Unfortunately the Board did not pursue displinary action against Barton. She now is a freelance principal who answers to no one. I scratch my head when Williams states that the noble goal is to provide the best education possible. We need noble leaders and unfortunately Barton is not. The students and staff do not have a choice. The board will not be there for the children on a daily basis at McKinley. They have abandoned the school by leaving it with tainted leadership.

Hernandez should resign. He made an internal investigation a public circus and used his seat on the school board to bully a principal who was doing her job.

Hernandez was stripped of his leadership role on the board as punishment. The message to future board members is simple. Be professional, respect everyone's rights in an investigation, be objective, and shut up until all the facts are known.

Keep in mind that what really happened was a politician used his position to try to destroy the career of a civil servant. Buffalo patronage politics at its worst.

Barton was correct to fight for her job, that was what was at stake. Now it is Hernandez's turn.

The message to Barton is simple, be professional, respect everyone's rights in an investigation, be objective and do not abuse your position. Barton needs to realize that she is an employee and does answer to the Board of Education - elected by the public. If Barton did not use the suspension process as an unending punishment, the board would never have been involved. Abuse of power and not the first time.

What's more incongruous than Sweaty Stef pontificating on behalf of JAWS about noble goals ? Can either of them cite one noble deed from any of their past 10 years of employment ? Barton's refusal to answer to her employer's investigation is insubordination nothing less. But somehow she goes undisciplined, unpunished and empowered. That is ignoble and it is also disgraceful Stefan and James. Hernandez should be knighted for his willingness to stand in against Williams and his posse of sisters plus Chris. I wouldn't want the stress of trying to talk sanely to the crazies he comes into contact with as often as he does. Thanks to Buck, Geoff and Artvoice for not sitting by with their hands folded while this carpetbagger and his henchmen run the city's schools into the ground.

The people who post on AV are som biased. When did McCarthyism become admirable? Hernandez is just using his political position to launch a purge. Most of it was racially motivated by his racial politics. That's why the attacks are always targeted on black teachers, administrators, etc....

Where is the outrage about raping students at Wilson HS? Where is the outrage about the racial politics of Hernandez? Why are all the attacks on African Americans seeded with racial code words and fake ebonics?

The answer is clear, you are a bunch of RACISTS. AV sets the tone for you low lifes to spew racist garbage. Obviously you and AV have an agenda. You endlessly attack blacks in the city, because you want to start a race war. You create a public space for racist rants, and you ignore the underlying causes of Buffalo's problems (i.e. ignorance and parochialism).

You all need to grow up and become responsible. I have no faith in your ability to stop being racists, but you should keep your racist poison lock upin your sick minds. Spare the next generation of your evil hateful speech.

we dont live in wilson. if you'll notice the coaches and students have been taken to task. criminal charges have been filed and someone will pay with their careers and pocketbooks. where as barton, daye, williams the good sisters on the board have escaped unscathed. the white parents and teachers need to get rid of these slimey criminals and bring the district back to the days of eugene reville. we were a model for the nation.
ps the word "racist" means nothing. we are sooooo tired of it.

I find it hard to believe there's anything racially-motivated in this ongoing feud between basically Barton and Hernandez (with everyone else caught up in the middle) considering both parties are part of a non-majority. While Barton's despair over her inability to do her job is understandable, she is, if I may be so blunt, a drama queen, thinking the entire world is out to get her. She should calm down and start addressing things in a logical manner otherwise she's going to lose a lot more than just her temper.

Know it all is a typical RACIST. He thinks he is cute with his little fake ebonics talk and his call for whites to take the schools over. Thanks for reminding us how RACIST Buffalo is.

Know it all should move his/her kids to Wilson HS. It really must irk Know it all to see the rapist at Wilson are whites. Can't blame that one on black people, can you.

Steve needs to consider one thing, Hernandez is playing the race card in a big way. He is playing on racism in the community to fuel his attacks on blacks. Hernandez is part of a fringe group in the Hispanic community that tries to make ground in the Hispanic community by undercutting blacks and generating racial warfare. It is a sad situation and he does not represent the majority of Hispanics, whites,or blacks who want to work together to solve problems in the schools and city. Hernandez is a dirtbag and should be kicked off the school board. Buffalo will never move forward until we confront racism in all its forms.

Barton has bullied teachers, nevermind kids and has also been notorious for stealing. What a role model. Good for Ralph Hernandez who is sick and tired of this nonsense. BRAVO! He should get a prize. They stripped him of his position in a coup to secure their lousy agenda, like ResulTech, anyone remember that $7 Million dollar scam? They also stripped Ralph right before Williams' "evaluation" was conducted, please spare us the racist jargon excuse filled babble from someone who knows nothing. Barton should be apologizing instead of stirring up her own hornet's nest of lies all the while hiding behind her pale skin.

Racial warfare? Not unlike getting all the black votes on the board behind the ResulTech scam. Williams, Oladele, Barton, all fit the description of racist if you ask anyone who is not.

RACIST. white children and teachers are subjected to racism everyday. black kids taught not to listen to anything white teachers say. not to respect white teachers or white students. a board loaded with sisters that are drinking williams' kool aid. they love eating at the chop house. do you think he ever invites them to his lily white condo? doubt that. maybe someone could get "dr" williams records opened and find out if he really is a "doctor."
isn't it ironic you mention ebonics? odadele was part of that scam in oakland. her chesire cat grin is dispicable.

