There Are Two Different Types of Seniority

BTF Contractual Seniority
“Seniority” is defined as a teacher’s length of total continuous service from the date of original probationary appointment as a teacher in the Buffalo Public School System. Leaves of absence without pay shall not be counted as service for this purpose. BTF Contractual Seniority is used for determining who has greater seniority in the case of transfer and reduction-in-force.
Effective January 31, 1977, whenever temporary service has been credited toward the completion of a probationary period, it shall also be counted for the purpose of seniority.

Note: For BTF Contractual Seniority, a maximum of two years of temporary time is counted if the service has been counted towards the completion of one’s probationary appointment.

Commissioner’s Seniority
BTF Contractual Seniority is not used for layoff purposes. For layoffs, what is called Commissioner’s Seniority is used. This is as per the regulations of the NYS Commissioner of Education. In general, all years of service including temporary service in the current tenure area are counted for layoff purposes. However, once laid off, all years of service in all tenure areas count for recall from what is called the preferred eligibility list.

Note: If you previously resigned from the District and have been rehired, any seniority you may have earned when first employed was surrendered when your resignation was approved by the Board of Education. This is a regulation of NYS Education Law and not the subject of negotiations between the BTF and the District.