By Mark Wozniak and Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Board of Education heard from several parents Wednesday night who asked for nurses be restored to each city school.
County budget cuts have resulted in the reduction of nursing services. The board says it will restore full-time nursing services if the state approves a program through BOCES with 80 percent state reimbursement.
The board also voted to accept nearly $25,000 from the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo to help with new Superintendent James Williams' move to Buffalo.
The board is also finalizing its budget for the school year that begins in September. School Board President Florence Johnson says there will be some job cuts in the upcoming school budget. Johnson says there could be up to 50 cuts, but it depends on the number of retirees.
"Last week, when I talked to our financial officer, it was down to 50. We are hoping it will be less than that because of retirements," Johnson said. "But we are not given a certain date for teachers or administrators to notify us if they are retiring."
The board is expected to vote on a 2005- 2006 budget on June 22nd. But then it will be forwarded to the control board for final approval.