MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          March 12, 2021

Subject:     Danger

Some believe that the District’s system has been hacked causing the problems you have been encountering.
Just in case, if you receive correspondence or telephone messages asking for information, don’t answer them.

You can check with your provider(s) to check the validity of any such notification.

PR:su

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          March 15, 2021

Subject:     Ransomware Attack/Other Updates

Ransomware Attack
As you now know, our Friday email to you was correct. There was not just an interruption, but an attack on the District’s system.

We, as have you, have received no new information except for the attached email (Click Here) that you may have also received, in additional to the one sent by the Superintendent.

We checked with our computer company, who described the backup system we have at BTF, as state of the art, since we are always updating it.

Asked what we should advise teachers, they, as we stated on Friday, said to be careful to not open, open a link to save, etc. any unknown or questionable emails.

Please advise your LRS of any problems you are having with your personal computer, personal information, etc.

We will be holding the District responsible for any damages or costs incurred as a result of this incident. To report issues, please contact your LRS (Click Here).

We are also working with our State Affiliate, NYSUT, to obtain information they have from other school districts that have been hacked. Thus far they advised changing any passwords for non-school district accounts that use the same passwords on District systems.

We will forward more information as soon as it is received.

Please also report any other issues, e.g. heating.

Note: Letter to Superintendent (Click Here).

COVID Vaccination Leave
The legislation that, as you have read in our emails, would provide four (4) hours of paid leave time to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, was signed by the Governor on Friday, March 12, 2021. It was effective on that date.

It would cover each vaccination. It is, however, not retroactive.

Until the District has issued procedures, you should apply through your administrator and indicate the date(s). You should also check to see if the District’s platform is up and apply as you would for any similar absence/leave, e.g. cancer screening.

We will be working with the District to have the information available.

Response to BTF Concurrent (Simultaneous) Instruction Survey
We sent the survey out on Friday evening. We already have 275 responses. Remember, this is for teachers who are currently teaching concurrently, which apparently all teachers will be expected to implement.

We will be releasing the results as soon as more are tabulated.

PR:su

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          April 1, 2021

Subject:     Extremely Dangerous Report

Attached (Click Here) is the March 30, 2021 District Log of COVID-19 cases. On one day, seventeen (17) students and three (3) adults, were identified as testing positive for COVID.

If this doesn’t sound alarm bells, what will?

In our March 30, 2021 correspondence, we provided District Logs that showed the following COVID-19 positive tests: March 29, 2021 - 16 students, 7 adults

In just two (2) days, thirty-three (33) students and ten (10) adults tested positive for COVID-19 . Can’t you see that something serious is happening?

Now, from March 15-30, seventy-four (74) BPS students and thirty-three (33) adults have tested positive for COVID-19.

As you refuse to act, more and more students and adults become infected with COVID-19. The impact is not only in our schools but in our community.

What will happen within the weeks after the Spring recess?

Although action should have been taken when we first alerted you, schools should be closed tomorrow even though it’s the last day of school.

Lives and the physical well-being of people are being risked.

PR:su

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          March 30, 2021

Subject:     COVID-19/Summer School?/Welcome Back Posters

COVID-19 In Schools 
We continue to check and be concerned with the Reports relating to COVID-19 cases reported in schools. You may view them at www.buffaloschools.org/page/96927 website.

We continue to send them to the District and the media. For example, on March 25-26, there were 5 adults and 10 students reported as having tested positive (Click Here). The concern remains... What if they were in the buildings?

Summer School
If there is Summer school, it must always be voluntary and, if four (4) hours or more, must be paid at 1/200 of your salary.

Welcome Back Posters
We have had NYSUT print some Welcome Back posters for teachers. There will be one (1) per teacher, initially, and two (2) larger ones per school. More will be sent as they arrive. (Click Here)

Stay tuned.

PR:su

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          March 26, 2021

Subject:     Retirement Seminar Reminder

The Buffalo Teachers Federation is offering its annual retirement seminar for all persons considering retirement.

The seminar is scheduled for Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 7:00 PM. It will be held virtually via Zoom. A link will be sent Monday afternoon to those who have registered.

The seminar is designed to give you pertinent information to help you better plan your post-teaching years. A representative from the New York State Teachers' Retirement System will be our primary presenter with time built in for your questions.

BTF staff will also be available to present information on how the BTF contract will impact on prospective teacher retirees. This session will begin at approximately 8:45 PM. for those interested in this portion only.

Those interested in attending should RSVP by emailing Jackie Newton at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than noon on Monday, March 29th.

The document entitled Retirement and Your BTF Master Contract has been updated and is available on our website, www.btfny.org. Under the Member Information tab, click on Preparing for Retirement and there you will find a link to the document. You may find it helpful to have this available to you for Tuesday’s seminar.

PR:su

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          March 23, 2021

Subject:     Correspondence to Anne Botticelli and Dr. Kriner Cash

Please find recent correspondence sent to by the BTF below.

Click Here for Correspondence to Anne Botticelli

Click Here for Correspondence to Dr. Kriner Cash and the Buffalo Board of Education