Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - At Wednesday night's Buffalo School Board meeting, there were no new developments on a pending independent investigation into allegations by a Buffalo Police Detective that the district has covered up abuse cases.
"The district is currently requesting bids from firms. The bids close Friday, May 30," Buffalo School Board member Larry Scott told WBEN.
"That timeline will take us to our next meeting, on June 18, where a firm or organization will be recommended to us to conduct the investigation."
When might we see the end result?
"Well," Scott said, "my expectation at a special meeting last week was that we would appoint a firm and the investigation would have begun May 15. I'm not optimistic with the timeline that I see, that there will be agreement and we will be able to move forward on June 18. Until we get there and the board takes action, it's hard for me to say when the next steps of the investigation will begin."
The abuse allegations came as a result of a podcast involving Buffalo Police Detective Richard Hy. Recently the board voted to appoint a third party to investigate the claims.
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The district is in the final weeks of the school year. Dr. Tonja Williams Knight will soon be retiring as Superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools.
Scott said the School Board received an update from Erie 1 BOCES, which is acting as a consultant in the effort to find a successor.
"They conducted an online survey, asking community stakeholders to provide input on what they want to see from the next superintendent. They also met with students, teachers, unions and community leaders and shared that input with us."
Scott said the next step is to prepare for interviews. Finalists will be selected by the end of June.
"If everything goes as planned, and if we come to an agreement, we could have someone named by July, I would say."