MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          January 30, 2021

Subject:     BTF Court Case/Reopening Caution

BTF Court Case
Attached please find copies of the court documents filed and developed by NYSUT attorneys in Albany and New York City (Click Here).

We await the assignment of a judge. How long that will take is up to the courts.

Although, as you can see from the documents, our case is compelling, and as you also remember, the courts are not often willing to take such a courageous stand.

We will see.

As you read through the documents, please note that the District refused our offer to have an independent hygienist, that we would fund, inspect its buildings. What does that tell you?

District Warning Correspondence
Attached, please find a copy of a correspondence from the District (Click Here).

As stated in a previous, January 27, 2021 email, any such actions would be considered a strike.

Under the Taylor Law:

• Teachers would lose two (2) days pay for each day they are 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 (Click Here).

BTF Health and Safety Assessment
The BTF Health and Safety Assessment will be sent to your Delegates and Building Committee. We would like it completed as soon as possible after February 1, 2021, when teachers report to the buildings and also as conditions in the schools/sites change for the better or worse.

Please stay well. Take no chances.

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          February 1, 2021

Subject:     Court Hearing

While Judge Emilio Colaiaovo denied or request for an immediate Temporary Restraining Order, he did issue a decision that there will be a full hearing on Friday, February 5, 2021 to determine whether he will issue a preliminary injunction on our motion to halt the reopening of the Buffalo Public Schools.

There will be testimony from individuals relating to the conditions in the schools.

1. In preparation for that hearing, our attorneys have requested the following:
   Teacher’s name, position held, school they are assigned to, and that the teacher reported to work THIS week in-person.
2. Work conditions in their classroom or school that they observed that were not safe – these should correspond to the information requested by the BTF on 10-14. So, an example is perhaps, a teacher who reported to school and there was insufficient PPE provided to adequately protect the staff such as no face masks, no sanitizer spray for classrooms, no gloves, etc. (Info Demand #5)
3. Did the teacher take any pictures of the unsafe working conditions? If so, we will need the teacher to keep those pictures so that he or she can “Authenticate” them in court to show that they were taken by the actual teacher (not someone else) THIS week.
   
4. Would the teacher be classified by the CDC as being a person more “vulnerable” to the COVID-19 virus due to any underlying medical conditions? Have they sought an accommodation? (This is determinative – but does help)
5. Big question – IS THE TEACHER WILLING TO TESTIFY?
6. If so, are they available on Friday?

If you are willing and can do the above, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and your LRS (Click Here).

PR:su

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          January 31, 2021

Subject:     Reopening Unhealthy/Unsafe Conditions

Since we do not have a judge assigned or a court date, and teachers will be reporting, please advise us of any unhealthy and unsafe conditions in your building/site.

Please advise your Delegates and/or Building Committee members to complete our BTF Health and Safety Assessment with the information they and you have. You can also send it to your LRS (Click Here).

If you can, please provide any pictures of unsafe and unhealthy conditions you find.

So we can use it in court, you should be willing to sign an affidavit stating your name, where and when it was taken and a brief explanation of the issue.

Please send to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We will continue to fight for the well-being of your students, parents, staff and community.

Please stay safe. Take no chances.

PR:su

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          February 2, 2021

Subject:     Updates

Court Updates
We are preparing for the hearing on Friday to determine whether Judge Colaiacovo will approve our motion to keep schools closed until an arbitrator can hear our grievance relating to unsafe conditions in our schools.

Thank you to those who have responded to our request for information that can be used to demonstrate the unhealthy and unsafe conditions for all, and especially those who have serious underlying health conditions and have been denied an accommodation.

Please continue to forward said issues to your LRS and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. (Click Here)

Please indicate your school.

Unacceptable Comments
Many teachers have advised us of their anger relating to comments made by Superintendent Cash yesterday, e.g.

• The reason that not as many students arrived at school as anticipated was the “fear mongering” that was going on. What an insult to parents who kept their children home for safety or any other reason.
• In reference to teachers, “The great majority want to be here. There is just a handful that listen to their leadership”.

In other words, teacher are not wanting to return because they don’t want to risk their, their students’ or others’ lives, they are just listening “to their leadership”.

Having worked with the Superintendent, I must admit, these are surprising and disappointing statements.

In response to the above and other inquiries, now that you have been back, would you please complete the attached short survey (Click Here).

Other Districts
We always hear that other Districts are open, why not Buffalo? There are no problems there.
Some other districts, unlike Buffalo, report COVID-19 cases daily to all parents and staff in the District. For example, (Kenton School District) (Orchard Park School District) (Williamsville School District).

Even if there is only one (1) case, that is one too many if it could have been prevented.

Imagine a child having to live with the guilt of having caused serious harm or death to a parent, grandparent or another.

That is hard for an adult, but for a child?

False Unemployment Claims
We have been informed that as a result of a data breach, a person or persons are filing false unemployment claims on behalf of Buffalo District employees.

HR is aware of this and you should be contacted if you are one of said persons.

Thank you again for all that you are doing to ensure a safe education for our students, parents, staff and community.

Please stay well. Take no chances.