March 2, 2007

MEMO TO: James A. Williams, Superintendent
Members, Board of Education

FROM: Philip Rumore, President, BTF

RE: Burgard High School and Violence in School

Enclosed, please find a copy of the letter sent to you on January 17, 2007 in which we raise concerns relating to violence – particularly at Grover and Burgard.

We raised serious concerns relating to violent and disruptive students being returned to Burgard. In that letter we asked for “your prompt attention in this serious matter” (emphasis added). What was done?

Please note, the incidents cited:

• Four students returned after being suspended for “a racially motivated fight that escalated into multiple fights on school grounds” (emphasis added). Yet, these students were to be returned to Burgard on or about January 16, 2007.
• The others that we know of that were returned to Burgard were suspended for the possession of a knife, “teaming up” with a student to attack a third student.

Is there any surprise that sending students, who were involved in a racially motivated fight on December 1st, back to Burgard on approximately January 16th gave rise to the racially motivated fights at Burgard on February 28th and March 1st?

While we don’t know if any of these same students were involved in the incidents on Wednesday and Thursday, we can be sure that what happened on these days was related to the fight on December 1.

We brought this to your attention, yet nothing was obviously done to prevent the December 1 fight from re-occurring. Among the injuries suffered by one of our students was apparently a broken nose or jaw (among other injuries).

In addition, we were just informed that on or about February 23rd, a student at Grover High School who did not stand at a memorial service held in the auditorium for one of the students was severely beaten requiring 15 – 25 stitches. Please advise us if this is indeed correct.

You apparently disregard what we and Buffalo teachers in the schools are reporting, whether in relation to violence in our schools or the programs you are implementing.

• We warned you of the violent and disruptive students being returned to the same schools.
  
• We strongly advised against having students referred to School 44 remain there until they graduate.
  
  • Therefore, the school will obviously fill up.
    
  • There is also less motivation to work to return to another school.
    
• We disagreed with the Result Tech program that you spent millions on and which now finds you sending hundreds of thousands of dollars to UB so that one of their successful programs can be initiated at School #44.
  
• You have condoned acts of violence by your recent actions over the teachers continued objections.

Yes, you can continue to ignore us and attack us but at what cost to our students. You really don’t understand the anger and hostility that exists, and that is truly sad.