BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Less than one week after being officially sworn in, Buffalo Public Schools’ new superintendent, Dr. Pascal Mubenga, is already laying out his vision for the district— emphasizing transparency, shared ownership, and a clear direction moving forward.
On Wednesday, dozens of parents and students gathered to hear the details of Mubenga’s ambitious 100-day entry plan.
“This is how I’m going to learn about all the good things that are happening in the district, as well as all the challenges,” said Mubenga.
The meeting marked Mubenga’s first time sitting at the head of the Buffalo School Board. He was warmly welcomed by students and parents, with the primary focus centered on his 100-day strategy.
“Early support matters. Next week, I’ll be meeting with our principals. I don’t want to waste time. We have all the data—why not start making those remediation plans ahead of time?,” Mubenga asked.
A key component of his plan involves conducting organizational and financial reviews. After BPS faced a nearly $80 million budget shortfall heading into this year, Mubenga aims to prevent such issues moving forward.
“I’m going to ask good questions. What are the audits that we’ve had for the past five years? I want to dig in to see where we are,” he said.
Another major focus will be reviewing curriculum, instructional quality, and educational strategies. Mubenga plans to visit classrooms and engage directly with students—particularly in underperforming schools.
“All the resources that we have—how many programs do we have? Are we really using those programs? If we have a particular program and we’re paying about $200,000, how many students are really using it? Those are the questions I’ll be asking,” he said.
Mubenga also stressed the importance of collaboration—a commitment welcomed by parent leaders.
“There’s a lot of talk about inclusivity and about how it takes a village—the things parents, leaders have been saying all along. We are here, ready to work, so let’s get together and do the work,” said Danielle Grzymala, co-chair of the Buffalo Parent Teacher Organization.
At the conclusion of the 100 school days, Mubenga plans to release a key findings summary. The first day of school is scheduled for September 4.
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Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
