Buffalo, New York Teachers Get Free Plastic Surgery (VIDEO)

As 3 percent of New York teachers -- which translates to more than 7,000 teachers -- fell prey to layoffs this year, around 3,400 teachers in Buffalo, New York can get any plastic surgery procedure, such as botox or tummy tucks, free of charge, CNN reports.

The deal is a part of one of the educators' insurance plan options, which offers no-cost, no-deductible plastic surgery procedures. It's included as a self-insured rider in teachers' contracts, so the district covers the cost of every procedure.

Linda Tokarz, a second-grade teacher who receives regular treatments, tells CNN it's a valuable service for the teachers.

"I think its great for us," Tokarz said, "I wouldn't want to see it taken away."

According to a report by Buffalo station WGRZ, the issue isn't a new phenomenon, despite recent national attention.

"As 2 On Your Side [WGRZ] has reported for nearly a year and a half, the coverage has become more and more expensive. Although it's been around for around 4 decades, in recent years the costs have skyrocketed.

In 2009, the cost was more than $9 million. Last fiscal year, the district spent $5.2 million for the coverage."

The rider was initially meant to cover reconstructive surgery from serious accidents and burn victims, according to The Buffalo News.

Since then, the cosmetic surgery industry has boomed, and Buffalo plastic surgeons started advertising directly to teachers through newsletters. According to an extensive report by the Atlantic, one doctor billed the district $4 million -- some of which is paid with public dollars.

So far, the teachers union isn't interested in making any changes to the rider.

"The urgency of negotiating a new contract isn't really there," Buffalo Schools Interim Superintendant Amber Dixon told the Atlantic. "You get to keep your benefits. You get to keep your cosmetic rider. You get to keep your 2.5% step increase. It makes getting back to the table difficult."

At one point, the Buffalo school board allegedly offered a trade: it would avoid 100 school layoffs if the union would table plastic surgery for a year. They declined the offer.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that the school district was unwilling to negotiate the cosmetic surgery rider. The teachers' union is resisting its elimination.

WATCH:

Comments

[JessCostello]

02:18 AM on 03/01/2012

I'm surprised Huffpo would publish any article that makes part of the Democratic party base look so bad.

[NorthWoodsVoice]

12:53 PM on 11/29/2012

Looks like your opinion of Huffpo was wrong, Jess. Looks like you need to reappraise your preconceptions about the media. Maybe they were also telling you the truth about other things you disbelieved.

[GlennWatson]

10:03 PM on 02/29/2012

One more thing for teachers to feel guilty about.

[GlennWatson]

09:59 PM on 02/29/2012

I'm sorry but how is this free? It s part of tier negotiated pay! They work for it.

[dropthedh]

01:45 PM on 02/29/2012

Who knew there was such a rush to become one of the beautiful people in Buffalo.

[mdh461]

10:38 AM on 02/29/2012

What are the minimum standards of performance of a non tenured and a tenured teacher.

[bekakiraly]

09:26 AM on 02/29/2012

No news there. Just another typical something-for-nothing, freeloading liberal move. Most teachers are bleeding heart libs, so it's only natural.

[Mr Anonymous]

09:55 PM on 02/29/2012

Actually I'm very liberal, and a teacher, and I think that it's ludicrous.

[10YearTeacher]

08:23 AM on 02/29/2012

I can't believe some of the comments here. IT IS IN THEIR CONTRACT! If you have problems with contract law, then take that up with the Supreme Court.
As to the merits of it being in their contract, that is between the school board and their union negotiators. No one else. Unless you are a resident of this school district, you really don't have much to say about the issue.

HuffPo makes headlines that are inflammatory. You should be much more upset at all the war and destruction that is done on the public dime.

[asantewa3]

09:24 AM on 02/29/2012

While teaching is a commendable and revered position, do you really feel that it makes sense for 100 positions to be cut in order for 3400 teachers to continue with their botox treatments? Whether or not it is in their contract, as times change, so should their attitudes. It's a great thing to have but why not have the school district put that money back into the schools and the kids rather that on the chest or in the face of the teachers. It just seems irresponsible in these difficult times.

