STATEMENT FROM BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT DR. TONJA M. WILLIAMS ON THE ALTERCATION NEAR NIAGRA SQUARE
BUFFALO, N.Y. (December 13, 2023) – “As the Superintendent of the Buffalo Public Schools, I have been vocal about the importance of safety. It is our highest priority. While I am very thankful that the student who suffered injuries yesterday is healing and the injuries that were sustained are not life-threatening, I am still very concerned. Our staff and partners, including the Peacemakers, have been diligent and proactive about working to mitigate any harm that staff or students experience while on any of our school campuses, buses, or even while at BPS sporting or artistic events. The issue of community safety for youth is becoming increasingly complex and will require collective efforts from all stakeholder groups. The Buffalo Public Schools cannot do it all alone. Our youth are experiencing extreme levels of mental health issues and trauma like we have never seen before. There is a growing need for the youth in our city to be engaged in appropriate, meaningful, safe, and well-supervised social, counseling, recreational, mentoring, and employment apprenticeship opportunities after school.”
###
Additional Information:
Preventive steps taken by the district:
- Worked with the BPD, NFTA, and the Peacemakers.
- Hired more school security officers and a Chief of School Security.
- Has limited transit passes.
- Conducted robocalls to parents.
- Created and promoted safety in video messages and letters sent to parents and in school PA announcements.
- Implemented a 3-Tier Bell schedule.
- Held meetings with charter school leaders to problem solve.
- Implemented sports spectator practices.