MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          November 4, 2020

Subject:     Updates

The Election
Will it ever be over? For the sake of all Americans, let us all not only hope so, but also work to make it so.

Yes, we have relatives, friends and colleagues with whom we disagreed on candidates; however, as teachers, we have to, while we disagreed, continue to work together in the interest of our students and in our commitment to each other – our unbreakable solidarity.

While it doesn’t seem this path will be taken everywhere; hopefully, ultimately it will be.

We, as always, will set the example for our most important people, our students, who will ultimately assume responsibility for helping shape the future of our community, and our country.

After all, that is why we are teachers.

District Reopening “Plans”
Although teachers have not received necessary information, some are being advised that they have been selected to teach in person. If you have been or are so advised, please contact your Labor Relations Specialist (LRS) (Click Here) and the BTF (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and/or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Please remember to include your school and contact information. We do not disclose these.

As per our recent “Updates”, if you are notified or asked to volunteer, you should advise your administrator (preferably in “writing”) that you have been advised by the BTF to obtain the following:

• Written copies of the sanitization procedures/schedules in their building(s).
• Written copies of the entry testing procedures for all entering and also procedures for those, e.g. students exiting the buildings.
• Written copies of the procedures relating to suspected/confirmed cases of COVID-19.
• Written copies of their schedules, i.e. subject/grade level, reporting times, class size, room assignments, movement of students, i.e. schedules provided and posted as is done currently.
• Copies of Reopening Plan(s) for building(s) to which they are assigned that have been agreed to by each site-based committee, the District and the BTF.

The Governor’s Latest COVID-19 Guidance
The most recent guidance from Governor Cuomo relates to what he has referred to as “Hot Spots”.

While this changes almost daily, here is a copy (Click Here).

Negotiations
Obviously, with the Buffalo District and all school districts facing huge funding shortfalls, we would not like a mediator’s recommendations at this point. The mediator is in agreement with putting mediation on hold for sixty days.

The District has also agreed with us.

We will be asking the Executive Committee and Council of Delegates to approve a Memorandum of Understanding providing for same.

The MOU is attached (Click Here). It has been signed but must be approved by the Council of Delegates.

Denial of Accommodations
We have been informed that teachers are receiving notification that their request for an accommodation has been denied.

If your request for an accommodation is denied, please send a copy to your LRS (Click Here) and to BTF (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and/or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Selection of Schools for In-Person Instruction/Special Education Evaluations
We have been advised that some schools have been tentatively selected for in-person instruction and/or special education meeting evaluations.

If your school is selected/mentioned for in-person instruction and/or in-person special education evaluation conferences, Delegate Chair and/or Building Committee member(s), please complete the attached survey (Click Here).

PR:su