MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          April 10, 2020

Subject:     Updates

Thoughts for the Day

Be good to yourself today.

If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?

Is there another word for synonym?

Spring Recess

As per our correspondence yesterday, the District, while not scheduling the full spring recess has rather just allowed Friday, April 10 and Monday April 14, 2020 to be considered holidays.

That means that if the school year were to continue until June 26, 2020, we would be four days over the 188 day maximum in our contract.

With Regents being canceled, it is possible that schools will be closed earlier.

Since there is obviously concern about the students’ education, we don’t believe that schools will close much earlier.

The District is apparently concerned with losing State Aid for not having enough instructional time.

Just let the State try! We will be in court and taking action on funding for and on behalf of our students, who are already underfunded.

As per the last email, we continue to work on a State and National level to secure the funding we need.

And we will not give up until we succeed!

We will keep you updated

Teacher Concerns

Attached (Click Here April 7, 2020 and March 30, 2020) is a copy of the concerns you have forwarded to us. We are reviewing every one you send and will continue to attempt to get the District to address them. If the link is not clickable, copy and paste the following link into your web browser.

http://www.btfny.org/email/2020/teacher_concerns_4720.pdf

http://www.btfny.org/email/2020/concerns_33020.pdf

Once again, to contact your Labor Relations Specialist (LRS) representative, Click Here to view the staff assignment listing by school. If the link is not clickable, copy and paste the following link into your web browser.

http://www.btfny.org/email/2020/staff_listing_31720.pdf

Please know that every parent I have spoken with has had the highest praise, respect and in some cases a new understanding of all that you do and are doing for their children.

The stresses and challenges you face under "normal" conditions are great.

What you and your families are now confronting is beyond articulation.

Yet, you somehow persevere. Why? Because you care and you are teachers.

Thank you for being the most caring and dedicated teachers anywhere.