BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — Layoffs are looming for more than 150-teachers in the Rochester City School District.
But the Buffalo Public School District is standing by, ready to offer potential teaching jobs.
7 Eyewitness News senior reporter Eileen Buckley tells us about Buffalo Schools recruitment effort.
“We all struggle with the same critical shortage areas, which are math, science, bilingual – ENL (English as a New Language),” explained Jamie Warren, associate superintendent for Human Resources, Buffalo Schools.
The district has about 50-jobs to fill. Next Tuesday, December 17, Buffalo Schools will travel down the thruway to host an invitation only recruitment effort in Rochester.
“Really grateful to buffalo for reaching out,” replied Adam Urbanski, president, Rochester Teachers Association.
The union says 155 Rochester teachers are expected to be laid off at the end of the month when the school board votes next Thursday, December 19.
“We've dubbed them the Christmas massacre here,” remarked Urbanski.
The Rochester teachers union is crying foul against its district, accusing them of misspending as it faces a $68-million deficit.
The union leader said the New York State Comptroller’s office is in the process of conducting an audit in the Rochester School District into spending and the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) is also conducting a federal investigation into potential fraud and how information in the budget was reported.
The union leader says they're asking the Rochester School Board to wait until the state legislature returns in January to see if any emergency aid could be provided before cutting teaching jobs.
Recently Rochester students rallied against the planned layoffs.
“We have children who are crying that they will that they may not see their teachers after the Christmas break,” Urbanski said.
Urbanksi says it would be tough to lose colleagues to Buffalo but would rather see them employed.
The Buffalo School District said they must always look for recruitment opportunities.
“The hardest part for us is we are charged with finding the best,” Warren remarked. “When you’re as large as we are, staffing is dynamic. Everyday situations occur where you have to look at opportunities where you have to look to staff vacancies.”
The Buffalo School District says those who are invited to Tuesday’s Rochester recruitment could be hired on the stop an and teaching at a Buffalo School early as this January.
Warren said they are looking for “high performing teachers” with a “proven track record” in closing the achievement gaps.
As for selling the Buffalo community to a teacher from Rochester, Warren says she believes it’s an easy sell.
“We’re doing great here. I think Buffalo sells itself,” Warren replied.
