MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          November 15, 2021

Subject:     COVID-19 Survey Results - Concurrent/Simultaneous Negotiations

BTF COVID-19 Survey
Thus far, 1647 teachers have responded to our BTF COVID-19 survey. The results are:

5. I support mandated COVID-19 vaccination of teachers/staff with religious and/or an individual's doctor-supported physical exemption.

• Agree 54.28% (894)
• Disagree 34.37% (566)
• No Position 11.35% (187)

If those who voted no position were removed, the percentages are as follows:

• Agree 61%
• Disagree 39%

6. I do not support mandating COVID-19 vaccination of teachers/staff as it is a violation of a person's individual and/or constitutional rights.

• Agree 36.48% (587)
• Disagree 52.89% (851)
• No Position 10.63% (171)

If those who voted no position were removed, the percentages are as follows:

• Agree 40%
• Disagree 60%

7. I support the mandated wearing of masks by teachers/staff in school.

• Agree 63.31% (1044)
• Disagree 27.71% (457)
• No Position 8.98% (148)

If those who voted no position were removed, the percentages are as follows:

• Agree 70%
• Disagree 30%

8. I do not support mandating the wearing of masks by teachers as it is a violation of a person's individual and/or constitutional rights.

• Agree 26.42% (427)
• Disagree 61.76% (998)
• No Position 8.98% (191)

If those who voted no position were removed, the percentages are as follows:

• Agree 30%
• Disagree 70%

9. I support mandatory COVID-19 testing for teachers who have not provided proof of vaccination.

• Agree 66.87% (1104)
• Disagree 25.26% (417)
• No Position 7.87% (130)

If those who voted no position were removed, the percentages are as follows:

• Agree 73%
• Disagree 27%

10. I do not support mandatory COVID-19 testing of teachers who have not provided proof of vaccination as it is a violation of a person's individual and/or constitutional rights.

• Agree 26.83% (433)
• Disagree 63.88% (1031)
• No Position 8.98% (150)

If those who voted no position were removed, the percentages are as follows:

• Agree 30%
• Disagree 70%

Concurrent/Simultaneous Non-Education
The District is still refusing to end concurrent/simultaneous negotiations. To assist us, please provide the following information (Click Here). Please indicate if any students that have been suspended, are being taught concurrently.

Our next negotiations session is scheduled for Friday, November 19, 2021.

Please stay well. Take no chances.

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          November 29, 2021

Subject:     Negotiations – School Health Safety – Technology – School Violence/Disruptive Behavior

Suspension of COVID Testing in Schools
We, as you, have just been informed that the District, without explanation, has ceased COVID testing in schools. We have emailed the Superintendent and Board for an explanation, one that should have been provided already.

Stay Tuned.

Negotiations
Contract

• NYSUT/District Conferenced Regarding District’s Compression Calculations - Both Understand Calculations – Mediator – Suggested Next Dates, December 9, December 30, January 11, 2022. BTF agreed to all three. District will apparently also agree.

Simultaneous/Virtual Non-Instruction

• BTF – To secure information for simultaneous/concurrent instruction to know about schools allowing concurrent/simultaneous instruction for suspended students – next session December 10, 2021.

COVID – Procedures/Concerns – Impact Bargaining – BTF Submitted Possible Dates – District Checking

Cyber Security – Cyber Attack – December 10, 2021 Meeting Set

School Health Safety
Please continue to send information relating to school health/safety issues, e.g.

• lack of PPE supplies
• lack of action by administrators to enforce COVID procedures
  violation of distancing
• and any health/safety concerns send to your LRS and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Technology Concerns
Apparently, there is still a lack of laptops, computers

• computers being returned with bed bugs, etc.
• the lack of service to repair problems

Please email your LRS and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any such problems or others.

Bennett Football Team
The BTF Executive Committee has authorized the following (Click Here).

PR:su

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          December 9, 2021

Subject:     Updates (Negotiations, COVID, School Violence, Pay Problems, Etc.)

Negotiations
Contract

The mediator has scheduled December 10, 2021 for a Conference call to clarify issues and schedule future meetings.