Izu fo reaw ? Comma roun heah tawkin alla dat mess bout a fine ass sistah like Mz. Barton-Boling-Ball ? And callin at fineass playa James 24-7 All Daye a cereal Philadelphiaer, he from Souf Caylina foo...

It is weird. It's so fake. Her library in her office has only black authors on her bookshelves. I am not saying white is right, but 50 50 wouldn't be bad. For God's sake, we all are here, we are going to elect the first "black" president, it is time to stop the absolute nonsense crap. Ebonics, what a joke, how far did that set back modern education? You can't even measure it anymore, it's gone. Lowering standards, accepting bullshit behaviors, tolerating thug life, what a shame all the way around. How about setting standards higher? Higher standards of behavior? Setting examples for the young black kids. How about that?

These are RUDE, arrogant self-proclaimed elitists. Please, don't anyone get in a fluff, when Williams & Co. moves on, bags packed with money in a couple years, maybe they will bring Barton along on the Gypsy Train to the next stupid city to loot. It's a bigger agenda, they aren't here to discipline idiot principals, they are here to privatize and profit. Period. Hernandez sees the writing on the wall, so they stick it to him. Good thing he's there.

Has anyone seen my wife?

John,

I don’t know Barton personally, although you seem to. It is creepy that you have done an inventory of her personal library. I honestly couldn’t tell you the racial breakdown of all the books I read. I read for ideas and content, not the race of the authors (although I a fairly certain it is a diverse group).

My point about the fake ebonics was that some of the bloggers try to write their attacks of blacks using a sorry attempt at their view of ebonics. It is the modern version of whites putting black cork on their faces and putting on a minstrel show. It is very sad, and should be called for what it is, RACISM.

As far as, “setting standards higher? Higher standards of behavior?” is concerned. That is what Barton did. This all started because she suspended a kid for ditching school, violating cell phone rules, and slandering and attacking a teacher. Hernandez decided to try to rake Barton over the coals for this. Regardless of what people think of Barton, she was 100% right on this one.

100% right? You are in outer space. She bullied, threatened, tried to get the girl transferred to School 44, the alternative school, she pulled strings at school 26 to nail the kid for the max. She booted coach stiles out of spite, she granted an interview to The Challenger propaganda racist filled nonsense on school time, she took pop money, she took horticulture money, she made people transfer, she refused to cooperate in an investigation, she organized a picket against WIlliams when he first hit town, she slandered him in memos, she is rude to outside professionals in that building, she grants exclusive interviews for Ch 2 news on school time, she lied to the sec'y at the BOE taking Jayonna's name off the list and is calling everyone in town a racist. For god's sake, she is not setting any standard except one that is in the toilet, that's where her reputation is, that's where her credibility is and that's where her career is. Bad Karma. She has bent the rules her whole career, taken advantage of people and the system and has given the city the finger. Please, spare us with the no evidence argument, they also said one man shot Kennedy and the bullet was magic.

The direction of the comments has gone away from the point. Just as Barton did. She became too engrossed in herself to work as a professional. Forget racism. Jayvonna is black. So is Barton. Barton needs to explify professionalism and integrity.

Yes Mind, as you have pointed out you don't know Barton personally. So why don't you step back, close your own racist mouth for one second and open your rusted shut mind so a person who has experienced this so called professional educator on a personal level can teach you something. Barton is 100 % wrong and so are you as you will remain until you get over trying to find a racist in every damned woodpile you come across. It's not racist when a black person screws over another black person and uses other blacks to back her up while covering for another black teacher who has a history of screwing anyone, white , black or basically mammal, while a white coach also gets fired as a favor to this particular fine black teacher of computers who knows nothing about them and has to have a special ed. teacher come in and help show him why he's on the payroll. Barton fired Coach Stiles as a favor to James Daye the playa who screwed a student when he taught in Carolina and Barton looked out for his slimy self, tell us all again how right she is. It's not about race you're wrong as Barton is arrogant, it's about power, namely hers. And when some people black white or Korean get power they go f'ing crazy as Barton did. Do you know where Mr. Barton (aka "Pardon Me Bob" who tried to get Clinton to pardon his felony conviction) is by the way or anything about that modern marriage ? It's pretty common knowledge when you know something but apparently you're out of that loop too, the knowing something loop that is. Wait don't tell me it was a racist judge who convicted Mr. Barton he was innocent and framed by white folks. Get real.

Former Marine Sergeant and Viet Nam Purple Heart Recipient Ralph Hernandez probably thought he had seen it all when his patrol was ambushed by the Viet Cong and the two soldiers directly in front of him were killed and he was blown down a hill and into a river by the force of the explosion (spending a year and a half in the hospital). I wonder if he doesn't now look back with fondness at those more peaceful times when the enemy was in front of you and not stabbing you in the back!

WNY, you just proved my point. Ahoo Boy did too. The fact that the blacks and hispanics (and whites too) as a whole want to and are trying to work together to provide kids with the best education around proves that Barton's and Hernandez's motivations seem more personal than racial. While I hate to take sides in this war (particularly since it's so interesting to the philanthropist part of me seeing two minorities accusing the other of racism), right now the odds seem to be in Hernandez's favor particularly since the media seems to be reporting more on Barton's anger than Hernandez's attempt to unite hispanics against the blacks.

