A plan to merge and move Buffalo's two-alternative schools drew heavy fire Tuesday night at a public meeting.The Buffalo Public School system operates high school and a seventh and eight grade programs.
The high school is School 44 on Broadway and elementary grades at School 40 on Clare Street.
The District proposal is to merge the two-programs in separate wings of School 4 at South Park and Louisiana.
Buffalo School board members and administrators were told the alternative school program is understaffed and under equipped.
Buffalo Teachers Federation president Phil Rumore spoke out at Tuesday's public hearing. He said a union and board committee studied the situation and was ignored.
"Mixing the young kids that are going to alternative with the older students is a problem. We also have safety issues. Where the older students are now there's already a precinct right there where they can feel safe. So, there are a lot of issues. We're absolutely opposed to bringing all these kids together. It's wrong. There was a committee that met for months and unanimously said no but the board just completely said who cares what the committee said," said Rumore.
Chief Financial Officer Barbara Smith said the plan will save millions of dollars because the two-current buildings are in rough shape and need major repairs while School 4 needs far less spending.
