BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A power shift could take place next week when voters head to the polls to fill six seats on the Buffalo Public Schools board.
"I think the first thing that I'd want them to have is the understanding that while we have school board elections, the everyday work of the schools goes on regardless of who's in that Board of Education," said Amber Dixon.
Dixon served as interim superintendent 2011 to 2012 following the tumultuous tenure of Dr. James Williams. Dixon says if she learned one thing, it's that everything the board does directly impacts the students.
"They need to believe that we adults in this community have their best interest at heart and that all of us are on the same page rooting for them, and the headlines and the lead stories don't show that," Dixon said.
"I think the dysfunction is the adult arguments on the board that need to be set aside and the conversation needs to be: How are the children doing? What do the teachers need to do it better? And how can we make it a more effective education for the young people in this city?"
"I frankly don't think it's a fair assessment at all," said Karl Kristoff, who worked for 30 years as special council to the Board of Education. He thinks "dysfunction" may be overused when describing the recent history of the board.
"There may be disputes with respect to the merits of one action versus another action depending on one's point of view, but I think it's unfair to say that the board is 'dysfunctional' because I think the board does act," said Kristoff.
Kristoff does agree with Dixon that ultimately, the board should always act in the best interest of the students. He also thinks under new Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash things are finally getting back on track.
"Dr. Cash has only been in the superintendent's chair about nine months not, but it seems to me from an outside perspective that he is beginning slowly but surely and very thoughtfully to put his program into place," said Kristoff.