The Root of the Matter

By Michael V. Barksdale

Special to the Express

As we fight the battle for educational excellence amid the war on poverty in our beloved city of Niagara Falls, the struggle is real, and it is often difficult not to “strike the rock twice” as we labor to move our children toward the Promised Land-a prosperous Niagara Falls. I write this not as an outsider casting blame, but as a member of this community who is deeply invested in its healing, accountability and future.

In this fight for educational excellence, many people focus solely on the children—and rightly so—but we cannot forget those teachers and staff who are on the grind every day, going above and beyond to provide the best possible learning experience for our students. Their dedication matters, and too often it goes unrecognized. There are many within the District—at every level—who genuinely want to do right by our children, often at personal cost. This message is meant to strengthen their hands, not weaken them.

It is incredibly hard to manage the emotions that surface when so many are operating within systems that reflect dysfunction and misaligned priorities. When I speak of corruption, I am not suggesting that everyone involved lacks integrity or good intentions. Rather, I am naming a culture in which incentives, silence, and self-preservation too often outweigh accountability and service. Too often, that drift is rooted in a love of money rather than a commitment to outcomes. It is deeply disheartening to speak with administrators, educators, and select staff and hear that financial considerations have become the primary motivation, rather than the mission to serve students well.

Let me be very clear: I am not angry with those who are compensated well, especially when compared to other districts in Western New York and across the country. Compensation alone is not the issue-in a relatable vernacular it is said, “Don’t hate da playa, hate da game.” However, performance must match pay—particularly when taxpayers are carrying a heavy burden. Our community deserves to know that its investment is producing real, measurable results for children.

I have shared with leadership on more than one occasion that the Niagara Falls City School District has a greater impact on this city than almost any other institution. With more than 6,400 students, along with their families and 500 plus staff members and their families, imagine the positive transformation that could occur if we collectively produced a majority of productive, well-prepared citizens. If the District fails—or succeeds—the entire city feels the impact.

There have been many moments when my eyes have filled with tears—times when children are not being treated properly or adequately educated. My heart races when I encounter teachers and staff who genuinely want to do right by our students but are constrained by the actions and behaviors of others. Fear of retaliation is real, and the presence of fear itself is evidence of a hostile work environment. No system that relies on fear can consistently produce excellence.

If we are serious about developing future leaders, scholars, inventors, educators, athletes, doctors, lawyers, nurses, engineers, scientists, metrologists, managers, bankers, CEOs, airmen, soldiers, sailors, Marines, Coast Guard members, politicians, and diplomats, then we must ask ourselves what kind of environment will truly nurture them—and commit to repairing it together.

How can we expect to bear good fruit if the roots are compromised? Yet if we are willing to tend to those roots—honestly, courageously, and collectively—the fruit that follows can still be worthy of our children, our educators, and the future of Niagara Falls.