By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown is standing behind the schools superintendent's decision to allow six suspended Visual and Performing Arts students to return to school.
They were involved in a violent assault on a student in November. The issued surfaced again this week after a published report revealed that three of the students were apparently planning another attack on the same student. The report said the City school district advised the grandmother of the assaulted Performing Arts student that he should stay home for his own safety. Sources say three students were overheard talking about a new attack.
Controversy over the return of the students surfaced last month when Buffalo Teachers Federation Phil Rumore told the district the students pose a threat to teachers and students at Performing Arts.
But Mayor Brown says he believes Superintendent James Williams has done an "excellent job" in moving the school district forward by bringing in new policies and procedures.
The union put the district on notice. But the Mayor insists that the City will not tolerate violence in and around public schools and continues to provide police support when needed.
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