Follow Through Magnet School

Follow Through Urban Learning Lab School
as seen in April 2020
Address
167 East Utica Street Masten Park Buffalo , Erie , New York 14209 United States
Coordinates	42°54′47″N78°51′57″W / 42.913019°N 78.865799°W / 42.913019; -78.865799
Information
Established	1838
Closed	2004
School number	8
Grades	K-8

Follow Through Magnet School (formerly School 8) is a former elementary school in Buffalo, New York. It served Grades K through 8 and was located at the corner of East Utica Street and Masten Avenue in the city's East Side. It closed in 2004, although it has served as a swing school for other schools that are being reconstructed.

History

School 8 was built in 1838 at the corners of Franklin and Church Streets, the first school building that was built under the reorganized Buffalo Public Schools district. It came under criticism for its construction as its elaborate design and front pillars were more than required for the new school system. This building would be closed in 1883 due to a lack of enrollment, and the number 8 was transferred to a new school built in the growing East Side. In 1918, this building was destroyed by fire and replaced the following year by the current building. An addition was built to the school in 1961, and had a name change in 1976 as part of the desegregation plan. ^[1] The building was closed in 2004 due to budget cuts, ^[2] but served as a swing school for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Multicultural Institute, City Honors High School, and School 81 while their home buildings were being reconstructed. The building may be used to house Middle Early College High School and Buffalo's Adult Learning Program beginning with the 2013–2014 school year ^[3]

Former principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses

• Ms. Ellen C. Bragg
• Mr. Silas Sweet
• Mr. Edward L. Chamberlyn
• Mr. Samuel Slade
• Mr. George H. Stowits
• Ms. Ella D. Barker
• Mr. Dwight D. Walbridge
• Ms. Elsie A. Gazlag
• Mr. Byron Heath
• Mr. Francis B. Snavely
• Ms. Marie B. Mockler ^[1]
• Mr. Harold D. Axelrod–?-1966
• Mr. Donald Beck–1966-1991
• Ms. Margaret A. Forrester–1991-2001 (Principal - Campus West School, ^[4] retired)
• Ms. Kathleen Franklin–2001-2004 (Principal - School 82, ^[5] named Principal of Poplar E.C.C. 11 ^[6] )

Selected former assistant principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses

• Ms. Anne Britt–?-1971 (Teacher - Buffalo Public Schools, retired ^[7] )
• Mr. Joseph N. Ward–?-1989 (unknown, retired ^[8] )
• Ms. June Clark–?-2004 (unknown, named Assistant Principal of Community School 53 ^[6] )

References

1. Weed, G. M. (2001). School days of yesterday: Buffalo public school history. (p. 38). Buffalo: Buffalo Standard Printing.
2. Simon, P. (2004, January 29). Five city schools will be closed in June. The Buffalo News, p. B1.
3. Swierski, F. (2013, April 9). Buffalo schools have slate of changes. Retrieved from .
4. Hammersley, M. (1991, August 29). City Hires 300 For Professional Staff List. The Buffalo News
5. Board Approves Appointment Of 15 Principals. (2001, July 16). The Buffalo News, p. C3.
6. Buffalo Public Schools (2004, June 9). Meeting of the Board of Education: Principal Transfers Archived 2012-03-23 at the Wayback Machine .
7. Anne Britt, Retired Teacher, Widow of Sheriff. (1990, April 26). The Buffalo News, p. B13.
8. Joseph N. Ward. (2003, February 10). The Buffalo News, p. C5.