By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – A newly elected Buffalo Board of Education took the oath of office Thursday at City Hall. Board members also held a re-organization meeting: The first order of business was to select a new school board president.
Florence Johnson was unanimously elected as school board president.
Johnson takes over for former president Jack Coyle, who decided not to seek re-election.
Johnson said she is very excited to lead a new board. And children are at the top of her agenda.
"We have to advocate as a city for safety. The streets are not safe and we have kids going to summer school and enrichment courses," said Johnson. "We have an accelerated reading program and our child need safe passage because a fearful child can not learn."
Johnson said the district has been focused on reforms for student achievement, but now it is time for accountability.
"It is accountability on the part of the superintendent, the board, the faculty, our parents and students," said Johnson. "We are looking at how we have organized our service delivery to impact the classroom in a positive way."
Johnson said the national search for a new schools superintendent to replace Marion Canedo won't begin right away.
In fact, she said it may not begin for another six months.
Johnson said she believes the board will be able to provide "hope to parents, while building relationships and trust."