State Releases List of Buffalo Schools "In Need Of Improvement"

2 On Your Side - News

Posted by:  Aaron Saykin, Reporter  

9/3/2004

Amillyon Gleen, a five-year-old student at Buffalo's Waterfront Elementary School, wants to be a firefighter when he grows up.

For the time being, his mom, Tomea, is making sure he gets the proper education to do it.

"I want my son to be more than I could have ever been," Gleen said.

But now, she's a bit worried. Like thousands of other Buffalo parents Friday night, she just found out that, this year her children is enrolled at a school that -- according to federal standards -- is "in need of improvement."

She's mad because of the timing. When a school makes that list, parents can transfer their children to a better one. But this year, the state released the list on a Friday before a long holiday weekend and right before the start of the school year.

"I can't even talk to the staff because they're not even there,” said Buffalo School Board Member Chris Jacobs.

Jacobs is unhappy about the timing of the list's release, but says how a school makes the list is complicated and often misleading.

"It could be a comprehensive need for improvement, or the school is just not addressing the needs of a (small) percentage of these kids," Jacobs.

Last school year the state classified 32 Buffalo Public Schools as "in need of improvement." This year the number climbed by one. And one school, D'Youville Porter Campus School (Public School 3), came off the list.

For now, Amillyon's mom says she'll give his school the benefit of the doubt.

"(But) if anything changes, he'll change schools," she said.

State education officials say the list will barely affect Buffalo families because nearly all of the school's on this year's list were also on last year's list.

Buffalo school officials are urging any parents with questions to call them at (716) 851-3600, or visit their website by clicking here.

You can also view the list at New York State Education Department and click on the link for "No Child Left Behind."