001[Music] All right. Thank you, Madam President. Okay. So, after coming out of executive session, the board held an executive session to discuss matters leading to the appointment of particular corporation firm. No official action was taken. Can I have a motion to bring a resolution before the board? motion. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Okay. Okay. So, here's the resolution is an expanded process to procure independent investigator May 14th, 2025. Whereas the board of education announced on April 25th, 2025 that it would be conducting an investigation to allegations raised on a podcast that was released on April 26, 2025. And whereas since that time, additional allegations have come to light and the board would like to expand the scope of the independent investigation. Now therefore be it resolved that the Buffalo Board of Education will expand the search
002for an independent investigator and the scope of the investigation. The board will will receive responses from prospective firms within seven business days of the posting with the goal to vote on the selection of the firm as quickly as possible. May I have a motion to discuss? All in favor? Oh, no. Any discussion? No. Okay. Second. All in favor? I I discussion put it on the table. All right. The resolution is now before the board. Any discussion? Okay. Mayor, thank you, President. So, it was well, let me first start by saying I have two boys in Buffalo public schools and I send them still to their schools um trusting that they are safe and they're getting an education. Um it was my hope that based on the allegations um the due diligence that was done that
003we would move on a resolution to appoint a firm this evening um to begin the investigation. And I want to make it clear that in no way what we're doing and what we're acting on is presuming guilt or innocence. They're serious allegations and it was agreed at our last special meeting that we would seek out an external independent investigation. Um and my hope was that we were going to determine that firm tonight. Um I respect the will of the board to move in a different direction. Um, board member for Jake, did you have a comment? Um, madam chair, I think that um, I want to commend the board for having the foresight to expand the scope of the investigation and to make sure that this particular uh, firm is not limited to just one day's
004activities. And so um I com I commend the board uh for moving forward in that direction. It shows the public that we are hearing them and then we are and that we are also concerned as well. So I want to put that on the record. Thank you. Simply going to echo Vice President Scott's sentiments um that I hope that we would be able to come to a decision tonight. Um, but I do respect the will of the board and I want to also concur that the expansion allows for other opportunities for other investigative firms to also have an opportunity to partake in uh a proposal. Anybody else? I think I would like to add that because we've uncovered or we're in we're investigating more that we needed this expansion. It's only 7 days and it
005gives again um a chance for firms to step up. You have 7 days from the posting. I'm hoping everybody hears us. Look for the posting. We're trying to be inclusive of everyone and this this is the will of the board. I will say that I thought I was coming here to vote on on affirm and now see the importance of the 7-day expansion. If it had been any longer, I wouldn't be voting in favor. Okay. Anybody else? This board wants to continue to be transparent to the public and that's why we're taking the stance that we are. Um, so, uh, is there if there is no more discussion, can I have a motion to adopt this resolution? Board member Woods, board member Eenheart. Second, general counsel, please pull the board. With respect to the motion
006to adopt the resolution to expand the investigation as read by board president um Evans Brown, how do you vote? Board member Belton Cabin, yes. Board member Everheart, yes. Vice President Mcken, no. Board member Makoszie, yes. Board member Shuta, yes. Vice President Scott, no. Board member Woods, yes. Um, sorry. Board member Zulich, no. and President Evans Brown. Yes. By a vote of six to three, the resolution is adopted. Okay. Thank you. And so lastly, I'm going to make a statement that after much deliberation tonight, the board decided to expand the scope of the investigative firms based on additional allegations from a podcast. No further comments. May I have a motion to adjourn and m