BUFFALO, N.Y. — A video obtained by 2 On Your Side shows the violence that students and teachers in Buffalo Public Schools have been begging the district to notice and respond to.
The video shared by a teacher shows a 15-year-old female student at Burgard Vocational High School physically assaulting a teacher.
Buffalo Police confirmed the incident that took place in the school’s cafeteria on Sept. 20 and said the student has been charged with assault and harassment.
2 On Your Side took the video to Buffalo Public Schools and asked to speak with Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams. We were told we could not speak with her, but the Director of Public Relations and Information at BPS, Jeffrey Hammond, said the district had no knowledge of the video.
2 On Your Side: “Can the district confirm this incident took place at Burgard a few weeks ago?”
Hammond: “Again, we will review the video and determine its authenticity.”
2 On Your Side: “You can't even tell us that this happened? A teacher being beaten by a student here — I'd imagine this doesn't happen every day.”
Hammond: “Again, we will review the video you shared with us, and we will determine its validity.”
Monday afternoon, Buffalo Public Schools confirmed the incident and issued a statement.
“Buffalo Public Schools is aware of a physical altercation that occurred on September 20, 2023, at Burgard Vocational High School,” the statement read. “Behavior that greatly compromises the safety of staff and students will not be tolerated under this administration; safety and ensuring the safety of all are a priority. While the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits the disclosure of a student’s disciplinary history, this type of incident may result in a student being removed from school for the remainder of the school year. Again, the safety of all students and staff remains a priority.”
Sources also told us that the 15-year-old female student in that video is set to return to classes at Burgard next month, but we are still working to confirm this information, as the district said they cannot comment on an individual student’s discipline.
It comes just days after students and teachers at Riverside Academy took over a board of education meeting, demanding the district take notice of the violence they say has made them scared to attend school. Their outcry followed a stabbing and two shelter-in-place incidents that took place at their school this month.
“I told you it’s going to take someone getting stabbed or shot to have someone come in the building,” said Riverside teacher, Marc Bruno. “That's exactly what it takes because no one has lifted a finger for security at Riverside High School.”
“I fear the next time we come before you there are going to be a body or bodies in our building,” said Riverside teacher, Kelly Best.