MEMORANDUM
Memo To: All Buffalo Teachers
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: March 16, 2020
Subject: Update
First, thank you to all the teachers who expressed their commitment to work together to prevent this virus from spreading and to also find ways to work with their students while being concerned about your and your families wellbeing.
No surprise here – we are teachers.
As per our previous update, the BTF will remain open – possibly with different hours. We ask that there be no visits to the office unless you have an appointment. This is for your safety as well as the staff’s. Forms, etc. can as always be put through the mail slot whether we are closed or not. Most forms are online www.btfny.org.
We will continue to update you as we have been.
Recent Events:
- We have been, and will continue to be, in contact with the Superintendent, NYSUT, Board of Regents, etc.
- The number one concern is and will be safety.
- The Governor’s original 170-day student attendance waiver (click here) required the use of all “snow “ and “vacation” days prior to being in effect.
In other words, if schools were closed and all the “snow” and “vacation” days had not been used, the days would have to be taken from the spring recess.
Or another way, if you did not exceed your number of “snow” and “vacation” days, the 180 days requirement was still in effect and any days below 180 would be subtracted from spring break. - There has been same rumor that teachers might not get paid. Of course you will be paid. Hopefully, you have direct deposit set up.
- We will be clarifying the concerns relating to the use of sick or personal leave. Will teachers be charged for today or any other day teachers do not report? Our position, they should not be. Hopefully, we won’t need to grieve this.
- We are seeking clarification on Tuesday and Wednesday’s District plans/schedules.
As questions arise, we will email you with our responses.
Thank you again for your solidarity and commitment to work together and with all concerned.
Together, we will beat this virus and overcome all the obstacles placed in our path.
It won’t be easy but, it will be done.
PR:su
MEMORANDUM
Memo To: All Buffalo Teachers
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: March 17, 2020
Subject: Update
- Teachers will not be reporting tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18, 2020
- Teachers are advised that if you are assigned to perform a duty/assignment that you believe will endanger your health or safety, you should advise your supervisor that you do not want to perform the duty/assignment because you believe it endangers your health and/or safety. If the administrator refuses to remove you from said assignment, you should advise him/her that you are respectfully refusing to perform the assignment as you believe it is detrimental to your health and/or safety and you have been advised that it is your legal right to refuse to perform work which poses an imminent threat to your safety and health.
- If your school is engaging in procedures you believe are endangering the health and safety of the staff, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The District is correcting them as they are relayed to them. Attached (Click Here) is one procedure that makes sense. Some are having materials taken to parents cars.
- As a result of the increased incidences of the coronavirus and to ensure the safety of our staff, the BTF office:
- Will be open tomorrow, March 18, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
- Will be closed beginning Thursday, March 19, 2020 until Tuesday, March 24, 2020.
- Will be open for one day from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.
- Will be closed Thursday, March 26, 2020, until further notice.
- As previously requested, we ask that there be no visits to the office unless you have an appointment.
- Staff will be available via email.
Jenna Burke – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Matt Kibler – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rob Mueller- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rebecca Pordum – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Joseph Montante – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phil Rumore – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and/or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Click Here to view the staff assignment listing by school.
We appreciate your support and understanding as we overcome this very serious danger.
PR:su
- Have the dues reduced by $0.17 per check as soon as possible and put any overpayments into our reserves.
- Have the dues reduced by $0.17 per check as soon as possible and reduce the remaining 2018-2019 checks by the total overpayment (about $0.02 more per check)
- Keep the NEA/AFT dues as is for this year only and put the $0.17 per check into a negotiations contingency fund.
- Any other variations/suggestions.
Please advise your delegates of your position on this issue. We felt it was important that you should be advised of this for your input.
PR:su
MEMORANDUM
Memo To: All Buffalo Teachers
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: March 17, 2020
Subject: Update
Some teachers have asked if they must report from March 19, 2020 until April 20, 2020. As of today, schools are closed until April 20, 2020 and teachers do not need to report. We have advised the District to reiterate this.
If anything, it might be longer.
We will keep you advised.
PR:su
MEMORANDUM
Memo To: All Buffalo Teachers
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: March 18, 2020
Subject: So Much For Working Together
Enclosed (click here) please find a copy of correspondence from the District asking for our approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and our response. Note the time and date we received it.
Apparently, the District had no intention of working with us, but rather wanted to impose its will on us. Yes, they could have waited until we reached out to you and worked together. Obviously, they chose not to.
We obviously, as do you, have concerns and questions relating to the document -- both in substance and tone.
We have asked for advice from NYSUT Legal as to what teachers can and cannot be required to do, especially under the current conditions.
The District’s seeking our last second agreement and then imposing it without our agreement is both demonstrative of bad faith and illegal. So much for working together.
We wonder how many teachers the District reached out to. Regardless of the District’s actions, we are teachers, who care about our students, and therefore want to find ways to help them during what may well be a long time out of school.
Please review the attached and forward concerns and suggestions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will forward them to the Superintendent. We have reviewed it and obviously have concerns with tone (shall), implementation, definition of terms and phrases, etc.
Reminder –
As a result of the increased incidences of the coronavirus and to ensure the safety of our staff, the BTF office:
- Will be open today, March 18, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
- Will be closed beginning Thursday, March 19, 2020 until Tuesday, March 24, 2020.
- Will be open for one day from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.
- Will be closed Thursday, March 26, 2020, until further notice.
- As previously requested, we ask that there be no visits to the office unless you have an appointment.
- Staff will be available via email.
Jenna Burke – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Matt Kibler – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rob Mueller- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rebecca Pordum – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Joseph Montante – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phil Rumore – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and/or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Click Here to view the staff assignment listing by school.
We appreciate your support and understanding as we overcome this very serious danger.