On a side note about the Resultech thing. I work for the State Education Dept. and know personally one of the guys who's investigating the Resultech fiasco and I can say with absolute certain that we wish the whole darn thing would just be put to bed already! Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

Steve,

Your thoughts are welcome and if you do work for SED I hope putting this thing to bed involves some consequences for the outrageous flim flam this company has perpetrated on Buffalo kids, parents and taxpayers not to mention the kickbakcs, inside trading and other nefarious b.s. that surround this sad excuse for an outsourcing. How this story has drifted to the back pages is s real tribute to the success of Williams spin cycle.

Pedro, calling it outsourcing would be an insult to other outsourcing companies. I don't want to make any promises because I'm afraid that I (we) wouldn't be able to keep them. But we are doing our best to resolve the matter.

I didn't mean to insult legitimate work being sensibly outsourced, got ya on that. It was meant as a backhand to this administration who seem to think they are Bush appointees bringing in their friends from Blackwater, Halliburton etc with no bid million dollar gigs for work that is the wrong curriculum at #44 ( didya love that one ? the wrong science software completely ...) and held to no account whatsoever by any outside sources, except of course, where you come in.

It is amazing that these attacks on Barton persist with no evidence. According to a couple bloggers she steals regularly from the BPS. Okay, go file a police report with the BPD. They are great at solving crimes. If they use their investigative powers like usual, they will plant evidence and send Barton to jail guilty or not. Hurry though, Clark won't be in office for long to cover up the cops work.

I guess you will be pressing the criminal charges against Barton. In the eyes of these bloggers, the crime is simple to prove, Barton is guilty of being black.

I also see that Hernandez is a saint, not because of his knoble work on the school board, but because he was a war hero. Where have we heard that one lately? Oh yes, the mean old guy running for President throws that one out whenever he is backed into a corner. So, Hernandez is a war hero. I guess that gives him a license to kill or at least fuel a race war in Buffalo.

...and O.J. didn't wasn't guilty either.

We all know if Barton was white, none of this would be going on. It is a lynching pure and simple. Go back into your cave RACIST.

of course none of this would be going on, if barton was white she'd be long gone. lynching/racist these words when used in this argument have no value. more buzz words.
as for hernandez i never knew of his heroism. bravo to him.

Let's not forget if Barton was white, she would have been canned a long time ago. Like Trotter, Human Resource Director who they say they fired, but she had already quit, to pin the blame on the token white woman. If She was black she would still be working for BPS, no questions asked. WNY is such an idiot, it's amusing to check the blogs for the latest insanity. It's a wonder someone can make it day to day with that level of intelligence. So sad.

Hey Steve, if you work for the State, and want the ResulTech thing "put to bed", then why don't you do something about the looting. Where is the $7 Million? Why aren't we able to contact the company? Why did the Control Board pull an "oops" and slide it through? SOunds like a bunch of crap. If you really do work for the State, please get to work.

Oh, Mindless -- if Barton was white she'd still be an assistant principal having to kick ass and take names in some hellhole like Lafayette where her flunkie just got promoted as Principal. If Barton was white she'd have never had access to the kind of power she's accessed as a black woman with a powerful racist sorority in this city. If she was white she'd have never got out of the interview on her marginal skills. What color is Mark Frazier from city hall who wrote the report that exonerated Barton anyway ? Your game gets weaker by the pitch you need to hit the showers yo.

If Barton were white she would never be criticized by you bloggers.

Hernandez is a Vietnam war hero, so he is never wrong. What does getting shot in Nam have to do with the price of tea in China? You can do better than that.


Here's a tribute to all you fake ebonics users out there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp-is6S_b_g

Hey WNY Mindless -- your gripe against the cops is racist too, sorry. Ever hear a cop on tv complain that 50 people were standing on at corner when Dre took 3 rounds to his dome but nobody saw a thing ? I've heard it lots of times. You want cops to slap folks around so they'll talk or smack their own heads on a brick wall till their ears fall off just so people like you can scream racism and if this was Kenmore it would get solved. Yeah or it wouldn't even happen because some people are willing to control and raise the kids they bring into the world instead of dumping them on Grandma, and making more or bringing them to parties where they can eat crack then dumping them on grandma while they go to jail. Truth hurts mindless you're as big a racist as anyone you're pointing your manicured fingernails at and Barton is a criminal. a thief, a bully and an opportunist who takes advantage of being black because she knows nobody will dare cross her for fear of people like you and her screaming Racism ! as you do every time your tricks blow up in your faces.

Knoble ? is that your own word WNY Mind ? wow, you should sue your teachers. And it's funny you see Hernandez as a killer or a race war instigator not your dear Mrs. Barton. I am beginning to think you DO know Barton personally. If she'd have done her job the right way Mr. Hernandez wouldn't have anything to say to her or about her. When you were in school did you and your friends jump white kids then tell adults afterward She called me a N----- ? It's an old trick of turning the tables on your victims which is kid of how you proceed in your arguments, especially effective in situations where you would have no possible motive or than bullying to attack someone, plus the race baiting is always a good way to get a fire going when nothing else works. Keep trying though...

If barton were white none of this would have happened.

Thanks for confirming that Art Voice is really Aryan Voice.

