After 12-long years without a contract, the Buffalo Teachers Federation and city school district reached a tentative deal late Sunday night. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says two city leaders are reacting.
“I want to see a contract where everyone has given up something,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.
Brown responding to word of the end of gridlock between the union and district. This tentative deal was reached after a seven hour negotiating session Sunday. No details of the contract are being released.
The Buffalo School Board will hold a special session late Monday afternoon to vote on the deal, then Monday evening the Buffalo Teachers Federation presents the deal to teachers for a vote. One of the sticking points in the deal was teacher wages and the Mayor hopes teachers get what they deserve.
“In a way that is affordable for residents and taxpayers in the city of Buffalo,” declared Mayor Brown.
“It’s especially good for the students in the schools and, of course, the teachers,” responded Darius Pridgen, former school board member and President of the Buffalo Common Council.
Pridgen reacting positively to word that there is a tentative agreement in place
"I have a lot of confidence that even if it doesn’t go all the way through today, that we are so close that it has to happen very soon. I cannot imagine this dragging out of the next few months,” Pridgen remarked.
BTF President Phil Rumore said Schools Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash was key in helping to reach this tentative deal. Pridgen remembers a time when a superintendent could not break through the gridlock
“There hasn’t been the divisiveness as we have seen on the board in the past,” Pridgen stated.