[10YearTeacher]

01:21 PM on 03/01/2012

Personally, I agree with you. I believe the union made a poor decision, but that just is how it is. What I won't agree with you on is the idea that we should take money that went to teacher compensation, in whatever form it is, and put that money somewhere else. In these "difficult times" we must help maintain a solid middle class. It is the middle class purchasing that will fuel our demand economy's revival.

[mdh461]

10:33 AM on 02/29/2012

All people have the right to give their opinion and if I lived in that "public school " district I would start recalling a few school board members.

[Ariel Bonzai]

07:35 AM on 02/29/2012

I can't condone this if it's not just for people who have serious issues. I'd take advantage of it in small ways if it wasn't, and there's an argument that being attractive can be helpful for teacher's practice. I don't mean breast jobs or cheek implants but things that deter that saggy skin or freshen frown lines. It does seem to invite unethical compromise the doctor has no reason to avoid. Right now thT 9 million is going to hurt district budgets. And you know haters will be ranting on this for some time.like we all get nip tucked I spring breaks

[dmbranagan]

06:32 AM on 02/29/2012

maybe channel 2 should also look into the perks of the BPD....seems the BPD's retirees can get plastic surgery and botox too. I heard this from a retired P.O.

[ennui the third]

06:00 AM on 02/29/2012

I wonder if the school janitors get free spa treatments.

[Ariel Bonzai]

07:36 AM on 02/29/2012

If anyone deserves them..

[ennui the third]

02:13 PM on 02/29/2012

Uh.....okay.

[luapmi2]

03:22 AM on 02/29/2012

I have several teacher friends here in Michigan who get free massages EVERY week.

There is a reason teachers refuse change....

[eceresa]

06:43 AM on 02/29/2012

If you have friends that are teachers, why do you bash teachers so much? Seems unlikely.

[Ariel Bonzai]

07:37 AM on 02/29/2012

These educRAT$ are transparent , aren't they?

[luapmi2]

02:57 PM on 02/29/2012

MY brother and daughter are teachers....they are not the sharpest knives in the drawer.

HONESTY above all else....

[10YearTeacher]

08:24 AM on 02/29/2012

Actually, my wife gets that. It is part of her contract, and we pay for part of them. They are not free. But more importantly, THAT IS WHAT IS IN THE CONTRACT. If you have a problem with that, go to your school board. If you have a problem with contract law, go to the Supreme Court.

[JessCostello]

02:24 AM on 03/01/2012

Isn't that nice that you get to put something else in the contract like that and everyone else has no say in it?

Then to make matters worse, due to the power of the teachers unions, politicians are often unwilling and unable to change it.

[Dave Rohrich]

01:21 AM on 11/30/2012

Have a problem with it? Go to the Supreme Court. Simple as that. You are one real piece of work 10yearteacher. I PRAY for the sake of this country that your name isn't literal

[mlaiuppa]

02:34 AM on 02/29/2012

Please note that this is unique to Buffalo, N.Y.

Every teacher in the United States is not getting free plastic surgery. If they did, I'd have my deviated septum corrected.

[nyjjc]

12:33 AM on 02/29/2012

As others have noted, there is more to this story than is being reported, and relevant facts are being left out to create yet another wedge issue to demonize unions.

Take this article with a grain of salt.

[Dave Rohrich]

01:22 AM on 11/30/2012

Yes, the "free cosmetic plastic surgery" is being taken out of context somehow. You tell em nyjjc......

[nyjjc]

09:47 AM on 11/30/2012

It sure is being taken out of context.  Take a look at what that rider actually covers and why it was originally put in place.
However,  objectively looking at anything to do with unions is impossible for a rightwingnut, so by all means, continue your screed...

[Rich914]

10:34 PM on 02/28/2012

Great, since so many of them are so butt ugly. Cosmetic surgery for ugly teachers is good for education because it makes it possible for students to look at them without gagging. Now if they could do something about teachers with BO and bad breath.

[Ashok Hegde]

10:34 PM on 02/28/2012

As we breathe, we move further right.

Have unions negotiated themselves to their end? Seems like many americans are no longer pro-union, and articles like this only highlight why.

[luapmi2]

03:23 AM on 02/29/2012

Unions kill themselves in that they become what they hate and were formed to fight....BIG business.

[eceresa]

06:44 AM on 02/29/2012

Or at least we're told they do, and some of us are eager to believe.