The Buffalo Board of Education emerged from executive session and approved a tentative contract deal for city school teachers in a vote of 7-2 early Monday night.
But before school members went behind closed doors to discuss the tentative agreement reached Sunday night by the District and Buffalo Teachers Federation, two board members objected.
Both Carl Paladino and Larry Quinn said it was a violation of open meeting laws to discuss the contract in private. However, the board's legal counsel said it was not illegal.
The board voted in favor of the executive session, but Paladino and Quinn continued to protest against it.
"The public has the right to know...This is a rigged deal," declared Paladino. Both Paladino and Quinn then refused to join the session and walked out, staying in the hallway with the media.
Paladino told reporters the public should hear details of the proposed contract.
"This should be an open and public discussion in front of everybody," stated Paladino. "The people left in that room pretty much represent those supported by the union in the last election, so this is what you get."
"Once they come out will you vote against what they are going to present?" asked Buckley.
"When I see the terms, the proposed contract has been embargoed up until now. They wouldn't release it to us which is a further indication the contract is way out of sorts with what we would find acceptable," replied Paladino.
But once the board completed the private session, members emerged and voted. Paladino and Quinn voted against the contract.
Buffalo teachers began their review of the proposed deal at Kleinhans Music Hall early Monday night before they voted on the contract.
WBFO's Mike Desmond has details on the contractthat was approved by Buffalo teachers.
