Tagged: school board

A frequently nasty fight over control of the Buffalo school board is moving into its final hours, with results uncertain. 

Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino claims the city school board violated the state's open meetings law when it hired new schools superintendent Dr. Pamela Brown. 

Paladino has filed papers asking the State Supreme Court to block Brown's hiring and toss out her contract which also provides her with an $800  a day consultant fee prior to final contract approval. 

The board voted 7-2 for Brown at its June 13 meeting. The vote was taken after a lengthy executive session with no public discussion.

A court hearing on the matter is set for next Wednesday.

Buffalo's Public Schools will be under the leadership of a new superintendent in the fall, with the election of Dr. Pamela Brown to head the district.    The city school board voted 7-2 Wednesday night in favor of the veteran educator.

"Such a very vital position. Everyone has strong feelings.   We strived to come up with a unanimous decision," said School Board President Lou Petrucci following Wednesday night's nomination and public vote at City Hall. 

Two of the three candidates to succeed former Buffalo Schools superintendent James Williams met with reporters Thursday afternoon at City Hall.  

Edward Newsome Junior, currently an an assistant superintendent in Baltimore County, Maryland; and interim Buffalo Schools Chief Amber Dixon.  A third candidate was out of town.  

Members of the Buffalo Control Board and the Common Council say they want to get together to talk about a major shift in the way the board operates, from how much money is spent to how well it's spent.

The comments were made during the annually-required public meeting of the board.

By law, the Control Board must approve budgets of the city, the school board and an array of other city agencies.

Board Member George Arthur says his panel has only so much control over school finances.