WNED Buffalo/Toronto
1/13/2012
BUFFALO (WNED) – There’s so much interest in the thousands of student suspensions in Buffalo schools there’s going to be another public hearing on the problem.
An advisory board probing the district’s code of conduct has held three public hearings this week, two of which were in Waterfront School, a site far off bus and rail routes.
On Wednesday, there will be another hearing in the Merriweather Library, site of a packed Monday hearing on the issue.
The Alliance for Quality Education and Citizen Action wants the district to end out-of-school suspensions for non-violent activity.
Many opponents of sending kids home point to Jawaan Daniels who was sent home from Lafayette High School in June of last year and murdered at a nearby bus stop minutes later, innocent victim of a dispute.
“We’re asking (for a) stop of all out-of-school suspensions for non-violent incidents,” said Education Organizer Brian Trzeciak, who acknowledges some kids can be classroom problems.
“Once you get these kids out of the classroom, because teaching does have to take place, what are we going to do with them to get them back on the track to learning?”
Trzeciak says he knows the problem well, as a former teacher in Brooklyn and Newburgh.
During last night’s hearing in Waterfront school, parent and grandparent Ina Downing says the system doesn’t work well with minorities.
“I’m tired of seeing children, black children, Hispanic children, especially my young black men, young boys, out in my community, being suspended!”
Associate Superintendent Will Keresztes says he hopes to have plans for a new suspension system to the school board February 1.
