BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN).....This is just how surprising Dr. Pascal Mubenga's July13 resignation was to Rich Nigro, Buffalo Teachers Federation president.
Just hours before Mubenga submitted his resignation to the Buffalo School Board, he and Nigro were negotiating a new contract for the BTF members.
Nigro said Mubenga gave no indication that he was just hours away from resigning,
"No one expected it," Nigro said. "It knocked me off my feet."
Mubenga resigned less than one year after being recruited from the Durham (North Carolina) School District.
But, now the focus is how can the school board and the district move forward in the wake of Mubenga walking away from the district and his $285,000 - plus perks - annual salary.
"It throws a wrench into whatever plans they may have had," Nigro said.
Nigro and others including Masten District Councilwoman and Council President Pro Tempore Zeneta Everhart think Dr. Ebony Prophet-Bullock, who was named interim superintendent immediately after Mubenga's resignation may turn out to be the best choice for the beleaguered school district.
Everhart and Prophet-Bullock worked closely with Mubenga on a strategic plan for the district.
"She is the perfect person for the job," Everhart said. "Spend a few minutes with her and you can see why they (the school board) picked her."
Prophet-Bullock worked her way up from initially working as a teacher and then into the administration where she was Mubenga's top deputy.
"Ebony has so much institutional knowledge," Everhart said.
The issues within the school district run deep.
Among them:
* A projected $60 million deficit despite a nearly $1.4 billion budget.
* Grade scores are below standard
* Sexual harassment issues centering around an unnamed school board member.
* June's resignation of school board member Cindi McEachon, who questioned its lack of transparency.
Nigro admitted working with the school board can be challenging, at times.
"People need to stay in their lane," Nigro said.
With Prophet-Bullock's appointment, the school district has had eight superintendents since 2000.
The district has approximately 32,000 students and 63 schools in its portfolio.
How the district is run impacts real estate decisions.
A floundering school district is not a strong selling point, officials say.
"What the school board does impacts the entire city," said University District Councilman Rasheed N.C. Wyatt. "People are very concerned."
How will the Buffalo School Board recover from surprise resignation?
How will the Buffalo School Board recover from surprise resignation?
