Buffalo school board member talks tough budget process

Buffalo, New York (WBEN) – “We started pretty early, at the beginning of the school year, recognizing that all the federal funds we had received from the pandemic had to be used by next June.” Buffalo school board member Larry Scott told WBEN Friday that the situation has led to a $90 million deficit.

“This is my fifth year on the board, and this was the most difficult budget to be a part of,” he said.

To fill the gap, the district tapped into reserve funding and found
grants to cover other positions.

“Until a month ago, I was very worried,” Scott added. “But Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams was able to restore about 100 positions.”

The district was at risk of cutting 40 mental health professions, most of which were reinstated, including nine and a half counselors, 17 social workers and five and a half psychologists. Additionally, the district has reinstated most of the reading specialists and music teachers who were scheduled to be eliminated.

Ultimately, 30 teachers and staff will be laid off at the end of the school year. But Scott said that number could change over the summer, depending on the increase in retirements.

Currently, 42 staff members will be retiring and these positions will not be filled.
In addition, 187 vacant positions will not be filled.

“We’ve heard a lot from schools that if there are going to be reductions, they should also happen in the district’s central office. “We’ve made sure,” Scott added, “that reductions are made there”. Up to 50 positions have been eliminated. eliminated at the Central Office, several of these positions are filled, not vacant.

The $1.2 billion budget was unanimously approved by the school board Wednesday evening.

Scott emphasized that this is a two-year plan.

“We didn’t want to be too drastic this year. We anticipate there will be a lot more retirements next year and enrollment continues to decline. This is about right-sizing the district. Through attrition, we will have to make more reductions next year and the year after that.

Buffalo’s school population is declining and currently stands at approximately 30,000 students.