Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts

Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts
Address
450 Masten Avenue Buffalo, New York 14209
Coordinates	42°54′53″N 78°51′35″W / 42.914589°N 78.859673°W / 42.914589; -78.859673Coordinates: 42°54′53″N 78°51′35″W / 42.914589°N 78.859673°W / 42.914589; -78.859673
Information
School type	Public school (government funded), high school, Magnet school
Founded	1976
Status	Priority school
School district	Buffalo Public Schools
NCES District ID	3605850[1]
School number	192
CEEB Code	330988
NCES School ID	360585000297[2]
Principal	Jody J. Covington
Assistant principals	Rebecca L. Ryan Jonathan P. Welka
Faculty	61.24 (on an FTE basis) [2]
Grades	5–12
Enrollment	837 [2] (2013-2014 school year)
• Grade 5	38 [2]
• Grade 6	69 [2]
• Grade 7	81 [2]
• Grade 8	106 [2]
• Grade 9	156 [2]
• Grade 10	124 [2]
• Grade 11	128 [2]
• Grade 12	135 [2]
Student to teacher ratio	13.67 [2]
Language	English
Campus	Urban
Color(s)	Black and Yellow
Affiliations	Hallwalls, WKBW-TV, Buffalo State College, University at Buffalo
Arts Coordinator	Christopher P. George
Website	BAVPA

Student art gallery within BAVPA

BAVPA's auditorium

The Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, also known as BAVPA, is a magnet performing arts high school and part of Buffalo's public school system. The current principal is Jody Covington and the current assistant principals are Rebecca Ryan and Jonathan Welka.

The school holds classes from grade 5-12 and requires students to apply (as if for a job) in the field of their desired "major concentration." Majors taught in the school are Dance, Media, Music, Technical Theater, Theater Arts, and Visual Arts. ^[3]

History

BAVPA's former building (1977-2007)

BAVPA was founded in 1976 as a magnet school, based on a recent court order demanding that Buffalo desegregate its schools. It was originally located at School 87 (then known as Clinton Junior High School) located 333 Clinton Street in the Lower East Side of Buffalo. Due to size constraints, the school moved to its current location in 2007. The new building, located at 450 Masten Avenue in Buffalo, is the former home to Woodlawn Junior High School and Buffalo Traditional School.

Former principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses

• Philip Lafornara–1976-1978 (Principal - unknown, passed away)
• Elmer J. Schamber–1978-1985 (Principal - City Honors School, retired)
• David M. Hess–1985-1991 (Assistant Principal - Riverside High School, named Acting Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education for Buffalo Public Schools)
• Barbara A. Schnell–1991-1992 (Principal - Kensington Prep, named Principal of Buffalo Vocational Technical Center)
• Ronald L. Meer–1992-1996 (Principal - Leonardo da Vinci High School, retired)
• Deborah A. Smith–1996-2000 (Program Coordinator - Buffalo Public Schools, named Principal of Buffalo Vocational Technical Center)
• Kevin E. Kazmierczak–2000-2008 (Director of Instrumental Music Programs - Buffalo Public Schools, named Principal of Tonawanda High School)
• Darren J. Brown–2008-2011 (Principal - Community School 53, named Executive Director for Human Resources for Buffalo Public Schools)

Selected former assistant principals

• Henry J. Klee–1984-1990 (Principal - Bennett High School, retired)
• Thaddeus W. Weselak–?-2000 (Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, retired)
• Ramona Y. Thomas-Reynolds–2000-2002 (Administrative Intern - McKinley Vocational High School, named Principal of West Hertel Academy)
• Patricia J. Welch-Thomas–?-2005 (Art teacher - Buffalo Traditional School, named Principal of South Park High School^[4])
• Wendy L. Richards–2002-2005 (Coordinator - Western New York School Support Center, named Assistant Principal of Grover Cleveland High School)
• Thomas C. Aquino–2005-2006 (Assistant Principal - Seneca Vocational High School, retired^[5])
• Larry J. Hunley–2005-2006 (Assistant Principal - Seneca Vocational High School, named Assistant Principal of Academy School 131^[6])
• Jody Covington–2006-2011 (Assistant Principal - Academy School 131,^[6] named Interim Principal of Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts)
• Dr. Eileen H. Czarnecki–2005-2014 (Assistant Principal - Grover Cleveland High School, retired)

Administration

* Denotes interim appointment

Famous alumni

• Ani DiFranco (Class of 1986)
• Jesse L. Martin (Class of 1987)
• Lucky Peterson
• Keith White Jr. (Class of 1999)

References

External links

• Official website