MEMORANDUM
Memo To: Dr. Kriner Cash, Superintendent, BPS
Members, Buffalo Board of Education
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: January 22, 2021
Subject: Updated BTF Health and Safety Assessment Resolution Passed by Council of Delegates
In an effort to inform you of health and safety concerns raised by teachers, so that they can be corrected to ensure the safe return of students and staff to the schools/sites, enclosed, please find an updated compilation of serious health and safety issues in schools/sites (Click Here).
Where there are no responses to a question, the teacher could not obtain the information.
This document includes the schools/sites contained in the previous document sent to you on January 15, 2021. At the end is a summary of the document.
The meeting of our Council of Delegates (building/site representatives) lasted from 7:00 pm to approximately 9:45 pm. Almost the entire meeting was devoted to teachers raising serious health and safety concerns relating to the reopening of their schools/sites. There were also concerns relating to educational issues such as insufficient equipment, e.g. computers, charging stations, training for simultaneous in-person/virtual instruction, etc.
Many were concerned that the District had not provided the teachers with a written response to the health and safety concerns they raised in our January 15, 2021 correspondence to you.
Teachers very much want to be with their students; however, they want them to return to schools/sites that provide for their safe return, a return that ensures that every possible precaution has been and will continue to be taken, to ensure that there is no spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus in the schools/sites.
Enclosed, (Click Here) please find a copy of the resolution passed last evening (80 yes, 0 no).
In addition to the above and those previously submitted to the District:
- Some of our “encore teachers” are being told to go from room to room to provide instruction.
- Some physical education teachers whose gymnasiums are being used for storage, meals, classes, etc. are also to go from room to room to provide instruction.
- This exposes them to 50+ students a day.
- Teachers are being told they have to go to multiple sites each day.
- Teachers are being told that they are to supervise the isolation rooms where those suspected of having COVID-19 are being sent.
- Teachers are being told they must take a sick day to obtain the COVID-19 vaccination.
- The Cannon Report in many cases did not take tables, sinks, lab tables, etc. into consideration when making space assessments.
- The Tri-Main Building being open to the public.
We remain committed to working with you to ensure the safe return of our students and staff and to ensure the well-being of our community.
PR:su
MEMORANDUM
Memo To: All Buffalo Teachers
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: January 21, 2021
Subject: FYI - District Q&A
Please click on the links below to view copies of the FAQ's and Q&A's from the District regarding the February 1, 2021 Re-Opening.
Thank you.
Questions From Principals Meetings with Answers
FAQ and Call Responses
PR:su
MEMORANDUM
Memo To: All Buffalo Teachers
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: January 28, 2021
Subject: Re-Opening Updates
Legal Action – Reopening
Legal action will be taken to prevent the unsafe opening of schools on Monday, February 1, 2021. NYSUT has assigned two attorneys and has been working with our staff to prevent the reopening of our schools on Monday, February 1, 2021.
We thank NYSUT for its continued advocacy and support to ensure the safety and health of our teachers, students, parents, staff and community.
Details will follow after our papers are submitted.
Important Short ALL Teacher Survey
Please click on the link below to take the shirt School Reopening Heath and Safety Survey as soon as possible.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/72DX3Z7
Please see the attached BTF Press Release regarding the Re-Opening of Schools by Clicking Here.
PR:su
MEMORANDUM
Memo To: All Buffalo Teachers
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: January 19, 2021
Subject: School Reopening Update
The following schools/sites have submitted a BTF School/Site Health and Safety Assessment. (Click Here) The completed assessment for each school was included in our last email to all teachers. (Click Here)
They (Click Here) were to be completed by the Delegate Chairperson and/or Building Committee.
We assume they are up to date.
They will, if necessary, be used in court to prevent the opening of schools whose conditions and procedures risk the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
If you are a delegate and/or Building Committee member and need the assessment link re-sent to you, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We know you are overwhelmed; however, we would like to have information on additional schools/sites. The assessment has been shortened to take less time to complete.
As we can see from the two schools in Niagara Falls that had to close, the virus is omnipresent. Hopefully, it wasn’t spread in the two schools and no one is permanently harmed.
While some may disagree and hurl insults, we must and will remain focused on ensuring that our schools are and remain safe for our students, teachers, parents, staff and community.
Please stay safe. Take no chances.
PR:su
MEMORANDUM
Memo To: All Buffalo Teachers
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: January 27, 2020
Subject: Updates
Legal Challenge to Reopening Buffalo Schools
Awaiting response from NYSUT regarding Court Action.
COVID-19 Testing
The form that we have seen asking teachers if they are willing to be tested indicated that it is voluntary and can be rescinded. (Click Here) If you are advised that you must be tested, contact your LRS. (Click Here)
BTF Health and Safety Assessment
The assessment link has been sent to your Delegate and Building Committee members. The results thus far are here (Click Here) (Click Here).
Some principals are working with their staff to correct the ones they can. Many can not be done easily.
We realize that Delegates and Building Committee members are being overwhelmed and are having difficulty acquiring the information, but when you can, please complete as much as you can.
This information and other issues that you have sent is being forwarded to the District. Names are removed.
We are forwarding these concerns to the District so that it is aware of them and can correct them.
We will be surveying schools on a regular basis or as schools believe they should be updated.
We have been advised that the Superintendent is inspecting some of the buildings. If you see him, you should feel free to express your concerns and also anything positive.
SLO’s
As we work to have all state tests suspended, we have just learned that principals apparently have the authority to delay submission.
While the deadline for submitting SLO’s is January 28, 2021, if you need an extension, please contact your principal in writing to request an extension. If your request is denied, please contact your LRS.
When Schools Reopen
I can not and do not advise all teachers to not report to school when they are reopened. That would be a strike.
Under the Taylor Law:
- Teachers would lose two (2) days pay for each day considered to be on strike.
- The existing contract would no longer be in effect. Currently an existing contract remains in place until a new one is negotiated unless there is a strike.
- The union would be fined.
If you have any questions relating to your particular circumstances, please contact your LRS.
PR:su