MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          December 2, 2022 

Subject:    District Press Conference – Vote of No Confidence

District Press Conference
Teachers are rightly angered by the District’s Press Conference and their attempt to disparage teachers who have endured three (3) years of District delays, as well as insulting and demeaning contract offers.

We have advised the Superintendent and Board for months of this in correspondence dated:

Date:              Subject (RE:)
June 7, 2022         “ Apparent District Contempt for Buffalo Teachers ” (Click Here)

June 8, 2022         “ How Poorly You Are Treating Buffalo Teachers ” (Click Here)

August 19, 2022         “ How You are Hurting Buffalo Teachers and Their Families ” (Click Here)

August 26, 2022         “ October?? ” (Click Here)

BTF Objects to District Won’t Make Submissions to Fact-Finder until October

September 19, 2022         “ Negotiations/Threats ” (Click Here)

September 23, 2022         “ No Confidence Resolution ” (Click Here)

This advised that BTF authorized, by unanimous vote of the Executive Committee & Council of Delegates, to take a vote of No Confidence.

“ Therefore Be It Resolved: That if there is no proposed contract for ratification, there shall be an all teacher vote on the following motion on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, unless the BTF negotiating team, based on significant and important contract movement, needs an additional week or two.
‘As delineated in the above resolution, the Superintendent’s and Board’s negotiating team has delayed negotiations for over three (3) years, and presented Buffalo teachers with degrading and insulting proposals, harming them, their families and their students.
Buffalo teachers therefore vote no confidence in the Superintendent and Buffalo Board of education.’ ”

September 30, 2022 “ September 29, 2022 Correspondence ” (Click Here)

October 3, 2022 “ Contempt, Distortions and Duplicity ” (Click Here)

November 10, 2022 “ Negotiations ” (Click Here)

As for our proposed contract costing two (2) billion dollars for salaries:

• That is a lie.
• Even if it were true, that shows just how far Buffalo teachers are behind our colleagues in other districts.
• The District has about $300,000,000 in its reserves.
• We, have worked to increase funding for the District i.e., from 2021-2022 to 2023-2024 the District will receive an approximate $178,000,000 increase in what is called Foundation Aid. This will be carried forward. If not, we and other school districts can go directly back to court. Yes, it will obviously increase beyond this.

Rather than working to address the concerns sent in our correspondence to you, relating to the Vote of No Confidence, (the Superintendent & Board received copies), they held a press conference in an attempt to make Buffalo teachers look greedy and impatient. Note: They have not accepted our proposal to help students by capping caseloads of school counselors, social workers, psychologists, attendance teachers, etc. at 250:l instead of over 600:1 as in too many cases.

We are told that by holding such a press conference they believe teachers will be more accepting of their proposal at our December 8, 2022 negotiations and be hesitant to support a vote of No Confidence in the Superintendent and Board.

They also believe they will “divide and conquering” Buffalo teachers… not now not ever.

We have heard that some teachers have not received or checked their email regarding negotiations and the vote of no confidence. If they haven’t received it, please have them contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If they have received it, please encourage them to vote to express their opinion.

The Deadline for Voting is Sunday, December 4, at 11:59 pm.

Please also advise teachers to check their mailboxes for BTF emails to keep up to date.

If there is no significant movement at our December 8, 2022 negotiating session, there will be another vote of no confidence. If there is significant movement, you will be so notified.

At the appropriate time, a vote to rescind the vote(s) of no confidence may, with Executive Committee and Council of Delegates’ approval, be taken.

Fact-Finder
There will be an in-person meeting with the PERB-appointed fact-finder on December 13, 2022, at which time both parties will present documents in answer to questions he may have. This is in addition to documents we have already submitted.
After that, he will issue a non-binding report on what he suggests for a new contract.

Thank you for your continued solidarity. You are the best … no, the very best.

CC: Dr. Tonja M. Williams, Superintendent, BPS
Member, Buffalo Board of Education
News Media

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          December 5, 2022 

Subject:    Vote of No Confidence

The vote of No Confidence for Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams and the Board of Education was as follows:

The overwhelming vote speaks loudly and needs no comment.

We had a short window in order to have results before our next negotiations on December 8, 2022.

Once again, if there is no substantial movement, there will be another vote of No Confidence for the Superintendent and Board. This will be the first time there will be two (2) votes of no confidence.

Hopefully, there will be substantial progress.

You and our students deserve a contract that reflects your dedication and commitment to our students and each other.

Stay Tuned.

PR:su

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          December 16, 2022 

Subject:    Recently Passed Legislation – School Bus Schedules

Teachers are angry and insulted that you passed legislation that would attempt to render a section of our contract with the District null and void.

If you had bothered to check with us, you would have known that we did not support said legislation. To say that we did, is a lie.

In addition, we have sent correspondence to the District relating our concerns with their MOU and are awaiting a response.

The District has also made this issue a subject of negotiations.

Please advise us of the actions that will be taken to correct the action that you took as a result of false representation.

We await your response.

cc:       All Buffalo Teachers

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          December 14, 2022 

Subject:    Update - December 14, 2022

Fact-Finding
Thank you to those who expressed wishes for a speedy recovery for our fiscal witness from Albany.
He is still ill, but recovering from his severe case of COVID.

We have rescheduled Fact-Finding for Wednesday, January 4, 2023. Our expert will have a back-up ready in case he has a relapse.

