Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - To wait, or push forward?
The decision by the Buffalo School Board to appoint Roscoe Henderson III as the new North District representative while the Board is still dealing with the fallout from a sexual harassment claim filed against the former Superintendent and a current board member is not sitting well with some even a week later.
"I felt that given the nature of what is going on and the complexity of all the issues, usually in times like that you really take the time making these kinds of decisions," said State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa after meeting with School Board President Kathy Evans-Brown and interim Superintendent Ebony Prophet-Bullock Wednesday.
Though the Board moved forward, some members agreed that a pause was necessary.
"We received a clear directive from the Commissioner to wait," Board member Larry Scott told WBEN on Thursday.
That was not only the recommendation by the Education Commissioner, but also by Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan. Ryan, as it turns out, would have had a vested interest in the Board putting off their appointment.
"As far as how the law reads, if we would have exceeded the 30 days since the resignation, then the Mayor would have recommended somebody for the Common Council to approve," Scott said.
So while there were many voices asking the board to delay their decision, if they did so it would no longer be their decision to make.
"I don't know that there's any time limit on the Mayor and the Common Council appointing," Scott said. "Perhaps it could have been more opened up to include more voices."
With Henderson's appointment, the decision is done, but the controversy continues.
"We received a clear directive from the commissioner to wait" - Larry Scott
"We received a clear directive from the commissioner to wait" - Larry Scott
