By Barbara O'Brien
News Staff Reporter
Buffalo-area school districts trying to hire teachers are encountering something they’ve never seen in the public sector before: job candidates looking for the highest bidder.
kAm“x’G6 ?6G6C D66? 2AA=:42?ED A=2J:?8 5:DEC:4ED @77 @?6 2?@E96C =:<6 E96J 5@ ?@H[” $E2CA@:?E r6?EC2= $FA6C:?E6?56?E $62? |] rC@7E D2:5] “!6@A=6 2C6 4@>:?8 :? 2?5 D2J:?8 ‘x’> @776C65 E9:D 2E E9:D D49@@= 5:DEC:4E[ H92E 42? J@F 5@ 7@C >6n’ ”k^Am
kAm%96C6VD 2=H2JD 2 76H =2DE\>:?FE6 9:C6D :? pF8FDE[ 3FE :EVD 2 =:EE=6 5:776C6?E E9:D J62C] $E2CA@:?E AFE @77 9:C:?8 2? 255:E:@?2= D4:6?46 E62496C 3642FD6 :E 4@F=5 ?@E 7:?5 E96 C:89E 42?5:52E6[ 2?5 >2J ?@E 36 23=6 E@ 7:== 2 E649?@=@8J ;@3] r=2C6?46 r6?EC2= :D 9@A:?8 E@ 9:C6 2 3FD:?6DD E62496C 367@C6 D49@@= DE2CED] p?5 qF772=@ !F3=:4 $49@@=D 92G6 `bg E6249:?8 DA@ED E@ 7:==]k^Am
kAm%96 >2C<6E 7@C E62496CD 2C@F?5 E96 4@F?ECJ :D E:89E6C E92? :E 92D 366? :? J62CD[ A2CE:4F=2C=J :? DF3;64ED DF49 2D D4:6?46[ DA64:2= 65F42E:@? 2?5 7@C6:8? =2?8F286D] k^Am
kAm$@>6 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED :? CFC2= %6I2D DH:E4965 E@ 7@FC\52J H66<D 2D 2? :?46?E:G6 E@ 2EEC24E 2?5 C6E2:? E62496CD] u=@C:52 :D :DDF:?8 E6>A@C2CJ 46CE:7:42E6D E@ G6E6C2?D H9@ 92G6 e_ 9@FCD @7 4@==686 4C65:E E@ E6249 7@C FA E@ 7:G6 J62CD H9:=6 E96J AFCDF6 32496=@C’D 568C66D E@ 86E >@C6 E62496CD :? E96 4=2DDC@@>]k^Am
kAm%96 52JD @7 86EE:?8 9F?5C65D @7 2AA=:42E:@?D 7@C @?6 @A6?:?8 2C6 @G6C[ D@ D@>6 =@42= 5:DEC:4ED 2C6 ECJ:?8 5:776C6?E H2JD E@ 2EEC24E BF2=:EJ 42?5:52E6Di 25G6CE:D:?8 >@C6 2?5 D@>6E:>6D @776C:?8 E@ DE2CE 2AA=:42?ED 2E 2 9:896C A2J DE6A @C @776C:?8 D:8?:?8 3@?FD6D]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 2 =:EE=6 H:88=6 C@@>[” rC@7E D2:5]k^Am
kAmp?5 H9:=6 E62496CD 92G6 366? <?@H? E@ DH:E49 D49@@=D[ rC@7E D2:5 E96C6’D 2 ?6H HC:?<=6i %62496CD 2C6 36:?8 H@@65 3J @E96C 5:DEC:4ED]k^Am
kAm“(6 925 2 E649?@=@8J E62496C =62G6 3642FD6 E96J H6C6 C64CF:E65 3J 2?@E96C 5:DEC:4E[” 96 D2:5[ 255:?8 E92E E96 E62496C 8@E 6>2:=D 7C@> E62496CD :? E96 @E96C 5:DEC:4E =2F5:?8 E96:C D49@@=]k^Am
