Williams Plans New Alternative School

By Peter Simon

The Buffalo Public Schools plans to open an alternative school in September to reduce violence and disruption in classrooms and assist troubled students, Superintendent James A. Williams said Thursday.

The school probably will enroll 600 to 800 students in grades seven through 12, including many who have been suspended from their previous schools at least twice, Williams said.

“We’re finding the same students are committing the same offenses,” Williams said. “That’s the population we want to address.”

Williams announced his plans after violence erupted on several occasions in city schools, including the fight this week at Lafayette High School that resulted in the suspension of eight boys.

Principals will be allowed to transfer about 1 percent of their students to the alternative school, improving the climate for the remaining, vast majority of students who are well-behaved, Williams said.

“My expectation would be that the schools should improve academically,” he said, adding that the alternative school should help troubled students get back on track.

“They need to connect with something,” he said. “They’re not connecting with the schools they’re in now.”

Teachers and principals claim that many violent and disruptive students now return to the same schools after completing suspensions and cause more trouble. The system’s alternative school closed several years ago.

Philip Rumore, president of the Buffalo Teachers Federation, said the September opening is too late and that an alternative school should be operating by January.

“We need it now,” Rumore said. “We need it yesterday. There’s absolutely no reason it can’t be put together by the second semester.”

Williams said a planning committee held its first meeting Thursday and will recommend a location, curriculum and involvement of local social service agencies. The committee, headed by Diane Collier, an associate superintendent, hopes to finalize its report by Jan. 1.

Williams said contractual provisions that limit classes in alternative schools to 10 students and a seniority system that restricts the administration’s ability to tailor the teaching staff could hamper the effort.

Rumore said classes of more than 10 troubled students would amount to “warehousing” and that seniority would not be a problem since only teachers interested in working with alternative students would seek positions there.

Although no cost breakdown was available, Williams said next year’s budget will seek public or private funds for an alternative school.

In a related development, Williams said City Court Judge James A.W. McLeod is heading a committee on gang-related problems in the schools. The group, he said, will seek to define the problem and help gang members redirect their energies.

e-mail: psimon@buffnews.com