Teacher layoffs on track, Maryvale waiting for migrant money

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Teacher layoffs remain on track, following the passage of the state budget over the weekend -- and layoffs in Buffalo Public Schools have not been ruled out.

Some districts we're hearing from are getting slightly more funding than what they got last year. But, even that won't prevent job cuts from being made at some schools.

That's the case in Hamburg Schools. The state is providing over a million dollars in additional aid compared to last year. The board Tuesday morning approved their budget during a special meeting.

And that increase in funding won't stop 16 teachers and teacher aides from being let go.
Hundreds of students walked out of class last month protesting the decision. Meanwhile, the state budget is not dramatically increasing funding for Buffalo Schools, which is staring at an $80 million deficit, due to the loss of federal COVID money.

"The greater, longer-term structure issues of a declining enrollments, 3,400 over five years, and an increase in total staff of 400 that's the bigger issue that all the districts are dealing with declining enrollments," said Jim Barnes, the chief financial officer for BPS.

Buffalo Schools have a two-year plan to close their budget gap by cutting vacant positions and not filling retirements. The district says layoffs still are a possibility.

With the state budget passed, one local school district says it still hasn't been reimbursed for taking on dozens of migrant children at the beginning of the school year.

Maryvale Schools Superintendent Joseph D'Angelo says the district still hasn't received any money from New York City for accepting nearly 80 migrant children at the beginning of the school year. The district has received an increase in funding from the state, but says those funds should be used for operational expenses, not to cover costs for asylum seekers.

"I actually was under the impression they had already gotten some of the money, I correct myself, they are still ongoing, those negotiations, but I am very confident that they will get something," said Assembly Member Monica Wallace.

The district says despite the expense of taking on migrant children, Maryvale's budget for next year will be below the tax cap. Local schools will put their budgets up for a public vote on May 21. Buffalo's Board of Education will vote on the budget one week before that.