kAmw6 5@6D?’E E9:?< 96’== 36 23=6 E@ 9:C6 2 E649?@=@8J E62496C 3J $6AE6>36C] $E2CA@:?E 2=D@ H2D A=2??:?8 E@ 255 2 D4:6?46 E62496C E9:D J62C 3642FD6 @7 :?4C62D6D :? 6?C@==>6?E[ 3FE 4@F=5 ?@E 7:?5 E96 C:89E 9:C6]k^Am
kAm“(6 564:565 E@ AF?E F?E:= ?6IE J62C[ 2?5 C6H@C< E96 D4965F=6 E@ 8:G6 6I:DE:?8 E62496CD 255:E:@?2= 4=2DD6D[” rC@7E D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 D>2==6C 5:DEC:4ED >2J DE:== 92G6 2 76H @A6? DA@ED[ qF772=@ !F3=:4 $49@@=D 92G6 `bg E62496C @A6?:?8D]k^Am
kAmqFE E92E’D ?@E F?FDF2=] xE’D 23@FE E96 D2>6 ?F>36C @7 @A6?:?8D E96 5:DEC:4E 925 2E E9:D E:>6 E96 =2DE 7:G6 J62CD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ %2>: w@==:6\|4v66[ 49:67 @7 9F>2? C6D@FC46D] $96 D2:5 D96 6IA64ED E92E ?F>36C E@ 4@>6 5@H?[ D:?46 E96 EC2?D76C AC@46DD 6?565 uC:52J 2?5 E96 5:DEC:4E 42? DE2CE 6IE6?5:?8 @776CD E@ @FED:56 42?5:52E6D]k^Am
kAm$96 D2:5 E92E D@>6 E62496CD 92G6 E@=5 E96 5:DEC:4E C646?E=J E92E E96J 2C6 =62G:?8[ 6:E96C E@ C6=@42E6 @FE @7 E96 2C62 @C E@ H@C< :? @E96C 5:DEC:4ED E92E >2J 36 4=@D6C E@ H96C6 E96J =:G6] k^Am
kAm“x 92G6 >J DE277 C6249:?8 @FE E@ E96> E@ 7:?5 @FE :7 E96C6 :D D@>6E9:?8 H6 42? 5@ E@ :?E6CG6?6 E@ <66A E96> 7C@> D6A2C2E:?8 7C@> FD[” w@==:6\|4v66 D2:5]k^Am
kAm}@E 6G6CJ 5:DEC:4E 92D 925 AC@3=6>D] xE’D 366? 2 3FDJ DF>>6C 7@C 9:C:?8 :? (6DE $6?642[ 3FE E96 724F=EJ :D D6E[ 2=E9@F89 9:C:?8 :? @E96C 2C62D[ DF49 2D EC2?DA@CE2E:@?[ :D 2 3:E @7 2 DECF88=6]k^Am
kAm“x7 H6 925 2 A9JD:4D @A6?:?8[ x >:89E 36 A2?:4<:?8[” (6DE $6?642 pDD:DE2?E $FA6C:?E6?56?E y@?2E92? r6CG@?: D2:5]k^Am
kAm(6DE $6?642 56G6=@A65 A2CE?6CD9:AD H:E9 =@42= 4@==686 E62496C AC6A AC@8C2>D 7@C DEF56?ED E@ 36 DF3DE:EFE6D] %96 5:DEC:4E 2=D@ 4C62E65 AC676CC65 3F:=5:?8 DF3DE:EFE6D H9@ H@C< 6G6CJ 52J H:E9 5FE:6D E92E 42? G2CJ 7C@> 52J E@ 52J]k^Am
kAm“(6 C62==J 86E E@ <?@H E96>[ E96J 86E E@ <?@H FD[” $FA6C:?E6?56?E |2EE96H qJDEC2< D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E96 D9@CE286 >2J ?@E 92G6 C624965 2 4C:D:D A@:?E :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C<[ 5:DEC:4ED 2C6 D66:?8 72C 76H6C 2AA=:42?ED 7@C E96 @A6?:?8D E96J 92G6] $6G6C2= J62CD 28@[ :E H@F=5 ?@E 92G6 366? F?FDF2= 7@C r=2C6?46 r6?EC2= E@ 92G6 b_ 2AA=:42E:@?D 7@C 2 >FD:4 E62496C A@DE:?8]k^Am
