Join me at 5 p.m. today for a live blog of the Common Council's education committee.
The meeting is being billed as "an emergency community meeting," largely in response to the pending loss in state aid resulting from the impasse over teacher evaluations.
Parent leader Sam Radford is coordinating the meeting. Scheduled speakers include: Charlie Fisher, president of BUILD of Buffalo; Jessica Bauer Walker of the District Parent Coordinating Council; Stephon Wright, the Emerson High School student who is hoping to be appointed to the School Board; Lynn Bass, principal of Tapestry Charter High School; and Wendy Mistretta, a parent leader at International School 45.
Also: Helene Kramer, chairwoman of United Partners for Public Education; Janique Curry, a former School Board member; Sam Magavern, co-director of the Partnership for the Public Good; Hannya Boulos, director of Buffalo ReformED; and Darius Pridgen, Ellicott District council member.
The press release says: "Organizers say they want the public to understand the facts and the gravity of the situation, but also stress that they are focusing on being solution-oriented. The goal of Monday's meeting is to provide the public with accurate and timely information about the current situation within the Buffalo Public Schools, and to develop a community-driven action plan for moving forward."
Last week, Radford was talking about preparing for battle if the Buffalo Teachers Federation voted to keep the attendance clause for teacher evaluations (which it did). Now, he -- and many others -- seem to be toning down their approach, calling for discussion and suggestions for solutions, rather than clashes and war metaphors.
- Mary Pasciak
facebook.com/mary.pasciak twitter.com/SchoolZoneBlog mpasciak@buffnews.com
