Buffalo United urges SUNY reauthorization, highlights enrollment and test-score gains

Buffalo United Charter School representatives asked the authorizer on Thursday to reauthorize the school's charter, citing rising student proficiency, steady enrollment and stable finances. Principal Vakhi and school leaders told Buffalo Public Schools staff and board members that Buffalo United serves 534 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, had a 77% student re-enrollment rate this year and recorded double-digit gains in test proficiency over the past two years.

The school’s leaders said academic proficiency rose 13 percentage points in English language arts and 16 percentage points in math over the past two years and that Buffalo United “exceeded the state average for academic growth in both ELA and math” in the most recent year. They also said the school returned a clean audit each year and had no debt, crediting a partnership with National Heritage Academies that they said helps keep funds focused in classrooms. "We are incredibly proud of the progress that our students and staff have made during this charter term," the presentation said.

Buffalo United staff and board members emphasized family engagement as a driver of student success. The presentation described a new parent-recognition program called MVP (Most Valuable Parent) that awards points to parents for activities such as attending meetings and turning in paperwork, with rewards including school-branded items and recognition at board meetings. Several current and former parents, teachers and school leaders spoke during public comment to describe the school as a "family" and urged the authorizer to approve renewal. Adrian, a Buffalo United board member, asked the authorizer directly to reauthorize the charter: "I would ask that SUNY, do, reauthorize, the charter renewal term for Buffalo United."

Board members used the community hearing to ask for additional, clarifying data. Board member Everhart asked, "Just curious, what is your suspension rate? Or do you suspend?" School leaders said they suspend students but that behavior incidents have dropped significantly over three years; they described restorative circles, PBIS (positive behavioral interventions and supports), classroom management improvements and targeted behavior plans. The school agreed to provide suspension data and the standard information packet requested by the authorizer. Principal Vakhi confirmed she would send the requested suspension measures to Brad (the authorizer’s director) for inclusion in the renewal package.

Special-education and staffing questions were raised. The school said it operates a 12:1:1 classroom and provides consultant-teaching, resource-room services and related services (OT, PT, speech). School leaders reported 75% teacher retention last year. Board members pressed on how the school recruits more diverse teachers; school leaders described partnerships with local colleges including Canisius College, University at Buffalo and Buffalo State to bring practicum and student teachers into classrooms.

No formal vote or action on charter renewal occurred during the public hearing; the authorizer staff said they would package the presentation and community comments and forward them to the decision-making office. The transcript records the authorizer host reminding speakers: "BPS, we do not renew or deny your charter. We're just the party host. So what I would suggest you do is you can certainly follow this meeting up with strongly written letters or emails to your authorizer."

The hearing included multiple community speakers who described personal experiences with Buffalo United’s culture and academic supports; several staff members and deans described long tenures at the school and attributed academic gains to consistent instruction, social-emotional supports and teacher coaching. School leaders also noted the school's 22-year history in the community and said many current students are children of former students. The presentation closed with a request that the authorizer consider renewal and a reminder from authorizer staff that requested documents and follow-ups would be compiled and sent on to the authorizer.

Direction and next steps recorded during the hearing: the school will provide the authorizer with suspension measures and the standard renewal packet; authorizer staff (Brad) will package that data and include it with the school’s renewal materials. There was no formal board decision recorded in the hearing transcript.

Speakers quoted in this article are drawn from the hearing record and identified when first referenced by the name and role used in the transcript. All other statements in this article are drawn from the presentation and public comments recorded at the hearing.