Report: Pricey perks for teachers

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - An education reform group has released a report on spending for the Buffalo Public Schools revealing some extravagant spending on items ranging from plastic surgery to 4 star hotels and limousines.

The Education Action Group filed a freedom of information request for the credit card records and checks for the Buffalo City School District in 2011.

WEB EXTRA | View all the expenses here

PREVIOUS REPORT | You can view the salaries of all public education employees in Buffalo and other districts here

Cosmetic surgery for teachers totaled $2.7 million.  The figure is down considerably from the $9 million spent on plastic surgery in 2009.  This is a perk that the Buffalo teacher's union has said they'd be willing to forego in a new contract but there has not been a new contract since the previous one expired in 2004.

Group founder Kyle Olson said, "While it's a decline, I still believe that's an outrageous amount of money to be spent on a perk that has nothing to do with the education of children. I think that sort of expenditure is completely over-the-top in a district that has a nearly $50 million deficit and is just spending money needlessly."

You can search all the travel and hotel expenses below.

Hotels, air fare and limousine expense totaled close to $200,000. The city school district is suffering a deficit of nearly $50 million and yet spent $3 million on plastic surgery and travel.

Buffalo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore calls it old news, saying the union would be willing to give it up if the district proposes a decent contract.

"We told the district eight years ago that we're willing to drop it. It's up to the district now. If there's anybody to blame for it still being there, it's the Buffalo School Board," Rumore said.

School board member Ralph Hernandez responded, "We made every effort on our end, on the board's side, to have them either suspend it indefinitely and/or at least for a period of time. But they refuse to do that."

The cosmetic rider is a negotiated benefit. Until teachers receive a new contract, they can keep working under the terms of the expired one.