MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          March 9, 2020

Subject:     Updates

Coronavirus

As you have seen from our recent emails, we will continue to leave no stone unturned to ensure that our students, staff and community do not become infected with the coronavirus and if so, its spread is eliminated.

We are forwarding your school concerns relating to the coronavirus to the District for corrective action. Please report them to us and also if, within a reasonable time, they have not been addressed, please follow-up by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Superintendent is following up on the concerns raised in the attached memos (March 6, 2020, Click Here and March 9, 2020, Click Here).

We are all working together on this critical emergency.

Click Here to view The Buffalo News Article, New York now leads U.S. in confirmed coronavirus cases; county can test for virus.


Negotiations

The mediator assigned to our negotiations was in the hospital for a prolonged period and also had his mother pass. He is back to work and scheduling his assignments. We should hear of the proposed dates very soon.

We are scheduling our next rally before the Board meeting on April 8, 2020. Details to come.

BEST – Buffalo Educational Support Team (Teacher Aides/Teaching Assistants Rally)

Our BEST colleagues will be holding a rally for a new contract. Teachers are encouraged to join with them.

When:    Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Time:    4:00-5:00
Place:    City Hall

You are encouraged to wear BTF logo, stickers, etc.

School Safety

As was discussed at our last Council of Delegates meeting, we are going to provide an email means of reporting school climate/safety issues when they occur (on going basis).

In this way we can take immediate action to deal with unsafe teaching and learning conditions while also keeping and compiling records of same.

While we have the incidents by school that were reported on our last School Climate/Safety Survey, we need to ensure that we can demonstrate school safety issues that are not addressed by the administration and/or District.

Once it is completed and tested, the school safety/incident report form will be emailed to all teachers and be put on our website.

PR:su