Page 4 - RR-12-4-25

4 • RIVERROCK T • Thursday, December 4, 2025 School closure committee
Buffalo briefs from page 1 robocall and posts on social media,

Carolyn Jemison, the East District Dr. Brown said. At the end of the
Council amends, ap- al facilities representative. “I am a case planner. meeting, she did ask all in atten-
dance to help spread the word about
• $6 million for the city I’ve been a case planner for almost
proves 2026 budget 10 years in the community. I go in other meetings and to encourage
parks
In a 7-1 vote, the Buffalo Com- • $7.3 million for infra- and out of the schools. I know people to check the closure commit-
mon Council on Tuesday approved structure and engineer- what’s going on in the schools. I do tee website often for the latest infor-
the amended 2026 Capital Budget ing have a passion for children,” she mation in order to stay informed.
to provide for $94 million in new • $3.5 million for DPW said. She also mentioned that a sur-
investments in city infrastructure, streets equipment “We do not know what schools vey, opened on Nov. 11 and closed
including Buffalo Public Schools • $5.2 million for Buffalo Fire De- Catholic Charities seek- are being closed as of today, so I on Nov. 30, elicited 1,739 respons-
facilities, roads, parks, community partment equipment and facili- ing donations, recipients don’t know where (the suggestion es, of which 39% of respondents
centers, libraries, and facilities and ties To help ensure all children that decisions had been made) came were BPS staff; 26% identified
equipment for the Police Depart- • $4.3 million for Buffalo Police across Western New York have from… We’ve been given data, themselves as parents of BPS stu-
ment, Fire Department, and Depart- Department vehicles, equip- something special to unwrap on we’re going by our data. We have a dents; 16% were community mem-
ment of Public Works. ment, and facility improvements Christmas morning, Catholic Char- person (on the committee) that has bers, 11% were students and 8%
The Capital Budget includes • $3.8 million for libraries and cul- ities of Buffalo is seeking donations a passion for special education. We were BPS alumni. Those who took
$55.6 million in financing for BPS tural and educational institutions and recipients for its annual Santa’s have a person that is on the school the survey identified their top prior-
projects that is almost entirely reim- The Common Council made a Workshop. As part of the WNY board, a couple of school board ities for criteria to determine which
bursable from New York State, as number of amendments to Scan- Holiday Toy Partnership, Catholic members. We have a passion for schools should be considered for
well as millions more in bond antic- lon’s proposed Capital Budget, in- Charities’ Christmas program our community. We’re not just closure as enrollment, followed by
ipation notes for city projects that cluding adding $120,000 for serves infants to teenagers. picking a school and saying ‘Here, the location of the school, academic
are reimbursable through state and renovations to Cathedral Park, add- Donations of toys, books, board we’re just going to close this standing and attendance.
federal funds. The City’s portion of ing $150,000 for design and plan- games, puzzles, and stocking school.’ We go back and forth. Marc Bruno, a faculty member
the Capital Budget includes about ning for improvements to Grant stuffers for children and teenagers, We’re going to go back and forth, at Riverside Academy, questions
$38.9 million in investments in City Street, and adding $1 million for the especially items for ages 10 and and the most important (priority) is the claims of transparency. He
projects, including: Asarese-Matters Community Cen- older are now being collected. our children and our community,” knows he’s more closely involved
• $8.3 million for city facilities, in- ter, as well as making reductions in Items most in need for boys include she said. and aware of the closure commit-
cluding community centers, other budget lines to ensure the hoodies/sweatshirts, socks, cologne Questions raised tee’s work but feels the process has
parks buildings, and recreation- amendments were budget neutral. sets, wallets and basketballs, foot- about notification been rushed.
“We are the taxpayers. It's not
balls, and soccer balls. For girls, A group of roughly a dozen stu- someone's private company. It's a
items needed include plush blan- dents, some who attend the Acade- public school system, you know,”
kets, lotion and body wash sets, nail my for Visual and Performing Arts he says. “If you want us to trust the
polish kits, and plush socks. All where the meeting took place, ar- process, then create a process that
items must be new and unwrapped, rived at the meeting about 30 min- can be trusted. Right now it looks
and may be dropped off at the fol- utes after it started. One student said like someone's trying to shove
lowing Catholic Charities sites and she attends this school but did not something down our throat.”
partnering locations: know about the meeting until it was If the district needs to make cuts
• Catholic Charities Montante mentioned by the Massachusetts to address a budget shortfall, Bruno
Administration Center – 741 Dela- Avenue Project. She and the other suggests it starts with central staff-
ware Ave., Buffalo, Monday students joined by Zoom, but they ing and reducing the number of em-
through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. found they were unable to make any ployees rather than closing
• Forno Napoli Authentic Pizza comments or provide any questions facilities.
& Italian Kitchen – 1280 Sweet because, at the time, the private chat “I hope to see the district start
Home Rd. #105, Amherst, Tuesday function was disabled. They rushed cutting central office staff, all these
through Sunday 4 to 8 p.m., and over to attend the meeting in per- teachers on assignments, these lease
Friday and Saturday noon to 9 p.m. son, she said, and asked why more buildings. There's other ways we
• Resurgence Brewing – 55 Chi- effort wasn’t made to inform stu- can start saving money, too,” he
cago St., Buffalo, during business dents about the meeting as it direct- said. The district, and the closure
hours ly impacts where some students will process, “doesn't have to keep trau-
• Urban Valet Dry Cleaners – attend school in the fall. matizing teachers, parents and stu-
620 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, dur- The district sent out emails and dents with school closures.”
ing business hours texts to parents, in addition to a
• Urban Valet Dry Cleaners –
4081 N. Buffalo St., Orchard Park,
during business hours
Any Catholic Charities of Buf-
falo office – call ahead to schedule
a drop-off time.
Santa’s Workshop will accept
sign-ups for people in need this
Christmas and who are not already
Catholic Charities clients now
through Wednesday, Dec. 10 at its
Downtown District Office at 525
Washington St., Buffalo from 9
a.m. – 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
To complete an application, photo
ID, proof of residence, proof of
income for past 30 days, ID for all
children for whom application is
made, and social security numbers
of all members of the household
will be needed at sign-up. Referrals
first come, first serve.