The last three posts are so blatently racist in content that I can now report Art Voice to the Southern Poverty Law Center as a blog to monitor.

It is obvious that Barton has a good argument to investigate Buffalo as a incubator of hate crimes.

To Ahoo Boy, Pedro and Know it all/Racist, I hope you enjoy the afterlife. Remember to dress for warm weather, very warm weather.

When you're getting your ass kicked in the ground war call in the your Baptist air power huh mindless ? Why don't you report AV to the Challenger too I hear they are interested in Barton's defense fund. If your heaven is full of you I'll take my chances on reincarnation I hear it's a very Knoble concept.

Dr. Williams promised, no---he guaranteed, full cooperation in the investigation into Ms. Barton's actions at McKinley.

There were 29 people the investigator was scheduled to interview. Out of that group, 28 complied. The lone holdout... Little Miss Crystal.

That alone says she has a problem dealing with the gravity of her situation, and it tells us she needs to get the boot.

Ralph Hernandez is to be commended and thanked for standing for the people who elected him, and standing for the rights of children and teachers who want a good educational experience without the heavy-handed machinations of some maladjusted administrators.

Barton doesn't work for herself, and she doesn't work for the principals' nuion. She works for US, the TAXPAYERS! Since she has refused to comply with the inquiry, this is cause for her to be fired from her position. I, as one of her millions of bosses, decree that she is dismissed from her post as of this very nano-second.

wow, wny mindless is really slipping into madness before our very blog. scary. whacko. nuts. paranoid nutjob. embody the reason nothing will ever move forward in modern times, look at WNY idiot mindless.

Williams "reassures" of alot of things....spare us. Let's all eat some cake.

I can reassure, guarantee one thing, there will be money missing, millions, excuses made, blame thrown around and Barton will work until she decides to retire, which she should do now, then she will probably sue the district for pain and suffering. SHe is already hobbling around on a cane. What a joke.

afterlife? hilarious. another thing i love is how mr. williams claims to visit a different church each week. as he is flying first class to maryland every weekend, on our dime, it must be difficult. has he ever set foot in a catholic church, synagogue, temple, mosque, etc.? these people send their kids to bps too. oh yeah, unless he's got a mail order preacher singing his praises, he's not interested.

Lloyd A. Marshal has some serious game, well said. I didn't know Stonewall was leaning on a cane, does she have a neckbrace too ? Does the cane have Cellino and Barnes decals all over it ? This just keeps getting better if only thousands of kids weren't getting screwed out of a fair shake and a decent education it would be really funny. Williams visits churches who have free food after services you can bet on it.

I heard he had a meeting with some folks from the Buffalo Rotary. Lunch orders were taken for all. When the food arrived Williams wasn't happy with his choice, so he took the lunch one of the Rotarisns ordered. True story.

Pedro says: "I didn't know Stonewall was leaning on a cane, does she have a neckbrace too ? Does the cane have Cellino and Barnes decals all over it ?"

Yeah, I've seen her with a cane at times on the TV news. What's her game this time?

And speaking of TV news... that Steffi Michajliw, who was once a respected TV reporter, just parrots out the bilge of Dr. Williams who says that we need to "focus on the upcoming school year and stop dwelling on issues of the past."

As an old saying goes, "The past is prologue to the future." What's in the past has consequences for the present and future.

If Steffi had any critical elements in him à la his reporter days, he would've advised Dr. Williams that full disclosure and full accountability were the only options; that to do otherwise would be suicide.

Then again, he left his critical thinking skills at the door the moment he took the job at BPS.

Does the term "paid prostitute" come to mind about Steffi M.?

I am surprised you all have time to blog on the Aryan Voice website. Don't you need to be helping Jack Davis prepare for his civil war against immigrants from Mexico?

I suggest you go back and review your comments. If you remove all the racist material, then nothing will be left.

We al get it, you hate black people. So, now you can go back to your trailers and make crosseyed babies with your cousins.

Give it a rest WNYMind. YOU should go back and review YOUR comments. You were the FIRST person to bring up racism back on Aug. 21. Previous posts discussed Barton's abuse of power and Williams' lack of leadership.

You tried to incite these folks by using highly charged and offensive language ("Aryan?" My Jewish friends would be appalled. "Lynching" another racially charged word).

Stop trying to distract from the topic at hand(The incident in Wilson has nothing in common with this). You fail to win any points here....

I don't expect to win any points among the haters who post on this site. Unfortunately, Buffalo is plauged by closed minded racist views like the ones that appear above.

The kids suffer as a result, and grow up to be ignorant like the bloggers. Not one person on this topic has offered a real solution to the BPS problems. Granted, they are the result of decades of neglect and a system that was designed to keep kids in a holding pattern until they were old enough to work in a factory. Well, the factory jobs are gone and decades of social promotion with it. Now we have a school system that is set up, not to educate people. Not to prepare them for futures.

Of course, the people who blog here don't get it. They are obviously the product of the social promotion system of days past. All they believe is that BPS was great until black students, teachers, and administrators showed up. They need to look at how bad he BPS has been for decades. Set up originally not to educate people, just to lock them into manual labor jobs in steel, auto, and other industries. Those days are over.

