MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          February 2, 2021

Subject:     Updates

Court Updates
We are preparing for the hearing on Friday to determine whether Judge Colaiacovo will approve our motion to keep schools closed until an arbitrator can hear our grievance relating to unsafe conditions in our schools.

Thank you to those who have responded to our request for information that can be used to demonstrate the unhealthy and unsafe conditions for all, and especially those who have serious underlying health conditions and have been denied an accommodation.

Please continue to forward said issues to your LRS and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. (Click Here)

Please indicate your school.

Unacceptable Comments
Many teachers have advised us of their anger relating to comments made by Superintendent Cash yesterday, e.g.

• The reason that not as many students arrived at school as anticipated was the “fear mongering” that was going on. What an insult to parents who kept their children home for safety or any other reason.
• In reference to teachers, “The great majority want to be here. There is just a handful that listen to their leadership”.

In other words, teacher are not wanting to return because they don’t want to risk their, their students’ or others’ lives, they are just listening “to their leadership”.

Having worked with the Superintendent, I must admit, these are surprising and disappointing statements.

In response to the above and other inquiries, now that you have been back, would you please complete the attached short survey (Click Here).

Other Districts
We always hear that other Districts are open, why not Buffalo? There are no problems there.
Some other districts, unlike Buffalo, report COVID-19 cases daily to all parents and staff in the District. For example, (Kenton School District) (Orchard Park School District) (Williamsville School District).

Even if there is only one (1) case, that is one too many if it could have been prevented.

Imagine a child having to live with the guilt of having caused serious harm or death to a parent, grandparent or another.

That is hard for an adult, but for a child?

False Unemployment Claims
We have been informed that as a result of a data breach, a person or persons are filing false unemployment claims on behalf of Buffalo District employees.

HR is aware of this and you should be contacted if you are one of said persons.

Thank you again for all that you are doing to ensure a safe education for our students, parents, staff and community.

Please stay well. Take no chances.