Buffalo Public Schools can't guarantee there won't be any layoffs next year

Protests have broken out at some local school districts over teacher layoffs recently.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Protests have broken out at some local school districts over teacher layoffs.

For Buffalo Public Schools, which is facing a multi-million dollar budget shortfall, the district says it has a plan to avoid any layoffs.

The district says its biggest challenge is the loss of $90 million from the American Rescue Plan and other COVID funds. At this point, Buffalo Schools can't promise there won't be any layoffs.

On Wednesday night, a budget update was given at a committee meeting. Under the Governor's proposed budget, Buffalo Public Schools would have an $80 million budget shortfall. District officials say they're trying to match up enrollments, which are down, and total staffing which has grown over the past five years. Enrollment is down 3,400 and staff is up 400 over that timeframe.

"When you embark on a strategy like ours, there's all kinds of bumping of positions and you got to deal with union rules and civil service rules, so there could be this isn't a guarantee of no layoffs it's to mitigate them greatly," said Jim Barnes, the chief financial officer for Buffalo Schools.

The district says it has a plan to lower the number of layoffs or potentially avoid layoffs altogether: a hiring freeze, cutting vacancies and using savings. Also, the district expects 300 retirements over the next two years, and the plan is to not fill 100 positions.

"My perspective all along has been that any reductions if they are absolutely necessary, that they be equitable from Central Office down into our schools, however, it's my position that the least amount of impact in reductions be made to those professionals, those teachers, those providers that are providing direct instruction," said School Board member Larry Scott.

But there could be reductions in after-school programming, which would be reduced a couple of days next school year. The district might have to rely on Say Yes Buffalo to make up for the loss of funding. Buffalo Public Schools will vote on next year's budget on May 15.

Teachers in some local school districts are concerned about layoffs, like in West Seneca which is facing a $5 million dollar shortfall. It's already been announced that 16 teachers and aides within Hamburg schools have been laid off and seven positions won't be filled. This move resulted in a school protest.

All schools across the state are awaiting to hear what kind of funding they expect to see from the state budget, which is now 10 days late and there could be another budget extender into next week.