BTF Resolution - November 17, 2005

Whereas: Superintendent Williams was quoted as saying, "I'm getting cooperation from the majority of my principals, but my African American principals aren't following through with some of the things I think they should be doing," and "I have a South Park and a City Honors. I have a McKinley and an East. Look who's heading those schools," and;

Whereas: Demeaning people and their performance in relation to their race by anyone, especially the Superintendent of Schools:

• Contradicts and undoes all that Buffalo teachers believe and teach in our classrooms.
  
• Reinforces negative stereotypes to African-American students and the public by implying white people are superior to African-Americans and to other (non-African-American) students and the public that African-Americans are inferior and that such judgments have some connection to the color of their skin, and;

Whereas: Superintendent Williams, in reference to new teachers was quoted as saying, "We're not getting the No. 1 draft picks. We're not even getting free agents," and;

Whereas: Such statements are an insult to our dedicated new teachers who despite difficult and often impossible working conditions, acts of violence, the lack of a new contract, a wage freeze, a residency requirement, etc have still chosen to teach in Buffalo.

Therefore Be It Resolved: The BTF Council of Delegates calls upon the Buffalo Board of Education and the NAACP to investigate the accuracy of the statements attributed to Superintendent William's relating to the race of principals and, if it is determined that such statements are indeed accurate, take strict and appropriate action - action that would have been taken regardless of the race of the Board employee making such statements, and;

Be It Further Resolved: That the BTF Council of Delegates calls upon the Superintendent of Schools to issue a public apology to our dedicated and hard working new teachers who were included in his demeaning statements.