MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          February 22, 2021

Subject:     Post Recess Updates

Health and Safety Conditions
Our actions including, but not limited to, the BTF Health and Safety Assessment, correspondence to the Superintendent and Board, court action, and grievances have but one purpose – to ensure that our schools provide for healthful and safe conditions for students, parents, all staff and our community.

Yes, some in the community are angry with us; however, aside from the obvious consequences of COVID-19, can you imagine the impact on a student who had brought the virus home and it resulted in the serious physical harm or death of a parent or grandparent?

The District has begun to address the concerns you have raised and hopefully, over the winter recess, most of the remaining issues have been resolved.

To determine the extent of the corrections and what remains to be done, we have sent our BTF School Health and Safety Assessment to your Delegates and Building Committee. Please feel free to contact them with your concerns.

We may use the information in court before Judge Emilio Colaiacovo on March 9, 2021 at 2:00 pm.

Thank you as always for your cooperation.

School Calendar 2021-2022
Attached is a copy of two proposed school calendars for 2021-2022 (Click Here).

We will be seeking Council approval for one of them at the virtual meeting on February 25, 2021.

Below is an overview of each calendar.

Option A – Requires BTF Approval

• Teachers begin on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 and will also work September 2 & 3, 2021. September 1 and 2 are Professional Development days. September 3, 2021 is the day (“duty free”) to step up classrooms. Students begin on September 7, 2021, after Labor Day.
• Teachers work until June 24, 2022. Last day of classes for elementary students is June 23, 2022. Last day for high school student’s is after Regents exams are completed.
• Provides the February break that most suburban schools/BOCES will have.
• Total of 187 teacher days, one less then contractually required.
• Teachers would get their first check (half check) on September 10, 2021.
• Last check (full) would be on July 1, 2022.
• This option would need a variance from the BTF because it violates the forty-two (42) consecutive weeks provision of our CBS. It was forty-three (43) weeks.
• Incorporates five (5) snow days.

Option B – Does Not Require BTF Approval

• Teachers begin on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. September 7 and 8 are Professional Development days. September 9, 2021 is the day (“duty free”) to set up classrooms. Students begin on September 10, 2021.
• Teachers work until June 24, 2022. Last day of classes for elementary students is June 23, 2022. Last day of classes for high school students is after Regents exams are completed.
• Does NOT provide the February break that most suburban schools/BOCES will have.
• Teachers would not have off February 22-25 but instead would not work September 1-3. This accounts for 188 days vs. 187 days.
• Teachers would get their first check (half check) on September 17, 2021.
• Last check (full) would be on July 1, 2022.
• This option complies with our contract and has forty-two (42) consecutive weeks.
• Incorporates six (6) snow days.

Please stay safe. Take no chances.