He has December 30, 2021 and January 11, 2022 scheduled for future dates.

We will attempt to schedule meetings without him.

As much as the long delay in negotiations has been frustrating, to say the least, the District’s financial position has improved dramatically.

In addition to the millions of Federal dollars currently, that can be used for the next two years, the next Federal legislation will, in addition to other areas, include money to fund Pre-K. That will free up even more funding.

This year, NYSUT and BTF were also successful in forcing that State to fully fund what is known as Foundation Aid. Foundation Aid was put into effect as a result of New York State being found guilty of violating its constitutional duty to provide all students with a sound basic education. The funding only lasted for two years. In 2009, New York State stopped the funding due to “financial short falls”.

Our friend Michael Rebell and colleagues with Columbia University went to court again. This year the agreement with the court is that New York State will for 2021-2022 fund 50% of what is required, for 2022-2023, 75%, and for 2023-2024, 100% of what is required.

Importantly, if New York State defaults there will be an expedited hearing in court to force compliance. Note: The high courts have found in our favor.

The projected increase in this aid (Foundation Aid) for the Buffalo Public Schools from 2021-2024 (3 years) is $98,000,000.

For next year (2021-2022), the total increase in State Aid for the Buffalo Public Schools is projected to be $72.9 million ($43 million is Foundation Aid).

In addition, millions in Federal Aid are still available.

This has now put us in the best financial position in many years.

These negotiations are not about what the District can take back. It is about rewarding Buffalo teachers for all you have and continue to endure and provide for our students, parents and community.

With your continued solidarity, this will be done.

COVID Testing
The need to change the testing company has obviously caused problems.

We are checking with NYSUT Legal to determine if the District can require teachers to fill out the form that includes driver’s license number, Social Security number, and insurance information.

We have also sent correspondence to the Superintendent requesting an explanation. (Click Here)

We met with the District on December 8, 2021 as per our demand to negotiate procedures.

It was agreed to work together to ensure the safety of our students, staff, parents and community.

We want COVID testing not only to be in pools, but also available to all teachers.

The District said that the funding could not be used for individual testing. We are checking on this and will take Federal, State and County actions to correct this, if it is the roadblock.

In addition, we are seeking that the District:

• Will make free COVID testing available weekly at all schools/sites for all teachers.
• Will provide release time for teachers requesting time to be vaccinated and tested for COVID.
• Will take no action against teachers whose vaccination/testing information was, through no fault of their own, not made available in a timely manner.
• Hereby certifies that the District will ensure that all HIPAA and other laws/regulations will be followed to protect a teacher’s privacy rights.
• Will ensure that charges for required COVID testing not covered by a teacher’s insurance will be reimbursed by the District.
• Will ensure that no company/agency performing COVID testing/vaccinations will require teachers to sign a document releasing said company/agency from liability relating to the company/agencies.
• Will, by email, on a weekly basis keep all teachers notified of the current testing procedures with notation of any changes to the previous procedures.

Student Violence
We continue to receive reports of student violence in our schools. Please notify your LRS and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. of serious instances of violence in your schools.

We will continue pressing for:

• More school support teachers. (Counselors, Psychologists, Social Workers, etc.)
• Enforcement actions (not cover-ups) of incidents.
• More school resource officers.

… to name a few.

Sick Days
Yes, an administrator can request a “physician’s statement” if you have been out ill.

However, as per an arbitration decision, they can not set up a policy that requires such a submission.
For example, a principal can not have a policy that requires a “physician’s statement” if you are absent on a Friday, out for two days or more, etc.

If there is any such “policy”, please advise your LRS.

BTF Grievance - Lack of Payment to Teachers for Extra Activities
The BTF is currently proceeding in a grievance against the District for any extra pay that is lacking for the 2020-2021 school year. So we can access and provide this information to the District in a convenient format, we are asking that you complete the information in the survey link below. Please fill out a survey for each day/activity for which you are unpaid. If you have previously submitted your information via the survey, there is no need to do so again.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CYMRRCP

PR:su

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          December 13, 2021

Subject:     Updates (Negotiations, City Hall Raises)

Contract Negotiations
Since it has been difficult to schedule negotiating sessions with the mediator as a result of his schedule, we have decided to meet without him unless it becomes necessary.