So, keep focusing your anger at minorities. All it will do is keep Buffalo in the toilet. But remember one thing, no matter how poorly kids do in the BPS system today, the level of rigor is 100 times higher now than it was 15-20 years ago. The kids today are asked to do more than the kids of the past, and they don't get socially promoted anymore. Todays kids learn more in the schools, even the failing schools. And, the most average kid today is smarter than any of the bloggers who spew bigoted trash on the Aryan Voice blog.

One more thing, no self respecting Jew would be appauled by someone labeling a racist as I have done in my posts. History has taught us that sitting in silence and allowing racism to go unchallenged is a sure fire way to legitimize it. So, yes, I believe this blog is racist, and yes, Aryan Voice allows it to proliferate by not editorializing on the bias and evil of some of the bloggers here.

I have not problem with the bloggers being able to blog. The alternative is to censor them, as I have been on several occasions on the Buffalo News blog for posting my views. I give some credit to Aryan Voice for allowing others to post. But, it is irresponsible for Aryan Voice to sit on the fence and pretend that racist comments do not flood this blog. Aryan Voice should at least take a position on presenting a balanced critique of leaders in the community regardless of race. Instead, the editors of Aryan Voice disproportionately focus their critiques on minorities in power and let their favorite sons and daughters off the hook over and over again.

So, all I ask of the other bloggers is to reflect on their singular focus on blacks, and expand their views.

Peace Mr. Starfish.

WNYMind, seeing as I'm the one that actually moderates comments, let me quick explain this to you.

I very, very, VERY rarely remove anyone's comments. In fact, I did it a few times when we first started offering the feature, and guess what? I was called a racist for "censoring" people. (Like I know what color anybody's skin is through a computer screen?) Now I'm being called a racist for not censoring people. I can't win. So I let the comments go.

The comments posted here aren't the opinion of Artvoice. They have nothing to do with the editors. The editors don't moderate the comments. I do. I'm just the "computer guy." It's not my place to take sides, and especially not in this instance. I'll be the first to admit I don't know enough about the BPS drama to give any informed input, let alone judge other's input. Besides which, I've got a whole lot to do without reading everything posted here word for word. Not only that, its the weekend. I can't sit here and babysit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Its ironic. YOU, WNYMind, were the first person to even mention race in the context of responses to this article. You're the one who got the whole racism ball rolling. Maybe I should have censored you to prevent all this nonsense? What is it you want here?

At any rate, I'm pretty offended that I'm being indirectly dragged into this, being called an "Aryan"... its nonsense. You don't know ME nor my motivations or biases (or more accurately, the total lack of in this case.)

Everyone should just tone it down a few notches. The comment system is intended for people to discuss the topic covered in the article... not to get off on name-calling-mud-slinging tangents. Since I don't like removing single poster's comments or opinions, my next best recourse is to lock the comments all together... and then NO dialogue takes place and everyone loses. Don't make me do that because I really don't want to.

Bravo.

Thank you

This has been worth the price of admission. You love when the refs have to step in to break it up. I know, most referees weare black and white shirts and that's going to cause a problem. I know a ton of people are ready to go to work doing a sometimes rewarding sometimes thankless job that they love and wouldn't ever quit. Whatever Barton says or does will not change the fact thast my students are poor, unprepared and subjected to excessive testing and inadequate supplies both at school and home. But in a few days I and a lot of people like me will go to work a make a damned difference in spite of what WNY or Barton or any other hater malcontents think, I know it will matter so I don't care what you think.

Whatever AV's motivation, or lack there or, the effect is that AV seeds its stories with biased stories about blacks in leadership and then the bloggers take over with racial slants, ebonic minstrel shows, and other thoughtless attacks on blacks.

This story, posted by AV is a perfect example. It drags up the Barton affair again (something decided in Barton's favor which she is now trying to clear her good name and reverse the damage done to her reputation). How is it framed in AV. Barton is going balistic, she escaped discipline, she has unchecked power, etc...

All of that is totally false. AV needs to do some fact checking before printing these lies. Barton filed a legitimate complaint, that is hardly going balistic. She was cleared of all the charges of her, hardly escaping discipline. And her power is hardly unchecked. This is evidenced by the protracted review of her activities and the new rules for suspensions in BPS. In reality, she is pretty much hemmed in and highly scrutinized by her peers, the public, and the school board.

The way the story was framed in AV, and posed to the blog set the dogs loose to add more insults. Some of the blogs accuse Barton of being a criminal, stealing from BPS, getting away with murder like OJ, etc... Many of these gripes were wrapped in what I like to call fake ebonics and electronic minstrel acts. There is no denying that is insulting and racist.

So, the AV webmaster may be insulted, but welcome to the club. I have no problem with people posting their ideas, and do not want to see AV censor comments, but don't be surprised when people who disagree respond as I have. So put your opinions out there, but be ready to debate them. On the other hand, AV should fact check what they put on the site. For instance, what is AV trying to accomplish when they say that Barton is pointing her "icy finger"? Why not describe Hernandez as the guy throwing bombs at Barton and relentlessly assulting her character?

Let's get real here. Does Barton deserve all this attention when the City of Buffalo is going to hell in a handbasket? We have lots of scandals to examine, so why give Barton's moot case so much attention, and why keep dragging in Williams, other black principals and board members (the group labeles the sisterhood), the Mayor, and black council members. I assume Obama is next to be implicated.

