Will Buffalo Schools Lose Millions in Funding? [VIDEO]

The Buffalo Public School District might lose millions of dollars in state funding after its teachers union rejected the last proposed evaluation system for teachers. The deadline was 5 p.m. (yesterday) Tuesday 4/24/12.

$5.6 million in School Improvement Grants (SIG) hangs in the balance for the 2012 school year and an additional $50 million is in jeopardy for 2013.

"It's not us who are holding up the money, it's the commissioner of education. In my opinion he's using students as pawns," said Buffalo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore.

The union and the district have already submitted three different plans to the state, but all were rejected in Albany.

"In our high schools, 35 percent of our high school students are absent over seven weeks," added Rumore. "So how can you judge a high school teacher when a student isn't there?"

District administrators will head to Albany for a hearing this Thursday in hopes to restore the funding.

The District Parent Coordinating council is encouraging the community to attend Wednesday's 4/25/12 (today's) Buffalo School Board meeting scheduled from 5 p.m. inside city hall.

(From WKBW)