PRESS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	January 17, 2006

BTF ASKS COURT TO FORCE DISTRICT AND UB TO RELEASE INFORMATION

The BTF today continued its year long quest to secure detailed information relating to how the Education Consortium/Center for Applied Technologies in Education (EIC/CATE), which is affiliated with the University of Buffalo Foundation, spent close to $8,000,000 sent to it by the Buffalo School Board.

The BTF has been filing Freedom of Information requests for over a year with both the school district and EIC/CATE. EIC/CATE/UB Foundation, which has adamantly refused to provide the information, says that it is exempt from the FOIL law. However, the NYS Department on Open Government issued an opinion stating that EIC/CATE/UB Foundation are obliged to provide the information.

"The School District has given us some information but not all that we have asked for nor has the District ordered EIC/CATE/UBF to provide said information.

The public has a right to know how $8,000,000 of taxpayer's money was spent. If they have nothing to hide, why not provide the information we have requested", stated Philip Rumore, BTF President.

The union alleges that the information supplied doesn't completely comply with its request.

"What we want to know is, given that $200,000 was authorized for "x", show us exactly for what the $200,000 was spent, e.g. the work product, equipment, materials, etc, and who received the funds.

It's is unfortunate that we have to go to court to secure information that the public has a right to; however, with funds so scarce, we will not stop until the public knows how every penny of the $8,000,000 was spent," Rumore concluded.

The case will be heard at 9:30 a.m. February 21 in State Supreme Court before the Honorable Frank Sedita.