Buffalo Public Schools serves approximately 34,000 students in Buffalo, New York, the second largest city in the state of New York. It is located in Erie County of western New York and operates nearly 70 facilities.
History
Buffalo Public Schools - Urban Forum - Buffalo Public Schools annual Urban Forum at Bennett High School.
The Buffalo Public School System was started in 1838, 13 years after the completion of the Erie Canal and only 6 years after the 1832 incorporation of the City of Buffalo. Buffalo was the first city in the state of New York to have a free public education system supported by local taxes. Although New York City had a free public education system prior to 1838, NYC obtained additional funding through private donations and sources. Buffalo Public Schools' first Superintendent of Schools, Oliver Gray Steele (1805â€"1879), was a prominent and successful business man. Originally from Connecticut, Steele relocated to Buffalo in 1827. He held three different terms as Superintendent between 1838 and 1852, during which twelve new elementary facilities were built, bringing the total to 15 elementary buildings. A building for a dedicated high school was also purchased during this time. Steele is credited as being the "Father of the Public Schools of Buffalo" as his reorganization of the schools in Buffalo enabled children to have access to a free public education. Over 35 people have held the position of Superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools since that time.
Former Superintendents
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
- Mr. Oliver G. Steele â€" 1838-1839
- Mr. Silas Kingsley â€" 1839-1841
- Mr. Samuel Caldwell â€" 1841-1844
- Mr. Elias S. Hawley â€" 1843-1845
- Mr. Oliver Steele â€" 1845-1846
- Mr. Daniel Bowen â€" 1846-1847
- Mr. Elias Hawley â€" 1847-1849
- Mr. Daniel Bowen â€" 1849-1850
- Mr. Henry K. Veile â€" 1850-1851
- Mr. Oliver Steele â€" 1851-1852
- Mr. Victor M. Rice â€" 1852-1854
- Mr. Ephraim F. Cook â€" 1854-1858
- Mr. Joseph Warren â€" 1858-1860
- Mr. Sanford B. Hunt â€" 1860-1862
- Mr. John B. Sackett â€" 1862-1864
- Mr. Henry D. Garvin â€" 1864-1866
- Mr. John S. Fosdick â€" 1866-1868
- Mr. Samuel Slade â€" 1868-1870
- Mr. Thomas Lathrop â€" 1870-1872
- Mr. Joseph Larned â€" 1872-1874
- Mr. William S. Rice â€" 1874-1878
- Mr. Christopher G. Fox â€" 1878-1882
- Mr. James F. Crooker â€" 1882-1891
- Mr. William H. Love â€" 1891-1892
- Mr. Henry P. Emerson â€" 1892-1918
- Mr. Ernest C.Hartwell â€" 1918-1935
- Mr. Robert T. Bapst â€" 1935-1950
- Mr. Benjamin Willis â€" 1950-1952 (unknown, named Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools)
- Mr. Parmer L. Ewing â€" 1952-1957
- Mr. Joseph Manch â€" 1957-1975 (Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Personnel Services - Buffalo Public Schools, retired)
- Mr. Eugene T. Reville â€" 1975-1989 (Associate Superintendent of Instructional Services - Buffalo Public Schools, named Superintendent of Pulaksi County Public Schools)
- Mr. Albert Thompson â€" 1989-1996 (Deputy Superintendent of Finance, Personnel and Research - Buffalo Public Schools, retired)
- Dr. James Harris â€" 1996-2000 (Superintendent - North Chicago CUSD 187, named Superintendent of Inglewood Unified School District)
- Mrs. Marian V. Cañedo â€" 2000-2004 (Associate Superintendent of Curriculum - Buffalo Public Schools, retired)
- Mrs. Yvonne Hargrave [interim] â€" 2004-2005 (Chief Academic Officer - Buffalo Public Schools, retired)
- Dr. James A. Williams â€" 2005-2011 (Superintendent - Dayton Public Schools, retired)
- Ms. Amber M. Dixon [interim] â€" 2011-2012 (Executive Director of Special Projects - Buffalo Public Schools, retired)
- Dr. Pamela C. Brown â€" 2012-2014 (Assistant Superintendent - Philadelphia City School District, resigned)
- Mr. Donald A. Oglivie [interim] â€" 2014-2015 (Superintendent - Erie 1 BOCES, retired)
Administration
Board of Education
The Board of Education of the Buffalo City School District is the policy-making body for the Buffalo Public Schools, as provided by the Constitution of the State of New York, and is under the general supervision of the New York State Education Department. The board consists of 9 members elected by popular vote of District residents.