There are ongoing subcommittee discussions with the District on some issues that we believe can be resolved.

At Fact-Finding, the Fact-Finder has indicated he will ask questions of both sides relating to issues he wants clarified before making his recommendations for a settlement. His recommendations will be made public and both sides will take a position on them. We will, of course, keep you informed.

Picketing
The Council of Delegates decided that, for many reasons, there should be no picketing before the December 21, 2022 Board of Education meeting.

Depending on the timing, our next major demonstrations will be after the Fact-Finder releases his report, the next Board meeting, or as events transpire.

We urge all teachers to participate.

The Board, Media and the public do respond.

Starting/Ending Times
The ball is in the District’s court. When their MOU was overwhelmingly rejected by Buffalo teachers, we sent correspondence to the District outlining some of your concerns. (Click Here)

To date, we have received no response.

Remember, any such agreement will have to be approved by you.

We will oppose any legislation or action by the Governor to provide for the overriding of our contract.

We have been in contact with NYSUT and others. Apparently, neither the Governor or her staff are interested in granting such unprecedented powers. This is a local issue that must be resolved locally through negotiations.

If there is any attempt by the District, we will, as we have in the past, immediately file a grievance and go to court seeking an order to cease and desist until an arbitration has been held and a decision rendered.

While we hope it won’t come to this, we are ready.

Hopefully, this and our contract will be resolved quickly and amicably.

Yes, we will remember the Common Councils actions.

SLO’s/Observations/Evaluation
There was apparently confusion on the date SLOs were to be completed. You should have received correspondence from the District advising you that the correct date is January 13, 2023. Please review the complete section relating to evaluations on the BTF website, http://www.btfny.org/index.php/member-information/appr-information. If you have problems, please contact your LRS. (Click Here)

Right to Representation
Under the NYS law, you have a right to have a representative from BTF headquarters with you when meeting with an administrator could in any way lead to you being disciplined, terminated or in any way affect your personal working conditions.

You have a right to refuse to answer any questions without representation.

When such a meeting takes place, inform the administrator of this and contact your LRS (Click Here), who will arrange for a meeting.

Do not have a BTF Delegate Chairperson, Delegate, etc. be your representative. That is not their responsibility.

We are reprinting “wallet cards” for all teachers with this and information relating to being assaulted. As soon as they are received, we will send them out.

When in doubt, call your LRS/BTF.

Teachers Being Called to Office, Etc.
Teachers, when they believe it’s appropriate, e.g. when confidentiality is not an issue can ask why they are being called to the office or a meeting.

In addition, the following sections of the contract may apply.

XI, L. pg. 23          Classroom interruptions shall be permitted only in case of urgency. Persons other than Board of Education personnel shall be allowed to enter classrooms only with prior consultation with the classroom teacher.

XVI., A. pg. 34      Parent-Teacher conferences are desirable and encouraged. Parents desiring conferences with teachers shall make requests through the Building Administrator. Upon granting such request the administrator shall arrange that such conference shall be scheduled when the teacher is not supervising pupils. If this is not possible, appropriate relief shall be provided for the teacher.

Non-Board personnel shall not be authorized to enter a classroom unannounced during teaching periods or at other times when the teacher has responsibility for pupil supervision. 

Doctor’s Statement for Absence for Illness
A long-standing arbitration and past practice has established that the District, including principals can not establish a policy relating to when a physician’s statement must be provided by a teacher, e.g.

A policy such as “if you are absent on a Friday or if you are absent before a holiday or if you are absent too often, you must provide a physician’s statement.” is unacceptable.

If such a policy is instituted, call your LRS. Over the years, once administrators are advised of this, the procedure is rescinded.

Also, if you are asked for a physician’s statement when you return, if you haven’t gone to one and are well, it can’t usually be produced.

Most administrators are very understanding and are looking to work together, not nitpick.

If this is a problem, call you LRS.

Shortage – Soap/Sanitizer
Please advise us if you are experiencing a shortage of soap or sanitizer in your schools/site. We have heard that there are problems. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any problems.

We understand that a shipment of soap was delayed but should be in schools by Thursday.

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          December 12, 2022 

Subject:    Fact-Finding

We were notified this morning that our fiscal expert from NYSUT/Albany who was to testify tomorrow, December 13, 2022, on the financial condition of the District and other financial and statewide comparisons, has a severe case of COVID. He can’t even sit up. Therefore, he will be unable to participate.

He has expressed his sincere apologies. He will be with us as soon as possible.

We have advised the Fact-Finder and District and will advise you of the new date for Fact-Finding.

While we were ready to testify tomorrow, we will seek to gather even more information to demonstrate the great disparity with other districts and the great resources available to the District.

We will not take any chances.

PR:su

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          December 8, 2022 

Subject:    Negotiations 

With Superintendent Tonja M. Williams at negotiations, the negotiating team agrees that there was significant movement made today and therefore another Vote of No Confidence for the Superintendent and the Board should not be taken.

We will be meeting with the Fact-Finder on December 13, 2022, at which time he will seek answers to questions he has and explore issues.

He will then make non-binding recommendations on what he believes provides a fair contract settlement.
We are scheduling subcommittee meetings on issues that we believe may be agreed to.

We have also left open the possibility of full negotiating team meetings before the Fact-Finder’s recommendations are received, if warranted.

Stay Tuned.

PR:su