Starting in January, the BTF and District will schedule two negotiating sessions before the previously scheduled January 11, 2022 meeting and at least six (6) to seven (7) sessions in January. January 11, 2022 remains as the date that was previously scheduled with the mediator.

City Hall Raises
As you have read, the Superintendent has proposed significant raises for his staff. He has compared their current salaries with those in other big city districts.

As you know, we have done this also.

“Effective 7/1/19 the base teacher’s salary, B.S. Step 1, shall be the average salary for public school teachers in the Big Six school districts (including Albany but excluding Buffalo) for B.S. Step 1 for the 2019-2020 school year 1. Each step on the Salary Schedule, each column across the Salary Schedule, and all other teachers’ compensation shall be increased proportionately. Teachers’ salaries will be increased in the same manner effective 7/1/2020, 7/1/2021, 7/1/2022.

1 For the purpose of these negotiations, based on the New York State Education Department data, the 2019-2020 BS Step 1 average salary for the BIG 6 (including Albany minus Buffalo) is $52,551.

Note: Our BS Step 1 is now $37,649.

Obviously, we know these teacher salaries have increased significantly since our proposal was made. In addition, we want a contract including 7/1/23, 7/1/24 (i.e. 2023-24, 2024-25).

Since the Superintendent believes that his staff deserve these raises, in addition to the ones granted previously, then certainly, Buffalo teachers, on the front lines, who are and have continued to endure and prevail over unprecedented obstacles in the interests of their students, deserve one hundred (100) times these increases. (At least 100 times!)

PR:su

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          January 3, 2020

Subject:     Safety Concerns/Negotiations

Hopefully, your winter recess provided time to safely enjoy time with your family and friends.

As we begin the new year, we do so with the commitment that we not only care about the education of our students, but also about their, the parents’, the staffs’ and our community’s safety and well-being.

We have already notified the Superintendent of the concerns you have raised thus far:

• The lack of testing for all staff
• The lack of tests in the buildings
• Students and some adults not wearing masks
• The lack of N-95 masks
• The lack of contact tracing
• The lack of sanitizing in some buildings
• Students being sent back to class untested

To name a few.

Please continue to forward your safety concerns to us. They will be forwarded to the Superintendent and appropriate District staff… and if not corrected, to the media.

Please send your concerns to your LRS (click here) and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If after a reasonable time they have not been corrected, please re-contact us to advise us that they have not been corrected.

As per our demand to negotiate safety conditions, we will be meeting with the District’s team on Friday, January 7, 2022. We have advised them that we will work with them to ensure that testing is available to all teachers, not just some, i.e. “pool testing” and to provide funding and regulations to ensure safety in our schools.

Contract Negotiations
Our next contract negotiation dates are January 6, 11, 14, 20, 25 and 26, 2022

As per our last correspondence to you, all but January 11, 2022 will be without the mediator. We agree that this will facilitate reaching a new contract.

Stay Tuned.

Please stay well. Take no chances

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          December 17, 2021

Subject:     Negotiations Update – School Safety

Negotiations Update
As per our last correspondence, we, and the District, have scheduled the following dates for negotiations: January 6, 11 (already scheduled with the mediator), 14, 20, 25, 26. We will schedule more if necessary. This should enable us to facilitate a proposed contract.

District Raises
As was stated previously, we took no position on the raises proposed for some City Hall administrators.

Those who asked, were told that we had no position on the raises, but expected that the teachers, on the front lines, working to prevail over seemingly impossible obstacles, deserve and should receive many, many (100) times the proposed raises. This contract should be an acknowledgement of and in appreciation for Buffalo teachers’ dedication during these unprecedented times.

School Safety
Yes, today was tense; however, we cannot take chances. Please continue to report any safety concerns to your LRS (Click Here) and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Please stay safe. Take no chances.