MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          June 1, 2021

Subject:     Updates

Negotiations
We have been contacted by the PERB mediator who is working to clarify the positions of the BTF and District.

APPR
There is still no word on the APPR legislation on which we are all working to have signed. Both the New York State Senate and Assembly passed it overwhelmingly.

The Governor now has to request the legislation and sign it or veto it.

We have enough votes to override a veto if necessary. We don’t think that will be necessary; however, one never knows.

Ransomware
We have filed with the New York State Attorney General (Click Here) and are awaiting the District’s response to our “Notice of Claim” filed on May 22, 2021. We will be proceeding with litigation to open separate negotiations on damages, future protections, etc.

Virtual Graduation – Reminder
As was announced at the Council of Delegates meeting, the Executive Committee has, as we did last year, approved our participation in virtual graduations (Click Here).

If you haven’t already received an invitation, call Tamara Walter from WUTV/WNYO at (716) 447-3221.
The station will bill the BTF for $1,500 toward the event. This covers the cost of 30 minutes. Some schools are using school funds to pay for a full hour.

It is interesting to hear that some schools are doing both virtual and in-person graduations, as they want to have a video copy of their graduation to keep as a remembrance.

Summer School
We have requested clarification on the summer school hours, schools, programs, etc.

Apparently, the large influx of funding has caused the District to re-examine the programs.

Reminder – Juneteenth Holiday
Please remember that this year’s school calendar now includes Juneteenth, June 18, 2021, as a holiday.