MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          April 21, 2022

Subject:     May 14, 2022 Murders

To believe that violence and murder, yes murder, born out of racism and hatred can’t happen here, is not only a denial of reality, but a formula for its spread (Click Here).

We all know that working with students, understanding their needs, the needs of their families and the racial and social barriers they face daily, is critical to their and everyone’s well-being.

That is why we are continuing to fight on a State and National level for:

• Earmarked Federal funding for school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, school attendance teachers, etc. with a defined caseload, e.g. 120/1.
• Earmarked Federal funding to provide sufficient security personnel who will also be trained to gain the confidence of students to relate any concerns.
• Earmarked Federal funding for community organizations that have experience working with students to prevent acts of violence and disruption.
• De-escalating techniques for all staff and parents.
• Earmarked Federal funding to provide additional security measures for any District/School that needs them, without taking away from students’ other educational needs programs.
• Other critical school security needs identified by a school district and its school staff.

Randy Weingarten, President of AFT, and Becky Pringle, President of NEA, our two National affiliates, and Andy Pallotta, NYSUT President, have called to offer support. They will work with us to ensure that we have the resources we need, not just now but for the future.

We will advise you and participate in upcoming rallies.

Among those we know of, who were murdered or harmed:

Roberta A. Drury, 32, of Buffalo
Margus D. Morrison, 52, of Buffalo
Andre Mackneil, 53, of Auburn, New York
Aaron Salter, 55, of Lockport, New York
Geraldine Talley, 62, of Buffalo
Celestine Chaney, 65, of Buffalo
Heyward Patterson, 67, of Buffalo
Katherine Massey, 72, of Buffalo
Pearl Young, 77, of Buffalo
Ruth Whitfield, 86, of Buffalo
Zaire Goodman, 20, of Buffalo, was treated and released from hospital
Jennifer Warrington, 50, of Tonawanda, New York, was treated and released from hospital
Christopher Braden, 55, of Lackawanna, New York, had non-life-threatening injuries

BTF Press Release Confusion
Even though the subject line of your email was “February 17, 2022 BTF Press Release”, obviously after reading it and seeing its date, May 15, 2022, you realized that it was not from February 17.

The February 17, 2022 date was inadvertently left on the subject line.

To view again (Click Here).

District Support Services
Especially in these times, you should be aware of the BPS Employee Assistance Program. (Click Here)

School Safety Survey
We realize that with the events this weekend, there was little time to complete our school safety survey.

Please take the time to complete it, especially now. Thank you.

APPR Suspended for the Year
Governor Hochul has just signed legislation, advocated for by NYSUT and BTF, that suspends the APPR for the 2021-2022 school year.

We have notified the District and expect notification to staff soon.

There should be no need for evaluations.