An attorney has been retained by at least a dozen individuals tied to allegations involving the Buffalo Public Schools system.

The attorney, Kayla Ferrel Onder, said she has heard about systematic breakdowns in how abuse allegations were handled or ignored from families and survivors.

According to a press release, Onder's team is actively investigating claims of mishandled abuse reports, failures by mandated reporters and disturbing disciplinary actions within the district.

"We have been contacted by dozens of individuals with direct and deeply troubling experiences related to abuse and institutional negligence within the Buffalo Public Schools," Onder said in a statement. "What we are hearing are not just isolated failures, but systemic breakdowns in how abuse allegations were handled or ignored.

"Schools should be safe spaces for children, not places where abuse is concealed, or where those brave enough to speak up are doubted, dismissed or retraumatized. Mandated reporters have a legal and moral obligation to protect students, and when they fail to act, the consequences are devastating. Survivors deserve justice, accountability and healing, and we intend to help them get it."

The allegations came to light following a podcast where a Buffalo Police detective accused Buffalo Public Schools and Buffalo Police Department officials of covering up and obstructing investigations of sexual assaults, abductions and other crimes that allegedly happened on school property.