I Was on the Steps of City Hall

Last week I was invited to attend a rally on the steps of Buffalo City Hall. A large group of people gathered to show support for the current Superintendent of the Buffalo Schools, Dr. Pamela C, Brown, Dr. Ed.D. 
  As the Founder/Director of Youth With A Purpose Inc. and Mentor Force: 

I support the students in the Buffalo Schools. 
I support Dr. Pamela Brown. 
I support the Buffalo School Board.

Last year I supported Amber Dixon, I thought she did an admirable job. Some of the fruits of her labors are being borne now through children in the Buffalo Schools. She has moved on to climb another mountain on behalf of children. I now support Dr, Brown. It's time to focus on children. The best sign I saw at the rally said: CHILDREN FIRST!! 

Folks, I've been around the education block a few times. I have served as President of the Iroquois School Board and as an elected Trustee for 10 years. We hired great personnel who put children first. The Teachers were awesome as were their Union Leadership. All contracts were extended beyond the expiration dates. Iroquois was ranked consistently as one of the best schools in the area. We did have some dark history as we went through a period of mistrust. A group of people with a compassion for putting children first overcame adversity and the children gained more opportunities to excel.

The Buffalo Schools are showing improvement. There are bureaucratic forces beyond the control of folks at the local level. Doing the best we can for our students begins with our focus. Will the focus be on education or control of the process? The graduation rates and attendance rates have shown improvement while the dropout rate has decreased. Good news is something to latch onto and spread. Negativity is like a fox eating away at the roots of the grapevine. A little bite here, a little bite there and the damage is done. The vine is slowly destroyed and the fruit will not grow.

I am glad that some folks are seriously examining the expenditures and policies of  the Buffalo Schools. Accountability is a good thing, Dr. Brown welcomes accountability. It was only 3 months ago that the Buffalo School Board gave Dr. Brown passing grades in her first Superintendents Report Card. What has she done in the last 3 months that would warrant her removal?

Constructive criticism does not need to be negative. If children on a Student Council harshly attacked a fellow student that they disagreed with, we would reprimand them for their insensitivity. Can we hold each other accountable without personal attacks? Can we report more of the Bright Spots in the Buffalo Schools? Our schools have great Teachers doing a phenomenal job in a very tough atmosphere. Let's applaud their effort and focus on children.

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.