Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - At the very beginning of an hours long meeting of the Buffalo School Board this week, a few parents stood at the podium and questioned the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash.
The loss of faith in his ability to lead the district came in the shadows of the violent attack recently at McKinley High School, but had built up over time. At numerous board meetings before, the same calls to ask Cash to step down had been heard by frustrated and vocal parents.
The ability of Cash to lead the district forward and toward healing following the McKinley attack was further called into question this week with a vote of 'no confidence' from the Buffalo Teachers Federation, the union representing teachers in the district.
In a statement this week, BTF leadership said:
"We appreciate many of the things Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash has accomplished; however, many calls for increased security and the increasing serious acts of violence, as delineated in the resolution, have been inadequately addressed and gotten worse.
Ultimately, this is and was the responsibility of the Superintendent.
Based upon what is contained in the "No Confidence" resolution passed by the BTF Council of Delegates, representatives from all public schools, Buffalo teachers no longer have confidence that these dangerous and serious conditions will improve under Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash's leadership",stated Philip Rumore, President of the Buffalo Teachers Federation.
The BTF is also formally calling for a New York State and Federal investigation of the safety of the Buffalo Public Schools.
The questions of the leadership of Cash are also coming as the district released encouraging over graduation rate increase of nearly 80 percent for the district.
Cash fired back at critics late this week with the following statement:
"This is an unprecedented time in public education - Covid-related challenges, social-emotional issues, community violence, and traumatic experiences occurring throughout our community and nation.
It is an especially professionally challenging environment for teachers, administrators, support staff, and superintendents, and I commend and empathize with the challenges our staff face each and every day.
As Superintendent, I have dedicated my life and career to public education and to providing greater equity, access, opportunity, and quality to the thousands of students I was hired to serve.
Over the course of my seven-year tenure in Buffalo, this District has turned around under my leadership and it's service to children through the implementation of the New Education Bargain which includes establishing a strong relationship with our teachers and administrators. No performative tactics of the BTF or any other groups will deter my commitment to steering the Buffalo Public Schools through these challenging times."
School Board President Lou Petrucci has acknowledged the BTF vote of no confidence and has stated; "Our teachers are an invaluable and inextricable part of the educational process in the Buffalo Public Schools and we value their opinion. We also recognize the recent efforts that have been made to set McKinley back on the path to success. The Buffalo Board of Education is presently evaluating what this vote means for the district."
Dr. Cash this past week led a 90 minute district town hall public meeting with parents. The next full school board meeting is scheduled for March 16.
