MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Rich Nigro, President, BTF

Date:          December 6, 2023

Subject:     Teaching Six Classes and Unassigned Preparation Periods

As the practice of assigning a 6th class to secondary academic teachers continues throughout Buffalo Public Schools, we want to provide guidance regarding scheduling and your contractual right to an unassigned preparation period and lunch time.

The assignment of a 6th class does not preclude a teacher from being entitled to an unassigned preparation period or lunch under Articles VIII A.(2) and X A. of the BTF contract. Once a 6th class is assigned, it is incumbent upon teachers to ensure that their schedules still have a preparation period. If a teacher’s only preparation period has been replaced with an additional class, we recommend you speak with your building delegate and administration to rectify the issue and return your unassigned preparation period.

As a reminder, teachers are only guaranteed one unassigned preparation period per school day. If a teacher previously had two preparation periods and one is now a 6th teaching assignment, Article X A. has not been violated.

We met with members of the BPS Human Resources Department and the BPS General Counsel to confirm that administrators would be advised on the requirement for unassigned preparation periods and duty-free teacher lunches. Following that meeting, the Chief of Human Resources, Tami Hollie-McGee, shared the newly-updated policies and procedures regarding this matter in the November 14, 2023 Administrative Weekly Bulletin. This notice to all administrators confirmed how 6th classes for secondary academic teachers will be assigned and guarantees that such assignments will not infringe on the unassigned preparation period or the teacher’s lunch. Click HERE to view it.

If you are an academic teacher in grades 7 through 12 who has been assigned a 6th class and you do not have at least one unassigned preparation period or a lunch period, please reach out to your building delegates and, if necessary, your LRS at the BTF office.