Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo School Board member Larry Scott says he has a request for the Buffalo Public Schools, and its' quite simple.
"Just some accountability, transparency, and some respect for the complainants that have come forward, with these allegations," said Scott during an appearance with WBEN on Thursday.
Scott says he still hasn't gotten answers regarding sexual harassment allegations against fellow board member Muki Hawkins, but is not satisfied.
"It puts the responsibility on the complainants to do something that they need to do something different. They need to work from home. And it doesn't put the responsibility on the accused board member," Scott noted.
Scott is also unhappy the latest accusation against Hawkins didn't go to him directly.
"It was not shared directly with me, by the district or the board office, and it's my understanding that the board office did receive it on Monday morning, before media had access to it," Scott added.
He feels the lack of communication is making the district look bad.
"I think one could, in the public, suspect that we're trying to keep something quiet or we're trying to, make something just go away that, unfortunately, is not going away," Scott said. "Every week, it seems like something new hits. And to be honest with you, I'm hearing rumblings that there's more coming. This isn't the end of it, and we keep hearing that we need to focus on our students, focus on opening schools for the next school year. Absolutely, but how are our staff able to do that 100% when these allegations continue to fester, more keeps coming out, it creates more distraction. To just tell them not to ignore it is is is again devaluing the rights, the dignity, and the voices of of complainants and our our female employees, and in this case, black female."
Scott is concerned about which firm is running the investigation into the allegations.
"There's ties with attorneys from Hodgson Russ and board members. We were told that we would get a conflict of interest review from the firm. We never received that. In my opinion, similar to what's been done before with a previous board member, it should have been a totally independent firm outside of Western New York that came in to do this investigation and that we, as board members, voted on publicly. That would be transparent. That would be us being accountable to the public, and so far we are far from that," Scott noted.
Hawkins has been named in two sexual harassment claims made against the district.
