News, Alerts & Events

Press Release
For Immediate Release
September 24, 2018
 

DISTRICT FOUND GUILTY OF TEACHER REPRISAL AND HARMING THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS AT CITY HONORS


An arbitrator has ruled that the Buffalo School District retaliated against the teachers at City Honors for prevailing in an arbitration against the District and harmed the students’ education by eliminating 5.5 teacher positions to fund the restoration of teacher aides.

“The District has once again shown its vindictiveness against its dedicated and hardworking teachers and in doing so has harmed the education of our students.

This and other recent actions indicate that the era of good will and statements of support for teachers is but a mask for attacks on them.” stated Phil Rumore, President of the BTF.

“I find that the BTF has established by a preponderance of the credible evidence that the District has violated Article V E. (2), Article II B., and Article I B. of the Contract. I find for the BTF because the District’s decision to eliminate 5.5 teaching positions to finance the hiring of the sixteen teacher aides was not narrowly tailored to meet its economic needs and was not applied in a union membership neutral manner. I find that the District’s decision to eliminate 5.5 BTF positions affected the quality of the City Honors’ Music program and English department.”

“The remedy is for the District to cease and desist from future acts of reprisals of any kind against the BTF for the implementation of the Award in PERB Case number A2011-142. The District shall also rescind its decision to eliminate 5.5 teaching positions at City Honors. Those cuts affected the quality of educational programs afforded to students and violate Article I B. which guarantees the “finest educational programs possible.”

To View the Arbitration Award, Click Here

To View the Entire Arbitration Decision, Click Here

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Important Information

  • The Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) Information 

    The APPR is a process by which teachers are evaluated in NYS. The intent of APPR is to assist educators to improve the quality of instruction in schools and to improve students' performance for colleges and careers. District APPR plans must meet strict state guidelines and be negotiated with local unions. Under state guidelines, APPR takes into account classroom observations and student performance. Teachers across NYS receive an overall effectiveness rating every year.

     

    APPR is complex and can often be overwhelming.  Click here to keep up to date on all the current APPR information.

  • Opt-Out Information 

    Teachers and parents share deep concerns about the standardized tests used by NYS for accountability purposes that include; stress on students, in-appropriateness and lack of validity of the Common Core-aligned tests, loss of learning time, and lack of transparency on state test content. Parents who decide it is not in their children’s best interests to take these assessments are part of an “Opt-Out” movement. BTF fully supports parents’ right to choose what is best for their children.

     

    Click here to keep up to date on the "Opt-Out" movement and other information.

  • COVID-19 Information


    For our members, BTF has collected COVID-19 resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, as well as our affiliates, NYSUT, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association. Together we must, and will, be proactive to ensure that Coronavirus does not infect and spread to our students, staff and community.
     
    Click here to view recent information and writen correspondence. The BTF will post more information as it becomes available.

Buffalo Teachers Federation

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The Buffalo Teachers Federation is the professional union that represents over 3800 contract, probationary and temporary teachers of the Buffalo Public Schools.

 The BTF is proud to be a member of New York State United Teachers and affiliated nationally with the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers.
          
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