Both sides remain at the table in the on-going Buffalo teachers contract dispute. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley caught up with city Schools Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash Wednesday morning for an update.
“So we’re at the table now with the BTF and negotiations,” said Superintendent Cash.
"I have the responsibility of making sure that our school system doesn't go defunct or go broke in trying to settle a contract," said Dr. Kriner Cash, Superintendent.
Superintendent Cash tells us the district is meeting with the union Wednesday. An arbitrator has ruledagainst the school board's removal of the cosmetic surgery rider in the expired teachers’ contract.
Buffalo Teacher Federation President Phil Rumore stated he hopes the school board will 'abide' by the arbitrator's latest decision. But Cash tells us he wasn't surprised the decision.
“I don’t think that will have a bearing on negotiations at all. It was expected and anticipated and we’ll continue to negotiate,” Cash said.
Cash claims he and Rumore have managed to narrow the range of issues to less than a dozen that now need to be hammered out. However, Cash could not indicate specific areas. He did note the contract always come down to money and district finances.
“I have the responsibility of making sure that our school system doesn’t go defunct or go broke in trying to settle a contract, so while you want to be competitive and fair, which is what I think we have on the table right now, you don’t want to hamstring the district in out years or in future years, so we are being very thoughtful in doing our due diligence on that responsibility,” Cash remarked.
School Board President Barbara Seals-Nevergold agrees.
“You know I think it is cost and I certainly know that some of the board members are looking at work rules as well, but I think that there is a great understanding that has been reach in terms of the teachers and support for Dr. Cash’s new education bargain that we can resolve some of those work rule impasses with MOU’s, with gentlemen’s agreements if they become a stumbling block to settling the contract. I think it’s unfortunate, because I think we can move ahead, but I do think the physical constraints do take precedent over everything,” Seals-Nevergold said.
Seals-Nevergold said everyone will be on a much better footing in moving the district forward once the contract is settled.
