By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – New York education officials say they will close 13 poor performing schools across the state. Two of those schools are in Buffalo. But the City School District says it is a "phase out", not a shut down.
The State Education Department released its latest Schools Under Registration Review List, known as SURR. The list calls for the closing of Burgard High School and Public School 97 Harvey Austin in Buffalo.
But the City's district executive director for accountability and initiatives says the schools will not be closing down. Amber Dixon says restructuring of both schools is under way to increase academic performance, phasing out old methods.
At School 97 the District has already extended school day, added reading and math coaches and a new principal. Burgard is also being transformed into a new place of learning.
The Education Department also added Buffalo's Poplar Academy to its SURR list. Dixon says the district was not surprised and will also establish interventions to correct poor performance at the school. But the Harriet Ross Tubman School in Buffalo was removed for making sufficient academic progress.
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