision here.

Moments later, the board's attorney was called back to court. Paladino will appeal the decision, but Justice Eugene Fahey refused to grant his stay preventing the appointment of Dr. Brown. It is anticipated that Brown will sign her contract Wednesday night.