There are so many real infractions going on in Buffalo, even some that involve all races. Here is a scoop for AV, maybe they can dedicate the space wasted on Barton to this hot potato. Why is there no director of the Office of Strategic Planning in Buffalo? Rumor has it that the Mayor wanted to put Reily in that position, but he couldn't since the city charter requires a person with professional training to hold the job. The charter also requires that a director be in place. But, there is nobody running the shop, since the Mayor's economic development cheif doesn't have the credentials for the job.

So, Barton suspended a student, boo hoo. Meanwhile, the city is going to hell in a handbasket and no effort is being made to hire professionally trained people to fix the problem. Instead, people without the required credentials are running the show and the Mayor is ignoring the city charter. You don't have to dig much deeper to ask those legitimate questions. Of course, it isn't as flashy as taking pot shots at Barton. It's easier to attack Barton too, since she is a small fish in the grander scheme of things.

BfloTchr, you keep doing what you are doing. I am 100% on your side.

I read Bflo Tchr's post to mean that DESPITE people like Barton, et al... we will be back in class next week with the same old day-to-day problems and players that we have been dealing with for years.

You all can debate these issues forever...we still continue to teach our students with as much passion and dedication as we can muster.

Let's hope that Bflo Tchr in no way agrees with WNYMind's twisted notions and was trying to provide a REALITY CHECK for all...these scandals will continue to fester and eat away at the BPS but those in the trenches will carry on.....

My God, please can we delete or block WNY Idiot? What a loser. There are real issues here, not imaginary ones that float through his or her bent brainwaves ....It's embarrrassing. Please SHUT UP already.

Another B-lo Tchr -- no way am I validating that baloney I was only trying to refocus the debate on our mission that will get done in spite of the fact that we have protected haters and malcontents like CB and JAWS who think rules are for others. I am not the reality check for all kinda guy, I would never presume to have such a grasp of reality that people should shut up and listen to me !! o.k. yes I would ! we are going to go in there in a few days and do what we know how to do and they are going to walk around with canes and lawyers and reporters from The Challenger etc etc. They are immaterial to the real struggle which is teaching tough kids in a bad spot and ignoring a lot of distractions that would pretty much end the careers and sanity of lesser souls ! Peace.

Since AV is such a racist rag will WNYMind please recommend some more enlightened sites where people of openness and diversity share their worldviews in a courteous and sensitive manner ? yes i am tippin from heavy irony into all out sarcasm here but I am serious about the request please direct us to greener pastures, no slam on the Irih there, it's just an idiom...thank you

Sorry to say, but there are no truely progressive newspapers covering Buffalo. AV, well, I am not sure what it is beyond a paper that covers the arts scene and dabbles in tabloid gossip stories like this one.

Occasionally the Buffalo News does a fair story, like today on the coach at Barton's school:

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/421914.html

Of course, that one will need to be followed up on and maybe after the coach gets his situation resolved it will be settled.

Well so much for your better ideas Mind. You bitch and whine and race bait everyone on here but when you're pressed to cough up some better stuff you cough up a furrball. For all of the crying you do about nobody offering anything positive on here you're as bad as they come. I tried to offer you some insightful blogs by African american bloggers but they were interpreted as spam when i tried to post. go look up rawdogBuffalo,angryblackbitch and blackfolksdontswim at blogger. I'm white and I dig all of them. You offer nothing but racebaits, buzz words and closed minded defense of people who ignore the rules. Stop hating and aprreciate for a change then maybe your viewpoint might be worth reading.

Crystal (vodka) Barton is a good, humble and honest representative for students to model their careers on; if they plan to succeed in alternate universes.
It is clear that Ralph Hernandez should be removed from the school board; and so should Catherine Nugent Panepinto. They acted with common sense and within the world of reality when defending Jayvonna Kincannon and Michelle Stiles.
In Barton’s internationally famed martini hazed thought process; it is only logical that School Board President Mary Ruth Kapsiak, board member Christopher Jacobs and Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents, Robert Bennett, should also be reprimanded for good measure.
And the most interesting part about it all: “Barton will actually be surprised by the response to her request from State Education Commissioner Richard P. Mills.”

WNYMind, fair enough. You're still reading a little much between the lines and imagining hidden agendas that just don't exist... Articles on this section of the website were written for our print edition... they're just mirrored here after the fact. So to think the piece was framed in such a way just to set the bloggers off on some sort of racist name throwing party, that would be false... though I can understand seeing it that way based on how it plays out.

I just don't want to see discussions spiral out to the lowest common denominators... we don't need another MySpace or YouTube filled with little kids bickering.

You wanna disagree with what's written, that's awesome. (In fact a large majority of the responses we get are people disagreeing with AV... this isn't to stroke our egos, but it does keep the editors and writers on their toes!) I'm not going to speak for our editors or contributors, but I think the general feeling they have is "we had our say when we put 65000 copies on the street and put it on the web... let everyone else have theirs now" and I think that's pretty noble of them no matter what the content of their stories are... and as far as the responses it evokes from readers... that's between you guys! Even in a racially charged issue like this one though, not everybody who has an opinion different than yours is automatically racist.

and to curious, the poster above me, if your posts were mistakenly interpreted as spam, I apologize. We use an automated filter system - or else we'd get hundreds of Viagra ads stuck in conversations every day. The software does a decent job of keeping undesirable stuff out but it is just a machine, it makes mistakes with legitimate posts occasionally... and being that it is just a machine and I can promise it's "dumb" and not in itself judging what was written. I try to correct that when I see it happen, but a legit comment in our back-log is like a needle in a haystack when compared to the volume of spam it catches. The software does "learn" in a sense though and it gets better all the time.

