MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          September 29, 2020

Subject:     Updates

BTF School /Site Health and Safety Assessment – Please Update
You have no doubt read and heard via the media that, according to the District, the schools/sites are all being sanitized and that all the school safety issues have been corrected.

We are hearing otherwise.

While I know that you are under tremendous pressure and being buried by much meaningless documentation, we would appreciate you taking the time to update the BTF School/Site Health and Safety Assessment. If you can complete it by Monday, October 5, 2020, that would be great. Any time after that will be fine. (Click Here)

We will, as we have, be using the information in our appeal, arbitration and other legal actions.

The photos and other information you have been sending will continue to be used. Thank you for taking the time to send it.

We will also be fighting the District’s directive to principals to not cooperate with teachers seeking information relating to the safe and healthful conditions in their buildings.

Many principals have been cooperative with their staff with this and other issues. That is real leadership. Unfortunately, many are not working cooperatively with their staff and are causing additional stress and problems.

Hiding COVID-19?
We continue to hear from schools/sites that they have not been informed of COVID cases related to their school/site.

Recently, a teacher working in a school was identified as having COVID-19.

Whether the teacher contracted it at school or not is not the issue.

Even if the teacher had contracted it or did not believe they had contracted it at the school, the staff and parents (when students return) should, within privacy guidelines, be notified that a person at the school/site has been identified with the virus.

The District, to avoid being accused of hiding the occurrence and instilling distrust, should notify staff and parents (especially when students are back) of the occurrence and that all precautions and procedures have been taken to ensure safety. Transparency breeds trust and confidence. Withholding information breeds anger and distrust.

Please notify us of any similar incidents by emailing, lThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Please stay well. Take no chances.

PR:su