The Education Committee, with new chair CM Zeneta Everhart, met this week at 5:30pm. CM Everhart began the meeting by stating that she has many goals for the committee in 2024, starting with learning about suspensions and after school programming. “I want to make it clear,” she said. “This space is about building a table . . . and I want to ensure that we work together” to help Buffalo’s kids. Part of the goal of the meeting was to provide a record of what’s available for kids, who need more options but whose families may not know about these programs.

The committee had invited many speakers; Dr. Sharon Brown, Chief of Student Support Services at Buffalo Public Schools (BPS), kicked off the presentations. She spoke about the tiered support levels offered to BPS students, ranging from Tier 1 (which comprises basic educational, social, and emotional teaching) to Tier 2 (for students who need slightly more support, including more individualized instruction) and Tier 3 (which comes into play with students who require substantial support, and often behavioral intervention and counseling). She spoke about the Code of Conduct and how it can help administrators deal with suspensions, either by using alternate discipline or by maintaining contact with students who are out of school.

“Every possible narrative that exists inside our community ultimately ends up in our schools,” said Board of Education President Sharon Belton-Cottman. Board of Education member Terrence Heard agreed that the schools need help from throughout the community, because so many of them are experiencing trauma.

Dina Thompson, from the Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition, stressed the importance of developing supportive school cultures. ECRJC has had tremendous success limiting suspensions by developing restorative practices, which focus on building deep relationships, in schools. “It is relationships that change children,” she declared. To break the school-to-prison pipeline and end suspensions, we need to spend our money and attention proactively, not just when kids are in trouble.

CM Wyatt encouraged the public to get involved in children’s education. It’s a big investment, he admitted, but “people make time for things that are important. We’ve got to make time for them.” Also, added ML Halton Pope, we need to spend money on them. CM Everhart suggested a pilot program which would send suspended students to a location in the city where they would work with a local organization and learn skills, rather than simply go home.

Dwight Lowe, from Home Beneath Our Feet, outlined the extracurricular programs his organization offers. Students learn to grow their own food and use gardening and carpentry to learn social and emotional skills, nutrition, and environmental science.

Say Yes was represented by David Rust, who spoke about their well-known scholarship program and also about their increasing range of wraparound services. These address hunger, health, and housing through a social services program and summer camps.

Nekia Kemp, executive director of the Police Athletic League, explained that their academic and athletic programs reach over 20,000 youth each year. They prioritize “student voice and choice,” to ensure that young people want to come to their programs, which range from literacy and nutrition to podcasting and, of course, sports.

Jessica Bauer Walker from CoNECT brought students to speak about their experiences in the schools. A student from Hutch Tech spoke about her work to improve her school and to reform suspension policy. An 11th grade student health care worker from Buffalo Performing Arts Academy said that in-school suspension was also not good, with students being left alone in a room, unable to learn. A graduate of MST (Math Science Technology High School), now at SUNY-Buffalo, recounted how his own advocacy had made the school reform its bathroom policy.

Several parent-teacher representatives also came, including Danielle Grzymala, from the Buffalo Parent-Teacher Organization (BPTO) and Ed Speidel, from the District Parent Coordinating Council (DPCC).  Buffalo’s school district formally recognizes six different parent groups, though at least one other parent group, the Community PTA, came to the meeting.  Grzymala said that it is crucial for parents to know that when they’re dropping their kids off, their schools are safe. Speidel said that it was important to give suspended students the tools to return to the classrooms, which would help them as well as their classmates.

Candles in the S.U.N. is an organization that acts as a liaison for students and parents when discipline problems arise. Dakarai Singletary, the founder, talked about how important it is for young people to have “third spaces,” like the community centers he used to take advantage of as a youth. Singletary takes students out to restaurants, college campuses, and places they might not otherwise see. Candles in the Sun also teaches restorative circles, provides tutoring, and offers therapy.

Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology’s youth director, Dr. Kamalah Poles, said that her organization teaches students arts: mural work, music production, digital arts, 3D printing, and even a course that gives college credit. They provide college counseling and are another “third space” for young people. Poles spoke about the importance of paying students to come to this programming, so they would not have to get a job instead. She also said that transportation was a big issue facing participants.

Most of these organizations are built on collaboration. The Police Athletic League works with Literacy Buffalo Niagara and Home Beneath Our Feet. Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition works with the District Attorney’s office and with Say Yes. Dakarai Singletary said that he would love to partner with any of the other organizations represented at the meeting. In keeping with that spirit of collaboration, council members said that they would like to work more with the Board of Education on behalf of Buffalo’s students.