By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – The protest Wednesday in front of Saint Mary's School for the Deaf was not loud. But angry students, parents, alums and teachers are hoping the school board heard their message loud and clear.
About two dozen people stood in the cold rain carrying signs demanding change. They say the board and the administration have turned a deaf ear to their concerns and complaints. Problems have escalated over the last few years since the hiring of Superintendent William Johnson.
But students and teachers say the final straw came a few weeks ago. Popular math teacher, Nettie Brewer, was denied tenure and let go, with no explanation. Brewer was a proficient sign language teacher upon whom students say they depended.
Alex Shepard is a junior at St. Mary's. He says the school should care about their needs.
"We may be deaf, but we're capable of anything. We're not retarded...We have exactly the same rights as anybody," said Shepard.
But the rights for students and the rest of the public are extremely limited at St. Mary's. Even though the school receives millions of dollars in public funding every year, it is allowed by law to operate as a private school. And that means it is closed to public scrutiny and input. William Stegler has taught speech at the school for 29 years. He said the secrecy in recent years is unlike anything he has ever witnessed in the school.
And the silence is spreading.
Teachers we spoke to were all reluctant to give specifics of their complaints. Cathy Kibler is a teacher who retired two years ago. She understands why people are afraid to say too much.
"The atmosphere, in my opinion, is one of fear, of harassment, of retaliation, reprisals," said Kibler. " I know I as a staff member didn't feel comfortable coming forward with complaints and difficulties because of that atmostphere. And I think it is just filtering down, from the top down."
Students and teachers said they hope public involvement will force changes at the school. But there are also legal efforts. According to Stegler, there are two lawsuits against the school administration already filed, charging a variety of human rights violations, and others suits are pending.
School officials refused to allow WBFO into the school where a board meeting was about to begin. They also refused any comment.
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