Some Buffalo Public School families are speaking out after major changes were announced for how high school football will be organized.

The Section VI Athletic Council voted in favor of its school districts across Western New York creating their own leagues.

The move is meant to allow teams to play games closer to home, thereby cutting down on travel time and costs.

Years ago, teams in the same regional area all had their own divisions, something that could be resumed under this restructuring.

The problem is with Buffalo Public Schools, which dissolved its division in order to compete in Section VI.

Now it has no league to return to, essentially leaving students with limited competition options.

Parents and community members voiced their concerns on the changes during a Buffalo School Board meeting Wednesday.

Many parents in Buffalo feel the decision was racially motivated.

“Now we have to form our own inner city league, plus these kids are now denied access and equality across the board,” said parent Dwayne Taplin. “Fair play has been denied to all our student athletes in the inner city who are predominantly African American and that is not fair.”

“We have so few teams in our league and we will have to go out and find our own games,” said South Park football coach Tim Delaney. “But as coaches and administrators, we will try our best.”

Buffalo community members wrote a proposal to the Buffalo Board of Education, which was passed to petition Section VI's decision.

The superintendent said he will share the proposal in the upcoming days.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said he strongly disagreed with the decision by the Section VI Football Federation. 

Brown said: 

“The City of Buffalo’s public school system is the most diverse in the region. A decision to exclude them is a rejection of the principles of equity, diversity and inclusiveness our regional education leaders claim to believe in. I am calling on Section VI to revisit this discussion and find a way to include Buffalo’s athletes in interscholastic play. My Administration is prepared to stand with the students, coaches, parents and district leaders in defense of these young people’s right to compete at the same level as their
peers across the region.”