Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes may be leaving office on Dec. 31, but she still has amassed clout and bully pulpit that extends from Buffalo to Albany - and she is not afraid to use it when it comes to the beleaguered Buffalo Public School District and its Board of Education.
The School Board is at the center of, what is largely, a self-inflicted public perception misstep that has reached a crescendo in recent weeks with the abrupt resignation of superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga on July 13. Three days later, he and Central District Board member Lewis "Muki" Hawkins were named in a legal notice of claims, alleging both of sexually and personally harassing a female school district employee.
Mubenga resigned less than one year from taking the Buffalo job, but Hawkins remains on the Board and claims innocence.
But to Peoples-Stokes, all the "adult issues" are taking away from the district and Board's true focus - the 30,000 enrolled students.
"We need to focus on students and their academic achievements," Peoples-Stokes said with WBEN.
Peoples-Stokes says she plans on meeting with State Education Commissioner Dr. Betty Rosa about Buffalo Public Schools.
Rosa was in Buffalo on July 29 and recommended a team of advisors help interim superintendent Dr. Ebony Prophet-Bullock and a department-backed mentor to work with the School Board.
Peoples-Stokes would prefer the Board handle its own issues, but acknowledges that Rosa's recommendations may be necessary.
Rosa, like Peoples-Stokes, urged the Board and district leaders to focus on making the school student- and teacher-ready when the 2026-27 school year begins just after Labor Day.
Peoples-Stokes did praise new North District board member Roscoe Henderson III, who was sworn in on July 22. Henderson replaces Cindi McEachon, who resigned on June 24 over a myriad of Board-related issues, including transparency and the sexual harassment allegations.
"Roscoe knows what the students need," Peoples-Stokes said. "That's what we need - a focus on the students, not adult issues."
The State Assembly Majority Leader is concerned about low achievement scores in the district
The State Assembly Majority Leader is concerned about low achievement scores in the district
