PRESS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	June 15, 2004

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEA AND NEA-NY, THE BTF DONATES MORE THAN 8,000 BOOKS TO 14 DESIGNATED BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS PART OF ITS ONGOING FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE LIVING ROOM INITIATIVE

         BUFFALO, NEW YORK (Tuesday, June 15, 2004) – Surrounded by miniature mountains built with thousands of books, Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) President Philip Rumore was joined today by representatives from 14 designated Buffalo Public Schools, outgoing Schools Superintendent Marion Canedo and interim Superintendent Yvonne Hargrave to announce the distribution of more than 8,000 books to public schoolchildren in kindergarten through 8th Grade.

This current round of book donations by the BTF - made in conjunction with the National Education Association (NEA) and National Education Association-New York (NEA-NY), and subsidized through a NEA Priority Schools Grant - brings the total amount of books and reading and literacy guides distributed to Buffalo public schoolchildren, their parents and guardians to more than 23,000 in just the past six months, BTF officials said.

"That equates to more than $32,000 in books purchased and distributed through the BTF, the NEA and NEA-NY," BTF President Rumore said, "and once again demonstrates the interest and commitment of Buffalo's public school teachers to the children they teach and serve as role models and mentors to on a daily basis. The BTF and NEA/NEA-NY is extremely proud to continue this rich tradition of opening new worlds through the pages of books, which create tremendous memories over the years and works to ignite the learning potential of our children."

"This effort is also a continuation of the BTF's 'From the Classroom to Living Room' project that reaches out to connect teachers with students and their parents and guardians so we can all work together for the betterment of our children," he said. "It's something that we, as teachers, know is the most important part of a child's education, and that's making and taking the time to read. In addition, an important ingredient in making this happen is the support, encouragement and interest that's shown within the student's home. Hopefully this works to connect the two."

The titles of some of the current round of books to be distributed that were selected by BTF-represented teachers include: Fabulous Facts About the 50 States, Favorite Greek Myths, The Forgotten Heroes and Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library! The latest wave of 8,000 books will be delivered in the coming days to libraries and individual teachers in 14 designated Buffalo Public Schools that are to individually receive anywhere from 439 to 680 books, depending upon the school, BTF officials said.

Those schools are: School 6 - Buffalo Elementary School of Technology; School 11 - Poplar Academy; School 18 - Dr. Antonia Pantoja Community School of Academic Excellence; Schools 37 - Futures Academy; School 38 - Frank A. Sedita Academy School; School 39 - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Multicultural Institute; School 44 - Lincoln Academy; School 53 - Community School; School 59 - C.R. Drew Science Magnet; School 71 - Webb ECC; School 74 - Hamlin Park School; School 93 - Southside Elementary; School 94 - West Hertel Academy; and School 171 - WEB Middle School.

In November, the BTF distributed reading and literacy handbooks called Read and Rise: Preparing Our Children for a Lifetime of Success to more than 12,000 parents and guardians who have children in pre-kindergarten through Grade 3 classes within 44 public schools across the city - again, as part of its From the Classroom to the Living Room program.

The handbook's aim is to help guide parents and guardians along the way in order to help make their children lifelong readers with strong literacy skills, which will allow them to better communicate and form thoughts using reason and analysis.

BTF President Rumore explained the mission of the From the Classroom to the Living Room program is simple: "It's to educate and carry a positive message from teachers of why and how parents can and must get more involved in their children's lives, both in and out of school, and how we can work together towards a common end. This program has an opportunity to make quite an impact, especially with the more than 4,000 members the BTF represents, many of whom are teachers within Buffalo's Public School System, and the nearly 50,000 children and young people that they combine to teach and mentor."

The BTF's From the Classroom to the Living Room/book initiative continues the rich tradition of BTF programs aimed at the city's public schoolchildren and the local community. Most recently the BTF's announced its participation in a school-wide Operation Respect/Don't Laugh at Me program started by musician Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary fame.

Just prior to Halloween, the BTF prints and hands out more than 47,000 orange bookmarks in classrooms in an effort to make sure schoolchildren have a happy and safe Halloween as they travel through city neighborhoods trick-or-treating. Just before Thanksgiving, the BTF and its members donate thousands of dollars in food and gift certificates that are distributed to more than 120 needy families throughout the Buffalo area by several charitable and non-profit groups in an effort to "make sure those families enjoy a meal of thanks on Thanksgiving Day," BTF President Rumore said.

In addition, the BTF has helped spearhead several other efforts, from making donations to help schoolchildren in war-torn Afghanistan to helping send thousands of Valentines from city schoolchildren to our troops overseas.

"This is the way the BTF and its membership have chosen to continue to show Buffalo and Western New York that we are committed to our teaching profession, the city's schoolchildren and the local community. We are both happy and pleased to play this role as we continue to serve our kids and the community," he said.