BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — The Buffalo Public School District has changed course and will no longer close D'Youville Porter Campus School PS 3 and Early Childhood Center PS 90.
Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Pascal Mubenga and Board of Education President Dr. Kathy Evans-Brown issued a joint statement, which said in part: "We have decided not to close any Buffalo Public Schools after reviewing the recommendations of the school closure committee to close PS 3 and PS 90 and after feedback from staff, families, students, and community members."
WATCH: Buffalo Public School District changes course, will no longer close PS 3 and PS 90
According to the statement, "the superintendent will instead present the Board of Education with an alternative plan to address the anticipated financial challenges facing the district in the 2026–2027 school year."
You can read the full statement below:
“We have decided not to close any Buffalo Public Schools after reviewing the recommendations of the school closure committee to close PS 3 and PS 90 and after feedback from staff, families, students, and community members. As part of the regular budget process, the superintendent will instead present the Board of Education with an alternative plan to address the anticipated financial challenges facing the district in the 2026–2027 school year. We will also work to retain a professional management consultant to review and make recommendations about potential school closures in future school years. We have also informed the Buffalo Board of Education members of our decision. We also thank the members of the school closure committee for their time, efforts and recommendations.”
In December 2025, the district's school closure committee recommended closing the two schools. The city school district’s chief financial officer, Jim Barnes, had earlier stated it was a financial necessity to shut down two city schools as the district is facing an $80 million deficit.
WATCH: Committee recommends closure of 2 Buffalo Public Schools
"It was unfortunately necessary for the superintendent to make the decision to delay closing any schools at this point," said Larry Scott, at-large school board member.
Now, district documents indicate it is ready to explore alternative cost-cutting measures, including potentially eliminating 45 positions in the central offices.
"Is it time to make cuts there?" I asked.
"Absolutely, I've said the past two years, that if we're going to be expecting our schools to make cuts that the district's central office needs to also make those cuts," Scott said.
The reversal follows a large "Save Our School" rally outside PS 3 last month, where community members voiced strong opposition to the closures.
"I love my teachers," one student stated at the rally.
WATCH: 'Shock and heartbreak': Buffalo community rallies to save School 3 from closure
Ed Speidel, a Buffalo school parent who served on the closure committee, expressed mixed feelings about the decision.
"I'm not 100 percent surprised," Speidel said. "I'm a little disappointed. Why form a committee and waste our time if you weren't going to close schools?"
Speidel also responded to the potential cuts at the central offices.
"If there's 45 positions you need to cut, that's great, but why not still close schools?" Speidel said. "Our schools are less than 55 percent full. They're like 52 percent full. Why are we wasting money keeping buildings open when we don't have students for the buildings?"
The district plans to hire a professional management consultant to review potential future school closures as it continues to address its financial challenges.
