Buffalo, N.Y (WBEN) - The decision by a trio of Buffalo Board of Education representatives to reverse course and not attend a pricey convention is the latest chapter where controversies have dogged the board, and, by extension the Buffalo Public Schools.
The latest issue: Board President Dr. Kathy Evans-Brown and board members Stephon Wright and Lewis "Muki" Hawkins were set to attend the annual WozEd Immersion Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. They were joining other district officials at the five-day conference that begins on Nov. 7 at the tony Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa.
For the entire Buffalo schools contingent, the cost would been $15,500 including $3,500 for the three board members.
At issue was the expenditure at a time when the financially-ailing district is looking at a $60 million budget deficit and is considering closing or merging 10 schools to help bridge the canyon-like gap.
""Even if it only cost us $1, it doesn't look good," said Erik Bohen, Park District BOE member.
While Dr. Evans-Brown alluded to the conference during an Oct. 21 board session, many of the board members were aware of the event or that three of their fellow representatives were Scottsdale-bound.
"Transparency should be No. 1," Bohen said.
The WozEd conference focuses on STEM programming for students. WozEd has been a Buffalo schools STEM vendor for the past five years.
While having board members attend was not in the current district budget, it was allocated for the district's STEM and WozEd administrators.
In a statement issued late Nov.5, Dr. Evans-Brown said she canceled a scheduled Nov. 6 special board meeting to address the Arizona trip.
Dr. Evans-Brown, in the same release, said that neither she nor Hawkins or Wright would be attending the conference.
"While I recognize the educational value of the initiative and the opportunities it presents for our students and educators, I believe we must be especially mindful of our current financial challenges," Dr. Evans-Brown wrote. "I believe it is important that we demonstrate fiscal responsibility and sensitivity to the concerns of our community."
Still, the issue comes in the wake of the board dealing with several other controversies this year including allegations of sexual and personal harassment of female employees by Hawkins and then-Superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga; the resignation of North District board member Cindi McEachon over transparency issues, Mubenga's sudden resignation, the school closing issues and pending civil litigation against Hawkins and Mubenga related to the secual and person harassment allegations.
"Not a good look," Boehn said.
District officials are still going, but no Board members are headed West
District officials are still going, but no Board members are headed West
