By Katie Beck

Picture by Katie Beck

Ralph Hernandez has devoted his time to volunteering and improving the Westside community.  He has been on the West District of Buffalo’s Board of Education since May of 2004. He spoke of how proud he was to volunteer on a local little league football team: “I had a chance to interact with the students and the parents at the same time.

“As a non-traditional student myself, I didn’t get my college degree until I was 40, I just didn’t know the importance of education. With an education you have higher earning potential and you have a voice, and when you continue to talk intelligently, after time people will begin to respect you.”

When asked how his life has changed he said: “People say hi to me now, and they really mean it…they really want to meet me.” 

Hernandez is dedicated to fixing the problems in public school funding. Realizing it’s better to have a plan, he and Superintendent James A. Williams have set up a three-year blueprint of what funding goes where that has gone into effect. They have received a lot of criticism for their reported $1.7 billion financial plan from county legislators which consists of money for construction and the general budget.

“This project is one of the greatest things to happen to public education, and this community should be proud,” Williams said. “For the legislators to earmark a billion dollars to renovate every school is remarkable. I was just so excited to come to Buffalo and have this unbelievable project. This is a one-shot deal, and we have to make sure it’s done correctly and that it is working in the best interest of children.” -Artvoice

 Hernandez knows what attending public school is like; he went to school 108 in Manhattan.

 “School in Manhattan 30 years ago shows the same signs that Buffalo Schools are now,” In regards to Buffalo he said: “the problem does not lie in the funding, we have enough money, the problem is where we are placing the money.” 

The outcome of the arrangement is not known as of now but the plan excites Hernandez. Representing the Latino community, Hernandez was the first Hispanic immigrant from Puerto Rico to be elected by the West District Board of Education, he ran for seven years until he was elected in 2004. 

             Hernandez is very involved in the Latino community and stresses the need for education and more Latino elected officials.

 “I’d like to see the Latino community more involved with elected officials, because if we cannot show the young people of today how to manage their community, where will they be in 30 years?” he said.

Hernandez said he is confused about focusing attention on the waterfront, which has gone nowhere.  He says we could be rebuilding the Westside and encouraging more people to move in and build stores to help aid the community.

 “People see the West side as this crime infested area…however the biggest problem we have in the Westside is health problems like asthma,” he said.

  He would like to see the same amount of effort put into streets like Elmwood put into Grant Street. 

For more information on the school board and volunteer work go to Buffalo Public Schools - Community.

Send any questions to Katie Beck at beckka87@mail.buffalostate.edu