BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) All levels of government are weighing-in on the plan to alter school starting times in the Buffalo Public Schools. The plan emerged as a way to alleviate transportation problems caused by a bus driver shortage.
Dozens of students are arriving late each day and hundreds are getting home late each afternoon.
The Buffalo Teachers Federation rejected the notion of changing start times
in October. The union considers the issue a non-starter.
But last week Buffalo's Education and Equity Task Force asked New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Education Department to step in, and declare a state of emergency, which would override the teachers' contract and allow for the implementation of a three-bell schedule.
Buffalo schools are currently on a two bell system, with start times around 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. A three-bell system would move those starting times to 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., and 9:30 a.m.
Related
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown tells WBEN he supports the three-bell initiative.
"I think it makes sense to stagger the arrival time and the dismissal time, so there are not long waits for school buses," said the mayor to WBEN's Tim Wenger.
Brown and his wife are helping to raise a great-niece and great-nephew who are 5 and 6 years old. They have experienced issues with the children being picked up and dropped off late.
The Buffalo Common Council passed a resolution last week in support of the governor calling for a state of emergency over the bus driver shortage.
Council President Rev. Darius Pridgen told Susan and Brian on WBEN Tuesday, "We don't have a vote, but we have a voice. My support is in finding a solution and finding it fast. I am not going to say it needs to be three-bells or two-bells. It needs to be solved."
He thinks all governments need to work together cooperatively.
"I want to be clear," said Pridgen. "I did not agree with everything in that resolution. I voted for movement."
Mayor Brown is asking school district officials and the teachers to put the needs of children first. "Having children waiting for buses for an hour or an hour and a half is not in the best interests of the children or the teachers who are trying to educate them. It has to be a partnership between the entire community and the needs of the children have to be the main point of the partnership.
Brown has not spoken to the governor about the issue. He is still hoping that the district and teachers come to an amicable solution.
"Our children are our most important commodity," added Pridgen. "We have to work together."
Using the recent snow emergency as an example, Pridgen said if we can move around snow, then we can move around children."