BUFFALO, N.Y. — Three classrooms sit empty at the Arc of Erie County, a special education school in Buffalo, due to staffing shortages.

“You can’t open a classroom without a teacher, which is also pushed back to districts because now they don’t have placements for the students in their districts," said Linda Malkiewicz, the school’s principal. "And they have those special education teacher openings as well."

Malkiewicz said the school is funded by students' tuition rates, which is roughly $30,000 per year. That rate covers teacher salary, therapy costs, facilities and any other ongoing expenses. She points to pay rates that are not competitive with school districts and 403b retirement plans as reasons that new hires are hard to come by, and older teachers are leaving.

“It’s crushing,” said Malkiewicz. “I understand that they have to go. You know, they have to take care of their families. But I have many who have been working here for years and they’ve figured it out. But I do think it’s getting harder and harder.”

One teacher has been with the school 20 years and said she has kept a tight budget throughout her tenure, especially the decade she went without a raise.

“Vacations have been limited with my husband and I,” said teacher Lindsey Michals. “Cars. We drive those things into the ground to make do.”

Malkiewicz said special education schools are awaiting a final budget from Gov. Kathy Hochul to find out if there will be any additional funding from New York State. 

In the meantime, her school has the capacity for 162 students but currently has staffing ratios for 134.