To learn more about Barton brands Crystal Vodka, go to:
http://www.bartonbrands.com/category.htm

There is a recipe for a Dirty School Teacher; but it's made with gin.

Did we read the same story in the News ? It strikes this reader that the Coach's resolution will be to return the money he's feeling so bad about being paid for doing nothing, resigning, handing over his teaching permit and slinking off in disgrace to hope some community college who's never heard of him will let him help coach their knitting team -- with supervision of course. I am not sure who's got more nerve him or his beloved Principal but it's got to be a photo finish. Webmaster hopping over the ropes to stop the fight twice ! Wow, this has been a beauty. And before anyone calls the Southern Povety Law Center to protect Barton she's not in the South, she sure aint in poverty and she picks and chooses which laws she follows, inasmuch as cooperating with an investigation ordered by her Superiors is concerned. Maybe call Maury or Jerry instead they're better suited for her sort of situation, especially the Cellino and Barnes cane, that's precious.

The cane, you gotta love it. I imagine her bonking some reporter on the head the first day of school.

Is she well enough to start the year ? Lloyd's of London saying No Way at 4 to 1. If she does show she'll be on leave before Daye gets his Beemer repainted, I hope he has a low deductible.

WNY Mind says, "Let's get real here. Does Barton deserve all this attention when the City of Buffalo is going to hell in a handbasket?"

I reply: And she's part of Buffalo's decline. Her mishandling of Ms. Stiles and Ms. Kincannon, her mishandling of the vending machine money, and who knows what else... these are part and parcel of the problem that is Buffalo and its public-school system.

You should be one of the 1ST to give God thanks for Ralph Hernandez and the yeoman's work he is doing to keep this issue before our consciences.

Mr. Daye, a vicitm...you can't make this stuff up. Barton, a vicitm. Next they will be in wheelchairs with aides wiping the snot from their noses as they are wheeled into court. Why hasn't anyon opened the can of worms that is Daye's "work history", he's had 5 jobs, all of which he left in murky waters, very mysterious....sounds like he can't keep his pants on. Niagara University was one he left under strange circumstances. Please spare us the vicitm BS. The normal people in this town are all victim of his and her arrogance.

Barton and Daye are a disgrace.

As soon as this area's election's (known as the democratic primary) are over on 09/09/08;
The At-Large seats on the school board will begin campaigning.
Collins, Johnson and Jacobs may have to account for their votes in all of the McKinley matters.
Which puts the majority up for grabs.

I have to disagree with Lloyd A. Marshall, Jr.. Barton is hardly part of Buffalo's decline. BPS was set up to fail long before Barton got here first teaching job, let alone before she became a principal.

BPS was set up in a time when HS frankly wasn't very rigorous. It was designed to keep kids off the streets and socialize them for good paying factory jobs. It was an education system designed by industrialists who use to run the factories and mills in places like Buffalo. They closed their factories long ago, took their profits, and moved their operations overseas.

Now, Barton and all the educators are trying to cope with the wake of the economic collapse in Buffalo and dead cities like it, while retrofiting the existing school system for new demands from all directions. We no longer socially promote people in the schools, and we test all the kids to see if they are learning. This all takes place in a school system that lacks adequate funding and curriculum to meet the needs of the kids.

Barton and others are also trying to create some semblance of discipline in the schools (ala the 7 week suspension, which was later reduced to 5 weeks). In the past, discipline was either lacking in the schools, or bad kids would be expelled and end up in the military or a factory. Today, neither are options. The military has minimum standards and the factories are in China.

So you see, Lloyd A. Marshall, Jr., Buffalo declined long ago. The kids today grow up in the rubble of old Buffalo. The lucky ones figure out how to get an education or trade and escape Buffalo. The unlucky ones end up on the streets and in jail. Barton and the other educators know this and try to keep the kids on the right track.

I know deep down inside you don't think a high school principle is responsible for Buffalo's decline. I know you don't give a pass to all the companies, banks, and wealthy people who disinvested in Buffalo decades ago. I know you don't blame Barton for decades of patronage politics in City Hall and County government (not to mention Albany). I know you realize how silly it sounds when you scapegoat a few school teachers for bad economic and public policy decisions.

So what this all boils down to is a minor gripe over whether the student should have been suspended for 7 weeks or 5 weeks. That was settled. End of story.

Of course, there is also the side show of who the football coach is/was sleeping with. I think that was an episode of Desperate Housewives last season. Not that I take infidelity lightly, and I am sure the coach will be treated the same as Sam Hoyt on that one. Of course we do know one thing, Daye is into women (so this isn't in the same league as the Wilson HS baseball team).

Daye was into girls in Carolina big difference.

And when all's said and done, WNY Mind, we're still left with the aftertaste of the heavy-handedness by Ms. Barton and how she handled Styles and Kincannon.

Mr. Daye left prior positions elsewhere under queasy circumstances. Those same chickens are roosting here now.

