School scenarios for city are bleak

[WNYresident]

Shorter academic year, bankruptcy discussed

By PETER SIMON
News Staff Reporter
4/27/2006

Frustrated by the prospect of as many as 250 more layoffs, Buffalo Board of Education members Wednesday evening raised the possibility of shortening the school year to save money or declaring bankruptcy and starting all over.

Those approaches were floated after the board learned that the district is facing a $15 million budget gap for the next school year, raising the likelihood of a sixth consecutive year of deep personnel and program cuts. About 1,000 jobs have already been lost since 2001.
Gary M. Crosby, the district's chief financial and operations officer, said after the meeting that closing the gap through layoffs would prompt the elimination of 200 to 250 positions, most of them teaching jobs.
He said that efforts would be made to save as much money as possible through other means but that "inevitably, a significant part of it will have to come from personnel." A budget is due by July 1.
All but about $2 million of the budget gap could be wiped out by reaching agreement with district unions on single carrier health insurance, Crosby said. The board imposed that move unilaterally last year, and the unions are challenging it through grievances.
School officials reiterated their contention that coverage has been replicated under the single carrier plan, and that the unions are hurting themselves and students by continuing to fight it. The district is not counting on the $13 million in health insurance savings in the 2006-07 budget to protect against the possibility that arbitrators may order the re-establishment of the more expensive three-carrier system.
"This is a complete and absolute waste of money," Crosby said. "The only ones benefiting from this are the insurance carriers."
Board President Florence D. Johnson said she would be willing to provide a full educational program for six or seven months, rather than inadequate instruction for 10 months a year.
"We sit here being frustrated year after year," she said. "Thinking, coherent, rational adults need to see that we cannot go on as we have in the past. The money is not there."
Ferry District Board Member Betty Jean Grant raised the possibility of the district declaring bankruptcy and reorganizing in a manner it can afford.
"Certainly people are sick of their children not being educated," she said.
The chances of a dramatically shortened school year or a declaration of bankruptcy are remote. In fact, the state mandates 180 days of yearly instruction.
But the suggestions reveal the depth of frustration among school officials, who have dealt with continual fiscal crises since 2001. State aid will increase $47.2 million next school year, but expenditures are projected to jump by $62.2 million. As a result, "none of the new money is going into the classroom," Crosby said.
Blasting the unions, School Superintendent James A. Williams said Buffalo "is the only school system I've seen in the country that works hard to keep people laid off."
Much of the criticism was directed at Buffalo Teachers Federation President Philip Rumore.
When it was stated that corporations and governments across the country are struggling with health insurance costs, Park District Board Member Jack Coyle said: "Everybody else in the country isn't dealing with Phil. That's the sad part."
Rumore could not immediately be reached to comment. However, he said in an interview earlier this week that the BTF is willing to negotiate single-carrier health insurance, but will continue to fight the board's move to impose it unilaterally.
West District Board Member Ralph Hernandez defended the unions, saying they are protecting their contracts.
"We can blame everybody we want to," he said. "That's fine. But there are contractual agreements out there."
e-mail: psimon@buffnews.com

[WNYresident]

If they just listened to many people on this messageboard they would of did the bankrupsty thing a year ago and moved on already

[mikewrona]

If they just listened to many people on this messageboard they would of did the bankrupsty thing a year ago and moved on already

I think the people you speak of like to talk the talk, but, are very much afraid of walking the walk. What happened to the individualistic "If you want something done, do it yourself?" attitude everyone preaches.

[colossus27]

All but about $2 million of the budget gap could be wiped out by reaching agreement with district unions on single carrier health insurance, Crosby said. The board imposed that move unilaterally last year, and the unions are challenging it through grievances.

But it's all about the students, isn't it? What's the issue here? An increased co-pay? No free boob jobs or lip implants?

[steven]

Bankruptcy is the only answer