The Buffalo school board showed up Wednesday for the annual reorganization meeting to elect its officers for the new school year and adjourned without electing anyone.
With board members Mary Ruth Kapsiak and Carl Paladino not present, there were not five votes for anyone for president, vice president of executive affairs or vice president for student achievement.
There was time for the personal attacks, which has become common at these meetings.
Board Member Sharon Belton Cottman took Board Member Jay McCarthy to task.
"When I first came on the board, Jay was one of the people who reached out to me often, via e-mails or in conversation. All of that no longer exists since Mr. Paladino and Mr. Quinn are sitting on this board," Belton Cottman said.
"It no longer happens like that. And, I don't know what influence there is but at the end of the day we need to have someone in that position that can reach across the table."
Quinn says McCarthy is intensely interested in education and the other faction on the board isn't interested in working together. Until new officers are elected, the current officers hold their posts and there can be a vote at any regularly-scheduled meeting on electing new officers.
