Adequacy of Buffalo schools superintendent search questioned

Buffalo News education blogger, Mary Pasciak reported on Sunday, "The board's plans to reach a consensus privately regarding a candidate is not the only aspect of the process that raises concerns regarding its compliance with state law. Even the board's interviews of the candidates appear to have violated the open meetings law. The board conducted those interviews privately, without incorporating them into a public meeting."

Also, there were questions about the pace of the search between interviews, a 13 day span for selecting a candidate to lead a district where few students graduate. There has been criticism of Say Yes and Cascade, the consultants involved in the search for not presenting stronger candidates only two the third interim Amber Dixon. And no Latinos in the mixed of finalist considering its a growing population with the lowest graduation and highest drop out rates troubling. Yet, Dixon has scored points, strengthening her candidacy by presiding over a successful teacher evaluation plan with the Buffalo Teachers Federation. And Pasciak cited a group of local prominent supporters for Dixon from Erie 1 BOCES Superintendent Donald A. Ogilvie; BTF president Philip Rumore; and Regent Robert M. Bennett. Yet, officials in the state Ed Dept are more critical  criticising Dixon for stalling the teacher evaluation plan with Rumore to influence the Board selection of a new superintendent.

The last finalist interviewed on Tuesday, a decision made later in the evening. The public invited to meet Dr. Pamela Brown at 6 pm at Waterfront School.