BUFFALO, N.Y. — Students and teachers at Riverside Academy demanded action from the leadership at Buffalo Public Schools Wednesday night during the Board of Education meeting with one goal in mind — feeling safe at school.
The community showed strength in numbers with dozens of its members attending the meeting wearing the school’s purple and gold colors hoping their message would be heard.
“I have had many conversations with my peers regarding the violence of Riverside,” said Riverside senior Tommy Clevo. “Many feel vulnerable and are anxious to attend school due to the fear that they may be injured.”
Their outcry follows a recent string of violent incidents over the past two weeks, including a stabbing on campus and two outbursts by students — one causing physical damage to the school and the other making threats to staff just on Monday.
It also comes in response to a special meeting on student safety called by the board of education last week in which the superintendent failed to mention Riverside or the incidents once.
“I fear the next time we come before you there are going to be a body or bodies in our building,” Riverside teacher Kelly Best said.
Numerous teachers and students spoke, each having three minutes to offer their comments. Many complained about the short time to speak of such serious issues.
Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams responded to the outrage from students and teachers at the end of Wednesday’s meeting. She said there is a meeting scheduled for Friday with various support staff and faculty to determine the next steps for the school.
“I know that there are very serious issues at Riverside High School,” Williams said. “I'm committed to working with Riverside to get you what you need to begin getting your school better and better. But we’ve got to work together.”
Many were still unsatisfied with some even walking out of the meeting during the superintendent’s response.
“I told you what's it going to take is someone getting stabbed or shot to have someone come in the building, and that's exactly what it takes because no one has lifted a finger for security at Riverside High School,” Riverside history teacher and union representative Marc Bruno said.
The board of education’s president also asked Riverside students to meet with the board’s student representative in an effort to come up with solutions from the students’ perspective. The students agreed to do so as a next step.