Parents, students call for more communication, fewer suspensions at Buffalo Public Schools

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Local advocates sat down with WIVB News 4 on Monday to call for solutions rather than suspensions as they say Buffalo Public Schools has one of the highest suspension rates in New York State.

Co-chair of the BPS Community Health Worker Parent and Student Association Jessica Bauer Walker says parents and students alike have called on the schools to lower the suspension rates and shift from a punitive system to a restorative system.

Fellow co-chair and student Rehma Kashindi says there is miscommunication between teachers and students. Instead of being able to grow, students are just sent home, she said.

A spokesperson for BPS told WIVB News 4 that some restorative practices are already implemented in their code of conduct. They also said over 98 percent of their students were not suspended in September.

Suspension data for BPS can be found here.

See the full interview in the video player above.

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Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

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