Why Mary Guinn?

Buffalo Board of Education

The Buffalo Board of Education just completed a very competitive and contentious election that has resulted in the election of two (out of three) new Board members, who join three current members in a new majority block that has promised to terminate the contract of Superintendent Dr. Pamela C. Brown.  Dr. Brown has tenured her resignation. The current majority on the Board will continue until June 30th.  This group has concerns about the status of the District once Dr. Brown departs, along with her Interim Deputy, Dr. Mary Guinn.  The group has proposed, against great opposition, the retention of Dr. Guinn for a period of 90 days past June 30th in order to create a stable transition.

The question is:  Why do certain members of the Board of Education, including me, want to keep Dr. Mary Guinn as the Buffalo School’s Interim Deputy Superintendent?  The answer is simple – it’s in the best interest of the children of this District.

In certain circles, when the conversation shifts to Dr. Guinn, the major points that are made, particularly by detractors is that she’s “polarizing”; she was a “highly paid consultant”; “a lightning rod for controversy”.  Citing more negative descriptors, the Buffalo News’ May 30^th editorial also declared that “the current Board majority continues to push its own agenda, which involves naming Mary Guinn…as interim superintendent to lead the district for a few months.”  But the News has it wrong!  The current Board majority does not want to appoint Dr. Guinn as the Interim Superintendent.  In fact, we want her to stay in her current position as Interim Deputy Superintendent for three additional months, until September 30^th.   Why?  Again, the answer is simple – it’s in the best interest of the children.

Dr. Mary Guinn is a consummate educational professional, who along with Dr. Brown is the only professional in the District to hold New York State certification as a School District Leader. She has experience as a school leader in other Districts and as a turnaround specialist.   As the Interim Deputy Superintendent, she has managed a number of major tasks and supervises top level staff in the District.   With the forced resignation of Dr. Pamela C. Brown the School District will enter the summer – a busy planning period with several critical staff vacancies.  Dr. Guinn has direct responsibility for the oversight of a number of these positions; e.g.:  the Chief of Curriculum, Assessment & Instruction; a Chief of School Leadership; the Director of Grants; the Chief of Strategic Alignment and an Assistant Superintendent of Leadership.  She has worked long hours, with other staff, to ensure that the work of these division heads continues to be addressed.  Dr. Guinn’s departure on June 30^th will come at a time when the current school year is winding down, summer school will begin and the planning for the next school year is solidified.  However, the fact of the matter is that these activities don’t begin to describe the complexity and the myriad tasks that have to be accomplished by staff during the next several months.

Let me be perfectly clear.  In no way am I implying that the District’s staff are not competent, committed and professional.  I commend them for working with Dr. Brown and Dr. Guinn, under a great deal of stress.  They have been stretched thin. The issue is that the District is being destabilized at a time it can least afford such instability.  The recommendation to retain Dr. Guinn for 90 days until September 30^th is an accountable response to serious concerns.  We need to maintain stability in our District while the Board works to appoint an interim Superintendent.   Dr. Guinn can contribute to this effort.  Retaining Dr. Guinn until September 30^th is the responsible action to take and IT’S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN.

The Buffalo News_ A Case of Biased and Stereotypical Journalism

Just when you think the Buffalo News can’t sink any lower in diminishing its credibility as a reputable, unbiased news organization, they print something that confirms for most of us that not only are they disreputable but that they are racist and sexist.  On Friday, May 9^th, the News’ editorial page contained an editorial cartoon as well as an article that confirms the foregoing statement.  A part of the cartoon featured me, highlighting my support for the Superintendent and playing a word game with my name by separating it into two words, NEVER and GOLD (standard), to punctuate their disdain and disrespect for me.  Now, I will not further address this part of the cartoon in this article, because as a public official I understand that criticism is a given, whether it is fair or unfair.

 

However, my concern and displeasure with this cartoon is in response to the second panel of the cartoon that features a child seated at a desk, holding a report card with a D+ grade and a caption that notes “our standards for Buffalo Public Schools”.  The caricature of the child is that of a stereotypical Black male, bordering on a third-world, big eyed, obviously perplexed and failing elementary student as underscored by the D+ grade on the report card.  The insinuation is that this child represents all the children in the so called “failing schools”.  Even though the ethnic breakdown of the School District’s population is 50% African American, 21.5% Caucasian, 17.4% Hispanic and 7.2% Asian/Pacific Islander this child is portrayed as representing all the “failing children” in the District.