Board Members
- Dr. Barbara Seals Nevergold â€" President/Member-at-Large
- Ms. Sharon Belton-Cottman â€" Vice President of Executive Affairs/Ferry District Representative
- Dr. Theresa Harris-Tigg â€" Vice President of Student Achievement/East District Representative
- Ms. Hope Jay â€" North District Representative
- Ms. Jennifer Mecozzi â€" West District Representative
- Dr. Catherine Flanagan-Priore â€" Park District Representative
- Ms. Patti Bowers Pierce â€" Member-at-Large
- Mr. Larry Quinn â€" Member-at-Large
- Ms. Paulette Woods â€" Central District Representative
- Ms. Lyndette Felez â€" Student Representative
Superintendent & Advisory Cabinet
- Dr. Kriner Cash â€" Superintendent of Schools
- Ms. Anne Botticelli â€" Chief Academic Officer
- Dr. Kevin J. Eberle â€" Chief Operations Officer
- Mr. Darren J. Brown â€" Chief of Staff
- Mr. Nathaniel Kuzma - General Counsel
- Dr. David Mauricio â€" Chief of Strategic Alignment & Innovation
- Ms. Genelle E. Morris â€" Chief Information Officer
- Mr. Sanjay Giles â€" Chief Technology Officer
- Dr. Will Keresztes â€" Chief of Intergovernmental Affairs, Planning, and Community Engagement
- Ms. Jamie Warren â€" Associate Superintendent of Human Resources
- Ms. Peggy Boorady â€" Associate Superintendent of School Leadership
- Mr. Sabatino Cimato â€" Associate Superintendent of School Leadership
- Ms. Mary Jo Conrad â€" Associate Superintendent of School Leadership
- Mr. James G. Weimer â€" Associate Superintendent of School Leadership
- Ms. Casandra Wright â€" Associate Superintendent of School Leadership
- Mr. Eric Rosser â€" Interim Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services
- Dr. Fatima Morrell â€" Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Assessment & Leadership
- Dr. Mary Pauly â€" Assistant Superintendent of Special Education
- Mr. Aubrey T. Lloyd III â€" Director of Athletics
Schools
Elementary Schools
Except where noted, all schools serve Grades PreK-8
Secondary Schools
Except where noted, all schools serve Grades 9-12
Adult/Alternative Programs
Defunct Schools
Other information
The Buffalo Public School System boasts the most exceptional academically performing high school in Western New York, the City Honors School at Fosdick-Masten Park, which is recognized as one of the most exceptional high schools in the United States. Originally built in 1912 as Masten Park High School, it sits atop the foundation of the original school that was built in 1895, but was destroyed by a fire in 1912. The name was changed in 1927 to Fosdick-Masten Park High School in honor of the first principal Frank Fosdick. The building was used as a girls vocational school from 1953 until 1980 when the City Honors School was moved from P.S. 17 on Main Street over to the current location. City Honors was founded in 1975 for academically gifted and talented high school students, however now accepts students from grades 5- 12.
Another important public high school is Lafayette High School, completed in 1903. It is the oldest Buffalo public school still in its original building, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Lafayette has the largest and most active alumni association of any Buffalo public high school. In contrast to City Honors, Lafayette is one of the worst-performing schools in the district, in large part because many English as a second language students are assigned to it.
Gallery
Athletics
Buffalo Public Schools has an extensive athletic program. Students can participate in football, basketball, baseball, softball, tennis, cross-country, track and field, bowling, swimming, volleyball, ice hockey and rugby.
References
External links
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- Buffalo Public Schools
- U.S. Dept. of Education National Center for Education Statistics
- New York State Education Department
- Buffalo City Schools New York State Report Card 2007
