Buffalo, NY (WBEN) The general counsel for Buffalo Public Schools has resigned along with two other members of the legal team. This as allegations against a board member of sexual harassment have been brought up.
Mary Scaprine and two others in the legal office stepped down. Board member Larry Scott says he knew about the resignations a couple of weeks ago. "I am not able to determine, or I'm unaware of the reasons for their resignations, however, it is very concerning to me that we do have three resignations coming out of our legal department," says Scott. His main concern is consistency. "We've had people doing this work for some time, and you expect that they're going to continue doing that work, and to see that three almost at the same time are resigning has me wondering what the reasons are, they obviously are being pushed to a point or have other opportunities that they see as more promising, so I guess it's questions that need to be answered as to why we're seeing such an abrupt, abrupt change in our legal department," notes Scott.
A special meeting Friday was canceled after a quorum could not be reached. The board is scheduled to meet on Wednesday. "We are expected to go into executive session. I don't have any update over the past few days on where things are going to go," says Scott. "It is my expectation that this be taken seriously, and we finally act on this, and an investigation be embarked upon by an independent firm that, at the very most, in a way that we can make sure it's not biased or partial in any way."
The board member in question has not been named. Scott adds he has not seen the allegations, despite several requests. "I'm extremely disappointed and concerned. We, to my knowledge, have multiple complainants that have come forward with concerns, they've been made to feel uncomfortable, and we are not valuing their voice, their feelings, their work in this district, and I am extremely disappointed with the lack of action, the lack of transparency, almost at this point a shroud of secrecy that is just to me unheard of, especially in a public school district, and with an entire public, entire publicly elected school board," says Scott.
The district says the allegations are not related to the investigation. .