kAm“(6 AFE @?6 FA ?@E E@@ =@?8 28@[ 2?5 :E H2D >@C6 =:<6 `a[” D2:5 #@36CE |:496=[ 2DD:DE2?E DFA6C:?E6?56?E 7@C 9F>2? C6D@FC46D]k^Am
kAmxE C62==J 56A6?5D @? E96 DA64:2=EJ[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“u@C 2? 6=6>6?E2CJ A@D:E:@?[ H6’C6 FDF2==J AC6EEJ D276 :? 86EE:?8 G6CJ BF2=:EJ 2AA=:42E:@?D[” |:496= D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE E96C6 2C6 76H 42?5:52E6D 7@C DA64:2= 65F42E:@?[ 72>:=J 4@?DF>6C D4:6?46D[ 3FD:?6DD[ 496>:DECJ[ A9JD:4D 2?5 6G6? $A2?:D9[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“x ?6G6C E9@F89E H6 H@F=5 92G6 EC@F3=6 7:==:?8 $A2?:D9 A@D:E:@?D[” |:496= D2:5] “%92E’D 2 AC@3=6> 24C@DD E96 DE2E6]”k^Am
kAm%96 5:DEC:4E H2D 4@?D:56C:?8 5:D4@?E:?F:?8 :ED 72>:=J 4@?DF>6C D4:6?46 AC@8C2> :? E96 >:55=6 D49@@= 3642FD6 :E 925 EC@F3=6 9:C:?8 2 E62496C[ 3FE 2 D64@?5 A@DE:?8 J:6=565 2 DF446DD7F= 42?5:52E6]k^Am
kAm(96? E96J 42?VE 7:== 2? @A6?:?8[ qF772=@ !F3=:4 $49@@=D[ =:<6 @E96C D49@@=D[ 2D<D @E96C E62496CD E@ A:4< FA 2 4=2DD 5FC:?8 E96:C A=2??:?8 A6C:@5 7@C 6IEC2 A2J[ w@==:6\|4v66 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 D9@CE286 @7 E62496CD 92D 366? =@@>:?8 7@C J62CD] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 }6H *@C< $E2E6 %62496CD’ #6E:C6>6?E $JDE6>[ bcT @7 E62496CD :? a_a` H6C6 d_ @C @=56C] $E2E6 @77:4:2=D 6DE:>2E6 E92E }6H *@C< H:== ?665 `g_[___ ?6H E62496CD @G6C E96 ?6IE 564256]k^Am
kAm“(6 <?6H E92E @FC H@C<7@C46 H2D 28:?8 @FE] &?7@CEF?2E6=J[ 2D H6 DE2CE65 E@ D66 E96 D9@CE286 =@@>:?8[ E96 A2?56>:4 9:E[” D2:5 y@=6?6 s:qC2?8@[ 6I64FE:G6 G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 }6H *@C< $E2E6 &?:E65 %62496CD]k^Am
kAmp55:?8 E@ E96 56>@8C2A9:4D :D E96 DEC6DD @7 E6249:?8 E9C@F89 E96 r@G:5\`h A2?56>:4[ 2D H6== 2D 4F=EFC6 H2CD 4C66A:?8 :?E@ D49@@=D] (9:=6 E62496CD 5@?VE 2AA62C E@ 36 =62G:?8 E96 AC@76DD:@? :? >2DD6D C:89E ?@H[ D@>6 92G6 ?@E:465 2 D=:89E FAE:4< :? C6E:C6>6?ED] k^Am
kAmQx E9:?< A2CE @7 E92E :D E96 DEC6DD @7 E96 =2DE EH@\2?5\2\92=7 J62CD] xEVD 567:?:E6=J E2<:?8 2 E@== @? :?5:G:5F2=D[Q rC@7E D2:5] Q!6@A=6 ;FDE 2E E96 324< 6?5 @7 E96:C 42C66C 2C6 86EE:?8 @FE >2J36 62C=:6C E92? E96J 2?E:4:A2E65]Qk^Am
