BUFFALO, N.Y. – Another year, another round of skin peels and breast enhancements for the unionized teachers of Buffalo Public Schools, courtesy of the taxpayers.

EAGnews has learned, via an open records request, that the Buffalo school district spent $5,045,586 on the union’s insurance “cosmetic surgery rider” from July 2014 to June 2015.

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That sort of annual “investment” is the result of an old union contract provision, negotiated years ago by the Buffalo Federation of Teachers, that forces the school district to finance cosmetic medical procedures for teachers and other union members.

The really upsetting part is that the Buffalo district is what many would consider a “failing” district, and that money is clearly needed for many other priorities, like boosting academic outcomes.

The school district’s graduation rate has remained at a dismal 55.5 percent, the Buffalo News reported. By comparison, the statewide graduation in New York was 79.1 percent.

The school district earned even worse marks for its student proficiency rates.

In August 2014, the News reported only 13.1 percent of Buffalo students scored “proficient” or better on state math tests. Only 12.2 percent of students rated “proficient” or better in reading and writing.

But all of that is apparently beside the point. Did you see Ms. Smith’s taut tummy?

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Beyond the academic failure is the fact that the school district is constantly teetering on the edge of financial disaster.

Last school year the board of education was scrambling to find enough cuts to eliminate a $12.6 million deficit. The shortfall has been as large as $50 million in recent years.

This year the situation is a little brighter, but only due to the infusion of an extra $19 million in state money. The bottom line is that the Buffalo school district is failing to sustain itself on the revenue provided by its taxpayers – but did you notice that Mr. Anderson’s turkey neck is gone? Fabulous!

The real outrage is that the news about this absurd spending is not news at all. It’s been reported across the nation for years, yet nobody in the Buffalo district seems to have the determination or power to do anything about it.

Get this: the original union contract that created the cosmetic rider program expired 11 years ago, yet the money keeps getting shoveled out the door at sickening rates.

Just look at what the district has spent over the past four years on cosmetic procedures for teacher union members:

* July 2014-June 2015: $5,045,586
* July 2013-June 2014: $5,439,218
* July 2012-June 2013: $5,221,293
* July 2011-June 2012: $4,966,179

That’s $20,672,276 that has been diverted out of the classroom for expenditures that have nothing to do with educating children. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the district spends $25,116 per student a year.

And of course, with public money floating around for the taking, the buzzards have been circling.

In the June 2015 issue of the Buffalo Teachers Federation “Provocator” newsletter, three of the 10 advertisers were Beauty Question Medispa and Skin Care (“Feel beautiful from the inside out”), Neiman Dermatology and Hair Transplantation, and Aesthetic Associates Centre, which provides laser skin treatment, advanced skin care, cosmetic surgery, body contouring, hair removal and botox.

Is this where the taxpayers of Buffalo really want their money to go? Will they ever get tired of this nonsense and demand change?

So far, there’s nothing stopping the district from financing another 11 years of tummy tucks and nose jobs for the unionized teachers of Buffalo.