Nevergold on Buffalo News: “an egregious display of bias and ignorance… failure of journalistic integrity”

On Monday, the State finally released the audited graduation statistics for the 2013 school year. Buffalo’s 8 percentage point improvement, from 48% to over 56%, was the most significant increase among the “Big 5” school districts in the state.

The increase came after attendance officers were hired to address widespread truancy issues (attendance officers hadn’t worked for the district for 6 years), and Say Yes to Education announced that the foundation would pay undergraduate tuition for BPS graduates.

Supporters of former Superintendent Pamela Brown argue that this very significant increase in the graduation rate is to her credit, and proves that she was able to quickly turn the massive district around in short order.

While this data has been available for sometime, the state released the audited graduation figures just this week. For the last year, board member Carl Paladino has refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of that graduation number, because he did not trust the Superintendent and the former Board majority. He said so loudly in the local media, and did much to undermine Brown’s administration.

Understandably, outgoing President of the School Board, Dr. Barbara Nevergold, sees the audited data as proof of the progress made under Brown and her coalition of board members.

Dr. Pamela Brown with Dr. Barbara Nevergold

Dr. Nevergold writes:

Today, the State Education Department finally released the “official” data on the graduation rates for the Buffalo Pubic Schools. Surprise, Surprise! The 56% graduation rate projected by Dr. Pamela Brown is right on.
In addition, Buffalo… posted the greatest percentage increase, almost 9 percentage points, in the graduation rate among all the Big 5 School Districts across the State.
In an egregious display of bias and ignorance, some Board members buoyed by the failure of journalistic integrity by the Buffalo News all but called Dr. Brown dishonest for claiming this achievement; the result of her leadership and the hard work and commitment of the Buffalo Schools’ staff, at all levels, parents, diverse stakeholders and most certainly the students.
Thank you Dr. Brown, for your commitment to our students and sharing your talents and vision with us for the last two years. We wish you God speed and know that another District will benefit from our loss.
Thank you Dr. Brown, for your commitment to our students and sharing your talents and vision with us for the last two years. We wish you God speed and know that another District will benefit from our loss.

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1 Comment

  1. Another Vindication That Racial Politics And Carl Paladino And His Kkk Politics Are Lies and Has Covered The Eyes Of The General Public In A Media-Whitewash;
    Congratulations Dr. Pamela Brown and Dr. Barbara Nevergold -Two True Professionals – In The Education Field -Not Some Slumlord Like Quinn And Carl Paladino, who lack even the basic requirements for sitting on the board :

    Reply

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