The Buffalo Board of Education approved turn-around models Wednesday night for six low-achieving schools. Futures Academy and the Charles Drew Science Magnet will both see half of their staffs replaced. The other four schools will operate under an Educational Partnership Organization. Known as an E-P-O, it is a restart model that -- if approved by the State -- would see outside organizations run the schools.
Research to Practice would take over the Buffalo Elementary School of Technology; Waterfront Elementary would be run by Canisius College; and both East and Lafayette High schools would be under the control of Johns Hopkins University.
Interim Buffalo Schools Superintendent Amber Dixon, who would not oversee the operations of those schools, said the model is still largely experimental.
"It's new to this state. We are going to be learning about this his as we go forward but remember in this model the EPO acts in lieu of the superintendents of schools," said Dixon.
A special meeting will be held Friday for a seventh school, the Bilingual Center School 33.
Board members did not have enough information to vote on that school's turnaround plan Wednesday.
"I'm greatly relieved to walk away with a plan for Lafayette High School tonight. This community believes in this school, I think we all believe in this school. Whatever the plan is to turn it around, I think we can count on the community to turn it around," said Dixon.