Elected representatives of Buffalo's teachers have voted unanimously in opposition to state and federal mandates for transfers out of low-performing schools and into schools in good standing. The district has told Albany it wants to transfer 2,100 students for next year's classes, but the plan faces strong opposition.
Buffalo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore says teachers are reporting classes in good schools are being increased in size, right up against contractual limits. Rumore says the transfers do nothing for schools they leave behind.
"What has that done for the students who don't move from those schools? The objective should be to say here's a school that supposedly, based on test scores, is a lower performing school. What can we do for that schools and all of those students to provide the services that they need? Not what can we do to cherry pick some of the students out of there, because that does no one any good," Rumore told WBFO News.
Rumore says the district has to put more resources in to help the schools with problems and opening more schools will strain resources even more.
The transfers required under state and federal law are being pushed by the District Parent Coordinating Council. Hundreds of students were denied transfers because there isn't room in the limited number of 'good' schools. Only around 300 transfers were allowed for the current school year.
