Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - For a Buffalo School Board awash in controversy and public mistrust, Wednesday's swearing in of new North District representative Roscoe Henderson III was a brief and welcome respite.
A packed board room filled with a cross section of community leaders, friends and supporters of the well-liked and well-regarded Henderson cheered and cheered loudly.
"You picked the right man," one person shouted.
Henderson was selected from a pool of six candidates on Monday, but even his selection was shrouded in controversy as both Mayor Sean Ryan and State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa urged the board to hold off on filling the vacant North District seat until the investigation into alleged sexual and personal harassments on a female district employee was concluded.
The still on-going probe centers on now-former Superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga and Central District board member Lewis "Muki" Hawkins were named in a legal notice of claim. Mubenga abruptly resigned on July 13 - three days before the notice of claim was filed and the allegations went public.
Hawkins remains on the board and refuses to resign.
North District representative Cindi McEachon resigned on June 24 because of the issues connected to the allegations and other matters related to the board and administration.
Board President Dr. Kathy Evans-Brown, who praised Henderson, dismissed the efforts by Rosa and Ryan.
"Roscoe has the community experience we need," Evans-Brown said.
Evans-Brown said the board had to fill the North District seat by July 24, or it would have reverted to Ryan to recommend a replacement.
While Ryan has little control over the school board, he did say because the city allocates nearly $90 million annually to the district, he does have a "bully pulpit."
Controversy and issues aside, Wednesday afternoon was all about Henderson and a celebration in his honor.
There was a who's who in attendance including Buffalo councilwoman Leah Halton-Pope and Zeneta Everhart along with Seymour Knox IV, businessman Jon Williams and civic leader Robert Gioia.
"Roscoe will definitely bring a different perspective to the board," said Lou Petrucci, a former school board member and inspections commissioner in the Ryan administration.
Petrucci and Henderson have been long time friends.
"There is no doubt, he will bring a width and breadth of experience to the board," Petrucci said.
Cheektowaga Assemblyman Pat Chludzinski and Henderson have been friends for more than 27 years. The Assemblyman called Henderson "the real deal."
"He is the type of guy who can get this situation back in order," Chludzinski said.
For his part, Henderson says he wants to hit the ground running.
To Henderson, it is all about the district's 28,000-plus students.
"If we focus on the kids, it shouldn't be that hard," Henderson said. "But, to climb this mountain, we have to take it one step at a time."
Henderson was sworn in as the School Board's North District representative
Henderson was sworn in as the School Board's North District representative
