Buffalo school officials Wednesday evening outlined a "worst-case scenario" budget for the next school year that would cut the jobs of 200 teachers, 185 teacher's aides, 15 administrators and 300 bus aides.

The cuts — designed to close a $34 million budget gap — would increase class

sizes, reduce school maintenance and repair, and shrink the school system's payroll by about

10 percent.

"I have never in my career had this type of challenge," School Superintendent James A.

Williams told the Board of Education's Finance Committee. "Thirty-four million dollars is a

very challenging number."

Several board members urged that other options — such as televised high school

lectures, school closures or renegotiated leases — be considered to reduce layoffs.

"We can cut," said board member Vivian O. Evans of the Central District. "We know that's an

option. But first, I want to see some creativity. Let's think a little differently."

Williams said the deficit could be eliminated if the unions agreed to $19 million in

givebacks without receiving anything in return, and if the state reduced the school system's

mandated charter school payments by $15 million.

The union givebacks would require employees to pay 20 percent of their health care premiums

and give up coverage for cosmetic surgery.

Buffalo Teachers Federation President Philip Rumore called the giveback proposal a

"nonstarter."

"That's not going to happen," Rumore said of 20 percent premium payments. "It doesn't need

to happen."

He said the BTF has long been willing to give up the rider for cosmetic surgery, but only

as part of a new contract.

At the same time, there have been no indications that the State Legislature is seriously

considering major changes in charter school funding.

That places added importance on the "worst-case scenario" budget, which calls for staffing

reductions of at least 6 percent in all of the school system's departments. Twenty-six white-

collar workers would be laid off, along with five central office administrators.

Some of those cuts would be softened if there are increases in the contributions currently

planned for the city schools by the state, federal and city governments, Williams said.

The state provides Buffalo schools 80 percent of their funding but is facing a $9 billion

budget gap of its own. The state budget is already three weeks late, and there are no

indications that an agreement is near in Albany.

"Budget discussions, from what I've heard, are absolutely going nowhere," said Barbara J.

Smith, the school system's chief financial officer.

The schools are required to have a budget in place by July 1.

Betty Martin, president of the union representing the bus aides, said cutting 300 of the

700 aides would result in "out-of-control buses."

Smith said yellow buses will be equipped with security cameras, but Martin said cameras

can't take the place of people.

"A camera can't break up a fight," Martin said. "We're there to provide safety for those

children."

Smith said the deficit should be closed as much as possible with structural cuts, since the

school system's financial crisis is expected to worsen. Projections show the budget gap rising

to $63.1 million in 2011-12 and to $92.5 million in 2012-13.

The BTF and other unions are lobbying for a bill that would provide $1.4 billion for

schools in the state, Rumore said. "We're going to work to make sure that worst-case scenario

doesn't happen," he said.

Rumore said the budget gap should not be closed at the expense of Buffalo teachers, who

have had their wages frozen for three years and have been without a contract for five years.