Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It was Friday when the Buffalo School Board released the findings of its independent investigative report it commissioned following allegations raised in April 2025 and later podcasts concerning the district’s handling of student-safety and other related matters.
The investigation, which included interviews of 66 individuals and extensive document review, examined the security incident at the Dr. Charles Drew Science Magnet School (PS 59) last February, as well as claims relating to sexual abuse cover ups and other related concerns.
While the investigation did not find evidence supporting intentional obstruction or systematic cover-ups, it did identify systemic challenges requiring attention. This includes communication protocols, evidence-preservation procedures, training and coordination between schools and law enforcement and other related entities.
The district said in the report it is committed to reviewing all recommendations and implementing changes that strengthen safety across all buildings.
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"It's very comprehensive, and I think for me, as an individual Board member, was something that I thought was necessary given the allegations that came out," said Buffalo School Board member Larry Scott. "It certainly makes it pretty clear there was no obstruction or cover up committed by BPS, or particular staff. It also makes it clear in regards to the coding of 9-1-1 calls, that is not a BPS responsibility. That's a BPD responsibility, and there's no evidence that the BPS has influenced how particular calls have been coded.
"But taken all together, there are some systemic issues that need to be addressed, that are identified clearly in this report. There's some pretty clear recommendations for the district to implement, and it is my hope that they will be taken seriously and will be implemented to ensure that safety and security needs are being addressed in all of our schools across the district."
When it comes to the incident that happened at Public School 59 last February, one of the main reasons for this investigative report, Scott felt there were clear concerns at how easy the access was from the Buffalo Museum of Science to the school. The good news, though, is some of that has already been addressed, but he feels it needs to continue to be addressed to ensure that the public is being kept outside of that school building.
"I think additionally, we have other buildings such Emerson and McKinley, at times, where there's public interface with those school buildings, and some changes need to be made there, especially at Emerson, to ensure that we are keeping our students and our staff safe and secure at all times," Scott added with WBEN.
One element of the report that Scott felt was clearly addressed was communication protocol concerns, technology concerns, and how the district is recording and maintaining records.
"How we're working as a system to address emergencies, any crises that come about. That, to me, was very evident. There's lots of work that we need to do to ensure that staff are knowledgeable and prepared to respond when there is an emergency or any type of safety concern that comes about, including our security staff, administrators, teachers, everyone in our buildings," Scott noted. "And practicing those protocols too, such as lockdowns, shelter in place, and being sure that we're implementing the right emergency procedure and implementing it the right way."
While Riverside High School teacher Marc Bruno acknowledges the report released last week was extensive, he raises concerns about the section covering his school in the report. He says there's a ton of inaccurate information in the few paragraphs about an incident at the high school that was described in the report.
"It actually focuses on a student who was slashed at our school a couple years ago, and the report says none of our students were involved in the incident. Well, one of our students was slashed in the face," said Bruno in an interview with WBEN. "Their blood was all over the front hallway. The student was concerned they were going to die after they were slashed. This is public information, because that student actually filed a lawsuit with the district, so this was all in the newspapers. So the fact that the law firm [Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC] got that part wrong is extremely concerning to me, because obviously the district knew the student who was slashed in the face went to the school, but the report says no one that went to our school was involved in the incident."
Bruno raises the question that if that information in the report is wrong, what else is wrong in the report?
"It also says the student did not enter the building with the weapon. My understanding is that student walked in the front entrance and high-fived an assistant principal, who actually knew the student, the alleged slasher from a previous school. So that, I believe, is inaccurate as well," Bruno noted. "So very concerning that basic information, which they really should have obviously checked in more on, is factually inaccurate in a report that, I'm assuming, the district spent a lot of money on and also a lot of time. I know I had to take my time to go downtown and be interviewed by the lawyer, so I'm very concerned about those inaccuracies."
Bruno says he will definitely be speaking at the next Board of Education meeting on this concerning aspect of the report. He also wants to bring up another concern of his that he says has gone unanswered to this day, and was a focus of the report.
"The preservation of video - I have been fighting the district on this - there's no policy. So if there is an incident, I've requested that video to be preserved for legal proceedings like arbitrations and grievances. No one ever responds back to my emails," Bruno said. "And I email everyone. I email the head of security, the lead counsel, the lead attorney. Everyone's carbon copied when I make the request. And I've actually brought this up to previous superintendents, the head of security; how can you possibly not acknowledge my request? You should be giving me a confirmation number, 'Yes, we received your request to preserve video. It's for a legal proceeding. Here's your confirmation number.' Or, 'No, we won't preserve it one way or another.' What's happening is after two weeks or so, that video footage is erased, because the system can't keep all of those recordings. So if they're not actually saving it, it's erased."
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While Bruno says he's not alleging the district is covering things up, he feels by not having a clear and concise written policy regarding preservation of video, the district is not doing what its needs to fully ensure the safety and security of schools.
"I've actually brought this up in writing, I brought it up to the old superintendent [Dr. Tonja Williams Knight] and her staff at the time, and this is dating back two years ago, and I'm still waiting," Bruno said. "They're like, 'Oh, we have a process in writing.' And I'm like, 'Well, can I see it?' Because I've been asking for it for years, and I'm still waiting two years later.
"The report addresses this, the lack of a video preservation policy - Who do you send the request to? Do you get a confirmation number in return? - they should be telling you, 'Yes, we're preserving it.' [Or,] 'No, we're not. Here is our reasons for not.' The report does get into that... They need to have a clear and concise policy on how to preserve video when there's a physical altercation, someone's hurt, so we know it's being preserved. And that there's a backup system to make sure, 'Yes, you received a confirmation number. This is who you reach out to, this is who you email.' And the whole district should be trained on how that process works so everyone knows."
One thing Bruno is hopeful for is a process to be able to amend the report in order to correct any potential inaccuracies.
"I should be able to be like, 'Hey, I was interviewed. This is inaccurate. I can present them with evidence that shows obviously the student filed a lawsuit against the district. We know he was going to school here at the time, the student who was slashed.' We should have a right to file an appeal to amend the report. That's something I'm going to be pushing for," he said. "A video preservation policy in writing that we're all notified of and trained on, and if that was wrong in the report on Riverside, what else is incorrect, factually incorrect?"
Does Bruno have the confidence in the school district to review the recommendations of the investigative report and make the necessary changes to make buildings across the entire district safer? He says that takes leadership.
"We have a new superintendent [Dr. Pascal Mubenga], I've met him. He seems like he is willing to make these changes, but that's going to be a big first test of his leadership. Can he implement these changes, and can the new Board of Education, who I do have faith in, implement these changes?" Bruno asked.
He also feels the district needs to involve teachers and rank and file teachers in buildings when making these decisions.
"Too frequently, they only involve people who are kind of in the ivory tower at City Hall and they're not in schools," Bruno said. "The superintendent has the ability to do that, because he just got here. This isn't his mess, he'll just be trying to clean it up. So I do have faith that hopefully he can do this, but I will be speaking to the Board, and I would hope to meet with the superintendent as well."
When asked of the concerns brought up by Bruno, Scott acknowledged he was not made aware of the claims, but believes there could be other viewpoints and other positions that people have within and outside their system.