By Mark Wozniak and Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo School Board met Wednes night, and approved a new $690 million budget for the upcoming school year. The board's chief financial officer, Gary Crosby, says the district's plan to use a single carrier for health insurance paved the way for a budget that includes minimal cuts.
"We have very few layoffs this year," Crosby said. "When you look back the last few years, we've had about 900 layoffs. Every year has been gut wrenching because of certain costs that were rising beyond the district's control. One of them in the past has been health insurance. But this year, we have a handle on it."
The board also voted five to four Wednesday night to appoint former school board president Donald Van Every to the North District seat vacated by the resignation of Denise Hanlon. But some board members say the appointment was controversial, done Monday during a closed-door session.