Welcome back. Hopefully, your summer “layoff” was a much needed, and deserved, restful, safe, and productive break. This year will again be, as are most, filled with challenges. However, we will, as always, change them into successes and accomplishments. With the finest and most dedicated teachers anywhere, how can we not prevail? As you can see from the emails to you, this has, as usual, been a busy summer – legal action against the District for delaying negotiations, negotiations, court, arbitrations, summer school issues, pay problems etc.

NEGOTIATIONS

Thank you to those who attended our solidarity rally, We realize it was short notice; However it great success, you sent a strong message to the District. “Stop Stalling.” “We want a great new contract NOW – no, yesterday”.

In addition to Joe Cantafio is our new NYSUT Regional Director, teachers and teacher leaders from other districts. We were joined by Superintendent Dr. Tonja M. Williams and West District Board member Jen Mecezzi. We thank them both and look forward to their ending the degrading and insulting contract proposals and providing contract proposals that reflect the dedication of Buffalo teachers to their students and that reflects what other school districts have negotiated to show their appreciation for their teachers.

Picket Signs - many Delegate Chairs have already picked up signs for their schools. We have a combination of large and smaller signs.

Once you receive one, you can keep it in the trunk of your car. In addition to using them at solidarity rallies, they can be used when picketing in front of your school site. Teachers can meet and picket together in front of their school site before having to report and place signs back in their cars.

Suggested dates:

• Teachers set up day September 2
• First Day of School September 6

Additional Dates will be suggested as events transpire.

BTF CONTRACT

The current BTF contract is on our website, www.btfny.org (Click Here). It is searchable! There is also a Q & A section.

APPR

APPR Reminders –
“Virtual” observations of teachers should not take place nor should observations of teachers teaching virtually. If either occur, please notify your LRS (Click Here).

“Announced Observation: … The announced observation may not occur during the month of September, the last three weeks of June, or the day before or after a holiday. Unannounced Observation: The teacher must be notified of the month that their unannounced observation will take place.

The unannounced observation may not occur during the month of September, the last three weeks of June or the day before or after a holiday.

The teacher has a one-time option to have the observation postponed.

The administrator must be notified as soon as they enter the classroom that the teacher is exercising this right.The administrator may return no sooner than five days and no later than 30 days after the teacher exercises this right."

The APPR document is on the BTF website www.btfny.org (Click Here).

As per our last correspondence, we are scheduled to meet with the PERB mediator on Thursday, June 23, 2022. We will update you.

TEACHER SET-UP DAY

The teacher set-up day, September 2nd, is to be “duty free for teachers to set-up their classrooms”. Duty free is just that, duty free. “Voluntary” meetings of any sort violate the intent of this section. This is to be your day to set up your room.

TEACHER E-MAIL ADDRESSES

We still do not have everyone’s personal e-mail address.

Once again, here are the procedures. Go to www.btfny.org - Scroll to the bottom of the front page and click “Update Here”. Enter your District ID and the last four digits of your social security number for confirmation. Then enter any new phone number, address and the personal e-mail address that you would like used for quick contacts. Click the submit button and we’ll take it from there. If this doesn’t work, please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your personal e-mail address.

ATTENTION TEMPORARY TEACHERS

Re-employed temporary teachers should call the Board’s Benefits Office at (716)816-3754 or (716)816-3755 to confirm that the Board is providing your healthcare coverage. Newly employed temporary teachers must file an application with the District to receive health insurance. As always, when in doubt, call the BTF.

If there are openings in your school being filled with substitutes instead of regular teachers, i.e. there is no teacher assigned to the position or no “replacement” (temporary) teacher assigned when the “regular” teacher is not expected to return until at least the second semester of the school year, please call us at BTF. (Regular and “replacement” (temporary) teachers are members of the BTF bargaining unit and receive all contractual pay and benefits.)

MARITAL STATUS CHANGE/ADDRESS CHANGE

If there has been a change in your marital status, it may be necessary to change your life insurance beneficiary, NYSTRS beneficiary, SBF benefit cards, and health insurance coverage.

Check your check! Is your address correct? If not, you should notify the Administration (Human Resources/Personnel Office, Room 720 and Payroll Office, Room 814, City Hall), in writing. You should also notify the BTF.

SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR COMPLETED COURSES

Completion of course work which leads to a pay differential should be reported immediately. Obtain an Advanced Credit Differential application from your office or from the BPS website. (Refer to page 55 of your contract.) Differentials are granted for the semester following completion of the 10-hour block, provided forms are filed within thirty (30) days after school starts or completion of the course work. Just sending a transcript often isn’t enough to receive credit. Examine your check.

INCIDENT REPORT FORMS AVAILABLE

The BTF will continue monitoring incidents in the schools. The forms, developed by the BTF, are available from your Delegate. Please use them. Report serious acts of violence, vandalism, etc. We will be making sure that appropriate action is taken. Forms should be returned to Rebecca Pordum at BTF.

Your Delegate Chairperson also has copies of our “BTF Inappropriate/Inadequate Discipline Report Form” to report incidents of what you consider inappropriate/inadequate discipline resulting from a student(s) with weapons, involved in acts of violence, or engaging in sexual harassment, etc, including students being returned to the same school/class after committing acts of violence against anyone (including other students). The form is also found on the BTF Website under “Member Information” - "Incident and Discipline" then click on appropriate form to print. Forms should be returned to your Labor Relations Specialist (LRS).

ON-THE-JOB INJURIES

Teachers injured on the job should file an accident report form and the Workers’ Compensation form (C-2) and see a doctor even if the injury does not result in immediate lost time from work.

BTF WEBSITE

Remember, we continue to improve our website. It is www.btfny.org - check it out.

WARNING

Postings to Facebook pages and other social networks are not as private as one might believe. In fact, you should not consider them private at all. Nothing should be put on them that you would not want your current or future employer to see.

Text messages can be saved, shared and potentially used against you.

Also, the Board computers and your Board email address should be used judiciously. Your employer has access to all of this information. For BTF correspondence use your personal email address.

REHIRED CONTRACT/PROBATIONARY TEACHERS
As per Article XXVI (2) A (8) p 71, contract and probationary teachers who are excessed and subsequently rehired are entitled to be reimbursed for healthcare expenses during the period of their layoff. Call BTF for information on how to apply, (716) 881-5400.

SICK DAY CARRY-OVER

Teachers are advised to check their first pay check and make sure that sick days have been properly credited. Unused sick days should roll over, unused personal days are converted to sick days and new sick/personal days should be credited. If you are a member of the Sick Leave Bank, those days should have been deducted from your accumulation.

BUFFALO’S BEST

As part of our continuing “From the Classroom to the Living Room” initiative, we will be distributing a pad of “Buffalo’s Best” awards for each teacher to use for students.

The “Buffalo’s Best” awards will provide you with a quick effective way to say to a student and parent, “Good job”.

The forms were designed by BTF and printed by NYSUT, our state affiliate. When you run out, call BTF…we have extras.