MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          September 16, 2022

Subject:    Negotiations / Picketing / School Safety

Negotiations

We have sent correspondence to the Superintendent again, indicating that we are willing to set some dates to negotiate issues that we have discussed and that each side believes can be agreed to before Fact-Finding continues in October.

We are in the process of working with NYSUT, our state affiliate, to once again do media buys. The last time, according to NYSUT, there were 114,000 Buffalo News “views” and 101,000 social media “views”.

We are adjusting them to reflect student needs as well as financial disparities with other Districts.

We will also be doing billboards.

This is as was laid out on our timeline of events that has been sent to you.

Picketing

Mass Picketing

Our next mass picketing will be:

DATE: Wednesday, September 21, 2022

TIME: 4:00 – 5:00 PM (The Board Meeting starts at 5:30)

PLACE: Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts (BPS 192) 450 Masten Ave, Buffalo, 14209 (Off West Ferry)

Let’s once again show our unity and anger.

Bring your signs. We will also have some available.

I will be addressing the Board on your behalf.

We’ll see if the Board’s Negotiations Spokesperson, once again, attempts to prevent me from speaking.

Picketing Before School

The next scheduled date for picketing before school is the date of the above Board meeting, September 21, 2022.

School Safety

The recent incident in one of our schools, once again, demonstrates the need for critical protocols for the identification of violent and disruptive students and indeed all school safety issues.

We are again going to periodically survey you to determine the safety of your school/site.

The results will be sent to you, the District, and the media. Names will not be released.

Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams seems to be attempting to follow up on our previous surveys.

We will, however, continue asking you about the conditions at your school/site.

The next one will also include student discipline/corrective action questions.

Please take the time to complete the survey. (Please refer to your email for survey link)

Thank you.

PR:su