Teacher evaluations to look at absences

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Tuesday, millions of dollars will be at stake as the Buffalo School Board meets.

Back in February, Governor Cuomo unveiled a statewide teacher evaluation system that provided the guidelines for local school districts to implement teacher evaluations, based on student achievement and classroom observation.

Cuomo said, “The way the system will work is there is now an agreed to statewide regulatory evaluation system. The local school districts will then customize the system if you will, to meet their particular needs of that local district.”

The Buffalo District thought they had a plan in place until the State Department of Education let the district know last week that the plan needs to include students' excessive absences in teacher evaluation. This has put the teachers union at odds with the school district.

The city has until March 23rd to submit its plan to the state. Interim Buffalo School Superintendent Amber Dixon says that if the $9.3 million is lost this year, the district will have to lay off more than 50 people at six schools.