Besides her handling of Ms. Styles and Ms. Kincannon, Ms. Barton has come under question concerning vending-machine money, concerning a tax-funded trip she and her hubby took to Europe(I don't think it was in vacation time), and concerning her refusal to cooperate in the probe into her actions. Remember: there were 29 people the questioner was going to interview, and Dr. Williams guaranteed FULL coopertaion by ALL involved. Ms. Barton chose to duck her obligation.

Kincanon and Styles are surely pursuing litigation against the Buffalo Public Schools, Dr. Williams, and Ms. Barton. This will surely turn the BPS upside down when it's all over.

So, in the end, if Messrs. Barton and Daye have any shred of self-respect left, they'd resign and get out now. Once they get dragged into a lawsuit... be it as full-fledged defendants themselves, or as mere parties to the same... it'll be too late for them to save face, unless they plan to make settlements now.

Viva Fernandez! He's keeping this issue before our consciences in order to demonstrate that accountability is needed now. If we let people like Daye and Barton go unpunished or otherwise unaccountable, what does that say about us as a society?

Right On, Bravo!. They'll stay in the spotlight as long as they can....buying shoes for court.

If people commited a crime, etc... They should be punished in a manner that fits the crime, etc... It should also be measured and fair, taking similar cases in mind. So, we'll see what the process deals to Hoyt, etc...

Mo double jeapordy is also a principle of our system. So, efforts to drag people back into the spotlight over and over again seems unfair. Once a matter is settled, it is over, and you need to get a grip and move on. So, whatever happened with vending machines, shoes, girlfriends, and the like is ancient history and has been dealt with and decisions have been made.

Focus on the future pal. If a new wrong emerges, go get your justice. I can guarantee that there will be lots of opportunities for you to do so in the future. But this one really falls into the category of looking up a dead horses ass at this point.

seems like they both pulled it back into the spotlight...

1. Sam Hoyt committed no crime...maybe a personal indiscretion...but not a crime.

2. "punished in a manner that fits the crime...fair and measured" Jayvonna was suspended for 7 weeks...she did not assault or threaten anyone. Is 7 weeks fair and measured? Do ALL students get suspended for 7 weeks for a cell phone infraction?

3. Ms. Barton dragged herself back into the spotlight. Things were fairly quiet until she called for Hernandez's ouster. She could have quietly continued to do her job getting ready for the school year but instead she has awakened the sleeping dogs....Why????

Shows a pattern of an attention grabbing and vengeful woman.

"Focus on the future pal. If a new wrong emerges, go get your justice. I can guarantee that there will be lots of opportunities for you to do so in the future. But this one really falls into the category of looking up a dead horses ass at this point."

(Sounds like the bilge parroted by BPS hired ho' Steffi Michajliw per a statement by Dr. Williams.)

Sorry to disappoint you, but the past is prologue to the present and future. Decisions made at an early time have ramifications, complications, and consequences for later times. So long as we have seen a clear injustice put upon Ms. Styles and Ms. Kincannon by Ms. barton... and so long as Dr. Williams has not shown that he really cares to see justice served in a satisfactory manner... we can all(and again I say, ALL) be glad and thankful for the Ralph Hernandezes of the world who refuse to let injustice go without a challenge.

An aside, WNYMind...

"I know you don't give a pass to all the companies, banks, and wealthy people who disinvested in Buffalo decades ago."

When you have a political structure, such as Buffalo's, that makes it unappealing to operate business because of high taxes and regulations; and when you have other areas that are more amenable to said entities due to their lower rates of taxes and regulation... can you really blame them for bolting for the better pastures? I wouldn't, either.

Daye is supposed to speak at the BOEmeeting tonight, how much you want to bet he chickens out, hides behind his useless atty? Lots of barking from both yet no action, just "victim" speak. Please. Funny how Daye demands to speak at the BOE meeting, yet Barton got right on the phone lying by saying Jayvonna's parents said to take her off the agenda. What about that big fat LIE? Still, no one seems too bothered by it. What a hoax, a joke, a farce and a million dollar "error' WHICH IS THE BIGGEST LOAD OF BS.The kids will be laughing this year at McKinley, they can kiss that little fiefdom goodbye and say hello to anarchy. Wait, Barton can't suspend kids anymore, all "formal" suspensions have to go right to Williams' desk. Thanks Barton for stripping more power from principals that do their job and making it harder for all of them. What a jerk.

By the way I like how Sweaty, gum chewing lewd Stefan uses the word "noble", as if they are part of anything good in buffalo schools. The only thing noble is that teachers keep showing up for a thankless job with a bunch of crooks, liars and idiots running the show like nazi germany or communist china. Idiots.

Someone said a while back JAWs, Oladele and Crew aren't here to discipline idiot Principals that's not their focus. They are here to privatize, stuff their pockets with cash and move on to the next bunch of suckers who will drink his Kool aid. The more I consider this point the more accurate it appears. We've been double suckers for ever holding an expectation that this crew was going to show some pluck. They're playing a different game than the one we've been watching and their agenda has nothing to do with taking on Barton her Sisters or anyone else unless it's a slam dunk like Trotter who quit before she could be fired and was paid off anyway. Pathetic.

Anybody watch the Superintendent's Speech today? WOW....
Hey, best wishes to all BPS Staff who head back for another school year!

So... anything happen lately with McKinley or the BPS?

Inquiring minds want to know...