BUFFALO, N.Y. — In a long-awaited decision, an arbiter ruled in favor of the Buffalo Teacher's Federation Monday in its long-standing dispute with the Buffalo Public School District over teaching positions at City Honors High School.

The decision capped off three separate days of witness testimony earlier this year.

In his ruling, the arbiter said the district violated a collective bargaining agreement by retaliating against City Honors teachers, eliminating five and a half instructional positions in the 2017-2018 school year, and hiring several aids to perform non-teaching duties, like monitoring lunch and study hall.

The ruling also stated the district's cuts negatively impacted the quality of educational programs offered to the students. 

Buffalo Teachers federation leaders say they're pleased with the decision.

The arbiter also ruled the district should rescind its decision to eliminate the positions and tailor any future cuts to meet the economic needs of the district as stated in the School Based Development Guide. 

District leaders told said they disagree with the union and will not take any action since no teachers were moved at all last school year, because the district was under a temporary restraining order prohibiting that course. Therefore, leasers say they can't rescind an action that never took place. 

The district now has 90 days to file an appeal.