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Talks continue toward new Buffalo teachers contract

Mike Desmond/WBFO News

The labor talks between the Buffalo school system and the Buffalo Teachers Federation are apparently making progress.

"It's not over until it's over," BTF President Phil Rumore said Wednesday night while appearing at the Buffalo school board meeting.

"The only thing I can tell you is we're all working very hard towards that end and we're going to meet again on Friday."

While the massive turnout for a union rally two weeks ago suggests unity on the teacher side, board members appear to be divided on some issues. Board President Barbara Seals Nevergold cut off Board Member Larry Quinn when he objected to parts of a union presentation to the meeting. Quinn claims the union numbers ignored the $70 million cost this year to cover the health care of retired teachers.

At one point during a contentious exchange between Seals Nevergold and Quinn, board member Sharon Belton Cottman sided with the Board President in quieting Quinn.

Schools Superintendent Kriner Cash has made settling the union contract fight a high priority, saying that he's seeking a contract that "supports our ability to continue to provide equal access and high quality programs, instruction and services to all of our students."

The last contract expired 12 years ago.

Mike Desmond is one of Western New York’s most experienced reporters, having spent nearly a half-century covering the region for newspapers, television stations and public radio. He has been with WBFO and its predecessor, WNED-AM, since 1988. As a reporter for WBFO, he has covered literally thousands of stories involving education, science, business, the environment and many other issues. Mike has been a long-time theater reviewer for a variety of publications and was formerly a part-time reporter for The New York Times.