kAm&]$] $64C6E2CJ @7 t5F42E:@? |:8F6= r2C5@?2 92D 42==65 @? DE2E6D[ D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 2?5 :?DE:EFE:@?D @7 9:896C 65F42E:@? E@ 7@C> A2CE?6CD9:AD E@ DFAA@CE 2 DEC@?8 A:A6=:?6 @7 E62496CD] w6 2=D@ FC865 E96> E@ FD6 p>6C:42? #6D4F6 !=2? p4E 7F?5:?8 E@ 255C6DD E96 E62496C D9@CE286 2?5 :?4C62D6 E96 ?F>36C @7 E62496C 42?5:52E6D AC6A2C65 E@ 6?E6C E96 E6249:?8 AC@76DD:@?]k^Am
kAm|2?J 5:DEC:4ED 92G6 9:C65 >@C6 E62496CD :? E96 A2DE J62C H:E9 7656C2= 7F?5D[ H9:49 564C62D65 E96 A@@= @7 2AA=:42?ED 2 =:EE=6 >@C6]k^Am
kAmqF772=@ :D @?6 @7 >2?J 5:DEC:4ED H@C<:?8 H:E9 =@42= 4@==686D H:E9 E62496C AC6A2C2E:@? AC@8C2>D]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 6?82865 H:E9 E96 =@42= 4@==686D 7@C 2C@F?5 E9C66 J62CD E@ 82:? E62496CD E9C@F89 E96 E62496C C6D:56?4J AC@8C2>[” w@==:6\|4v66 D2:5]k^Am
kAm&?56C E96 E62496C C6D:56?4J AC@8C2>[ 4@==686 DEF56?ED 2DA:C:?8 E@ 36 E62496CD H@C< :? E96 4=2DDC@@> 7@C 7@FC 52JD 2 H66<[ 2?5 DA6?5 @?6 52J 86EE:?8 4=2DDC@@> :?DECF4E:@?]k^Am
kAm}6H *@C< $E2E6 &?:E65 %62496CD 4C62E65 2 “%2<6 2 {@@< 2E %6249:?8” AC@8C2> E@ 6?4@FC286 DEF56?ED E@ 4@?D:56C E6249:?8 2D 2 AC@76DD:@?]k^Am
kAm$49@@=D 2=D@ >:89E E9:?< 23@FE :>AC@G:?8 H@C<:?8 4@?5:E:@?D E@ 2EEC24E 2?5 C6E2:? E62496CD[ s:qC2?8@ D2:5] k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< ?@H E92E H6VC6 D66:?8 E9:D D9@CE286 J@F H:== D66 E62496CD D66< @FE 5:DEC:4ED E92E 92G6 6I46==6?E =23@C >2?286>6?E C6=2E:@?D9:AD @C 8C62E H@C<:?8 6?G:C@?>6?ED H96C6 A6C92AD E96J 92G6 7=6I:3=6 D4965F=6D @C 36EE6C D4965F=6D[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmu:?5:?8 2 ;@3 :? 65F42E:@? DE:== 3@:=D 5@H? E@ 36:?8 :? E96 C:89E A=246 2E E96 C:89E E:>6[ H:E9 E96 C:89E 46CE:7:42E:@?]k^Am
kAm|:496=[ @7 r=2C6?46[ C646?E=J >6E H:E9 2 DF3DE:EFE6 E62496C 42?5:52E6 H:E9 2 3:@496>:42= 568C66 H9@ H2D 2?E:4:A2E:?8 86EE:?8 46CE:7:65 E@ E6249 3:@=@8J]k^Am
kAm“x D2:5 A:4< FA 496>:DECJ[ 496>:DECJ E62496CD 2C6 2E 2 AC6>:F>[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
Want to see more like this?
Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox.