BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN)......With mounting reports of alleged sexual and personal harassment actions by Buffalo School Board member Lewis (Muki) Hawkins, the Buffalo Teachers Federation has renewed its call for Hawkins to either resign or step aside.
The BTF - again - called for Hawkins to step down as Central District representative until investigations into the matter are resolved.
Hawkins' presence on the nine-member Buffalo Board of Education has become too much of distraction and is taking away from the focus on prepping for the 2026-2027 school year that begins for more than 30,000 students just after Labor Day.
"The district needs to give all of its attention on the students and not these adult issues," said Rich Nigro, BTF president.
Hawkins - along with now-former Superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga, was named in a July 16 legal notice of claim that alleges he sexually and personally harassed a female employee in the district's City Hall administrative offices.
A second notice of claim, filed on Aug. 3, made similar, often-times graphic accusations against Hawkins.
Hawkins has maintained his innocence and, as of mid day Aug. 5, not resigned.
Citing possible litigation, the school district has declined to comment.
Nigro said with each passing day and with growing criticism being directed at the board, it is creating an aura of mistrust among parents, teachers, political and civic leaders.
"When you lose that trust, it takes a long time to regain it," Nigro said.
Criticism has some from leaders as Mayor Sean Ryan, Attorney General Letitia James and state Education Commissioner Dr. Betty Rosa.
Thus far, Dr. Kathy Evans-Brown, board president, has refused to force Hawkins to resign.
Accusations against Hawkins and Mubenga are the latest is a series of missteps that has hung over the Buffalo school board in recent months.
And, the impact goes beyond Buffalo, says recently retired Niagara Falls Schools Superintendent Mark Laurie.
"It effects every district in Western New York and that's not good," Laurie said. "It's like this dark cloud hanging over every Western New York district. It's time for the school board to take the bull by the horns."
Lack of trust in school board impacting district's operations, BTF says
Lack of trust in school board impacting district's operations, BTF says