This is insulting!  This is biased!  This is an unfair slap in the face to all of our children. I ask members of this City, not just African American residents, but everyone who is offended by this type of racial profiling by a newspaper that has for over a year created, distorted and slanted the news regarding the Buffalo Schools, to contact the Editor and share your displeasure with this type of character assassination disguised as reporting. 

It is only when people remain silent that this type of yellow journalism will continue unchallenged.

Buffalo's Board of Education Elections: It's Decision Time!

The Buffalo (New York) Board of Education election for three at-large members is fast approaching.  In fact, it's tomorrow, May 6^th!  And this election will determine the future of the public school system in Buffalo as we have known it.  If the Carl Paladino slate of Larry Quinn and Patti Pierce, with the tag-along of BernieTolbert are elected, we will see a dismantling of the school district through privatizing of the district with the creation of new charter schools; outsourcing of students to BOCES and parochial/private schools; a vacuum of leadership as the current Superintendent is discharged in favor of another supposed distinguished educator; and the creation of a Board that is focused on creating opportunities for development and other businesses rather than opportunities for student growth and learning.  And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Does race matter in this race???  The Buffalo News acknowledged that it does.  But in the same paragraph of its editorial endorsing three white candidates, two of whom have no experience or documented history of interest or contribution to public school education or an urban community, the News stated that race was an issue.  Furthermore, they knew that their support for these three would contribute to the racial divide on the Board and in the District.  Others have taken the News to task for this deliberate support of a racial/racist agenda.  Yet a major question still remains that should be asked of the News.  Were there no African American or Hispanic candidates out of the 8 running that they could support?  And if not, why not?  An examination of the credentials of these candidates would reveal that some of us possessed not only the experience but a record of contribution and achievement, not just in the minority communities we are members of but in the community at large.  

So, what message has the News sent not only to the citizens of Buffalo, New York State and the nation for that matter, but most importantly to our children?  It's the age old message that if you're a person of color you can never measure up to White people, regardless of your credentials!  The News is not alone in sending that message.  They are joined by the business community spearheaded by the Niagara Partnership; by the charter school advocates including Michelle Rhee’s Students First and Buffalo’s ReformEd; and by others who contribute to the polarization of this community. 

Will the African American and Latino communities accept this attempt to take over our school district by moneyed and racist proponents of school privatization and the dismissal of a competent minority majority?  Stay tuned, May 7^th!

The Campaign Enters the Next Phase

Today I submitted the signatures of nearly 5,000 registered voters who signed my petition as a candidate for the position of school board member on the Buffalo School Board.

Now that my petitions have been submitted, the next phase of the campaign to retain  my seat as an At-Large Member of the Buffalo School Board begins.  Once the Board of Elections certifies that I have the required number of signatures (1000 are needed), I'll secure a place on the ballot.  But even now, I am proceeding on to the next phase of the campaign and that is to let the community know that this is the most IMPORTANT election of this year!

The outcome of this election may change the structure of Public Education in the City of Buffalo as we know it.  I need your support if we are to prevent the systematic dismantling of the Buffalo Public Schools from within!  Help me to get out the vote for people who care about our children, who are prepared to work hard to improve the educational achievement of our children and who will not create chaos in the District.

I'll be talking about the issues in this space coming up, so stay tuned and learn about the critical issues
that we are facing in the District and what we can do to resolve them.

Why I'm Running for Buffalo Board of Education_Part 2

Please view this video, which will give you a better understanding of the reasons that I've decided to seek election to the Board of Education.  Please respond to this video with your thoughts and observations.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV960_tYNQM

Why I'm Running 2

The Candidate Speaks

Why I'm Running

I believe that every child has a right to an education that prepares them to reach their potential.

I was appointed to the Board of Education in January 2012.  In the last two years I have had the opportunity to become more knowledgeable about the extraordinarily complex challenges that the District needs to address to improve the educational outcomes of our children.  

As a sitting Board member I also have gained, from my experience, an understanding of the strategies that the Board should support through policy and advocacy that will strengthen our District’s capacity to provide a quality education to the children.  The problems that the District has are not new and did not materialize overnight, nor will they be eradicated quickly.  It will take sustained and consistent leadership to achieve sustained and consistent change.  

In the last two years, we have seen incremental progress in several areas that are indicators of positive change; an increase in graduation rates, decrease in suspensions and in absenteeism.   Are these numbers where they need to be? Absolutely not but they are moving in the right direction and I would like to ensure that we stay the course as I believe that continued change in the positive direction is possible and I believe that I can contribute to that change.