New superintendent has support for agenda from board, Albany
Is Cash the answer for school reform?
A reform-centric state education commissioner holds unprecedented power in Albany.
The majority bloc on the Buffalo School Board shares the same ideas for school turnarounds.
And now, a man with a national reputation as a school reformer is running the Buffalo Public Schools, at the recommendation of the commissioner.
Elections typically drive the agenda for the Buffalo Public Schools, and the board majorities that come and go are based on the current politics of the city.
But as the final piece of the school leadership puzzle falls into place, some believe the appointment of Kriner Cash as Buffalo school superintendent on Wednesday – coupled with a new receivership law – ensures a reform agenda for years to come, regardless of what happens in the next board election.
“The reform agenda could have been dead in May,” board member Larry Quinn said of the next election, which could easily upset the narrow majority on the board. “It he turns out to be good, we’ll have a reform agenda for years.”
Even if the election in May flips the majority, or there is any effort to remove Cash from the job, many insiders speculate that Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia could then use her power to appoint him – or another reform-minded educator – to take over the Buffalo schools as an outside receiver.
As it stands now, nearly half of the Buffalo schools are in receivership, and many more could follow. And Cash, who oversaw the dismantling of the Memphis school system and prepared it for merging with the surrounding county, pointed out after his appointment Tuesday that the Buffalo district is “one step away” from falling into receivership.
“If it doesn’t work out with him, we still have the added benefit of an independent receiver,” said Samuel L. Radford, president of the District Parent Coordinating Council, who supports many pieces of the reform agenda.
Despite Cash’s reputation, those generally opposed to what is called the school reform movement – marked by school closures, accountability, charter schools and higher standards for teachers – have been strangely quiet in the weeks leading up to his appointment.
Even Buffalo Teachers Federation President Philip Rumore said he looks forward to working with Cash, and is seemingly dismissive of his background.
“Everyone has their stories,” Rumore said of Cash.
Few questions have been raised about his background, or the fact that he comes as the hand-picked choice of the commissioner.
Rather, those on both sides express cautious optimism based largely on the fact that Cash made an effort to meet with a variety of stakeholder groups before taking the job.
“We went in skeptical, defensive because of the way he was recommended by the commissioner,” said Larry Scott, a co-chairman of the Buffalo Parent-Teacher Organization, members of which have been critical of both the state Education Department and the reform agenda pushed by the board majority. “But I felt like at the meeting we were able to ask some questions and tell him what we are about, and hear what he’s all about. I felt like there was a mutual respect there.”
While past Buffalo superintendents have claimed the title of reformer, Cash may be the first to actually run in the same circles as some of the biggest names in the national reform movement.
He was one of a handful of urban superintendents to receive a multimillion-dollar grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to come up with a teacher evaluation system. He New superintendent has support for agenda from board, Albany - City & Region - The Buffalo News: