DEDICATION SOLIDARITY February 2020 PROFESSIONALISM OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE BUFFALO TEACHERS FEDERATION VOLUME 50/NUMBER 3 PRIDE SECOND TO NONE BTF Demands Mandatory Intervention Services for Disruptive/Suspended Students Mandatory intervention services for students seeking to learn. we must begin in the early grades”, Rumore suspended students is being demanded Phil said that there is “apparently a said. by the Buffalo Teachers Federation after a directive from the District to lower the “The Superintendent and Board of teacher survey on school safety and learning suspension rates”. As a result, many Education must immediately approve and conditions was deemed “disturbing.” administrators are returning disruptive implement a policy requiring that suspended A resolution calling for the services was students to the classroom or fail to report students receive the intervention services unanimously approved by the BTF Council of suspensions. of trained pupil personnel, e.g. school Delegates. It calls for additional hiring of pupil “Everyone wants to reduce suspensions; counselors, school social workers, school personnel so caseloads do not exceed 100:1. however, just sending a student back psychologists, school attendance teachers, In a January 17 press conference, BTF to class after the student has started a etc. and community/government partners. President Phil Rumore said intervention fight, threatened to hurt a student, bullied (The survey responses can be found services are needed to address behavioral a student, cursed at the teacher, hit the at www.btfny.org/pressrelease/2020/dis_ issues and prevent student suspensions. teacher, continued to disrupt the class, etc., survey_responses.pdf.) He said a survey of teachers indicated sends the message to the other students that immediate action is necessary. the behavior is acceptable. This invariably “The very disturbing response from leads to other students adopting the hundreds of teachers (749), from 61 of the disruptive behavior and most feeling unsafe. 76 schools/sites over a short period of time, Ultimately, someone gets hurt – usually a is an urgent call for immediate action by student”, Rumore said. the Superintendent and Board of Education He said some school districts are using to ensure that suspended students are Restorative Justice/Practices to defuse provided with intervention services to resolve disruptive student behavior and the program and correct the issues that gave rise to the is beginning to be implemented in some suspension”, stated Rumore. Buffalo Public Schools. However, teachers The survey, which questioned teachers are concerned there is insufficient training, on school climate, student behavior, and insufficient principal support and insufficient discipline, indicated that improvement is time in the day to implement it with fidelity. needed in all areas. “We must work together to ensure that Only 17% of respondents said that our students’ learning environment and student discipline problems are dealt with safety are not compromised by disruptive quickly and appropriately, while 83% said student behaviors while also working with the disruptive student behavior is leading to disruptive students to find the cause of and Above: With cameras rolling, BTF President Phil unacceptable learning conditions for the how to correct the disruptive behaviors and Rumore stresses the need for intervention services. BTF Resolution Seeks Intervention Services In reference to the issues raised by the behavior, suspensions must require District- attendance teachers, school psychologists teacher survey, the BTF Executive Committee provided intervention(s); and and/or other trained providers to work with and Council of Delegates (elected school WHEREAS, Said intervention(s) involves the that student, and if necessary, his/her family, representatives), unanimously passed the resources of trained pupil personnel, e.g. school so that the behavior that led to the suspension following resolution: counselors, school social workers, school ends, and the student and other students can WHEREAS, Buffalo teachers are seeing a psychologists, school attendance teachers, etc. succeed; and significant increase in student behaviors that and community/government partners; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the are detrimental to student learning and school WHEREAS, The caseload of trained pupil Board of Education, to ensure that the required safety; and personnel employees is, instead of 100:1, often intervention services are provided to suspended WHEREAS, Suspension alone, in most 800:1 or more; and students, establish caseloads for the above cases, does not address the underlying cause WHEREAS, It is the District’s responsibility named District providers of no more than 100:1; of the detrimental student behavior; and to ensure that suspension necessarily entails and WHEREAS, The District, in order to reduce intervention(s). BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the suspensions, must not focus on the number of THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Board/School District will continue and expand suspensions, it must focus on the behavior(s) Buffalo School Board/District will ensure that its outreach to city, state and local agencies that that resulted in each suspension; and, every student suspension requires the student can provide said intervention services; and WHEREAS, Buffalo teachers, while being to receive the intervention services of school BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That very concerned about the student behavior that counselors, school social workers, school henceforth the designation “Suspension/District is detrimental to student learning and school intervention(s)” will be used and implemented. safety, also believe that to end said student 1 disruptive students to find the cause of how to correct the disruptive behavior and BTF at a Glance we must begin in the early grades. When a student is suspended, the BTF President District must be required to provide the Philip Rumore intervention services of trained pupil BTF Vice President Rebecca Pordum personnel, e.g. school counselors, school BTF Treasurer social workers, school psychologists, Joseph Montante attendance teachers, etc. and community/ BTF Secretary government partners. Melinda MacPherson-Sullivan Just sending a student home who has BTF Executive Committee Members committed an act of violence, threatened a student or the teacher, etc. only to have Pre-K-6 that student returned, does nothing to Rachel Binda-Lis, April Hall, Sophia Howard-Johnson, correct the behavior and sends the wrong Trisha Rosokoff, Janine Schuster, message to the rest of the students. Ruyvette Townsend The district must be required to provide an intervention. 7-12 And yes, caseloads of as many as Dennis Brancato, Patrick Foster, 800/1, being required to do extracurricular Lynn Garcia, Melissa Kenney, tasks, walk the halls with a walkie-talkie, M. Sue Raichilson, Chris Salamone, Eve Shippens-Nieves complete paperwork for an administrator, etc. must end. Caseloads of our school K-12 “WE CAN NOT counselors, school social workers, Susan Baker, Amy Flynn, AND psychologists, attendance teachers etc. Nicole Herkey, Ellen Malone, WILL NOT BE SILENT” needs to be lowered to 100/1 at most. Mark Mecca, Gregory Sawicki, We will be working on all levels - local, Elizabeth Spiro-Carman Where, as our recent survey of teachers state, and federal to ensure that districts At Large shows: are required to provide intervention to Tom Anthony, Marc Bruno, • 83.00% of the teachers responded suspended students and that there are Mike Mecca that disruptive student behavior is leading penalties for districts who do not. BTF Headquarters Staff to unacceptable learning conditions for the From now on when someone Philip Rumore, President students seeking to learn. complains about or covers up Joseph Montante, Presidential Assistant • 21.96% of the respondents suspensions, the response must be “Do Rebecca Pordum, Presidential Assistant report that disruptive student behavior you mean that you don’t want to work with Tim Connick, NYSUT Counsel “Is almost out of control leading to Jenna Burke, NYSUT Labor Relations the students and if necessary their families Specialist increased disruptive student behavior to help the students so that the detrimental Matthew Kibler, NYSUT Labor Relations and unacceptable learning conditions” behavior no longer occurs?” Specialist and disruptive student behavior is “Out of Robert Mueller, NYSUT Labor Relations Control”. “WE CAN NOT Specialist • I believe that Discipline and AND Visit Our Updated Website Suspensions are Underreported in my www.btfny.org school WILL NOT o 71.79% of the respondents agree. BE SILENT” • 69.00% Reported that an When our students were denied admission to the Erie County BTF Provocator Staff Administrator does not discuss, as Joseph Montante, managing editor, photo editor required by our contract, how a student’s Interscholastic Conference (ECIC), we Chris Salamone, editor behavior can be expected to improve threatened legal action, issued press The Provocator is the official publication of the statements, held a solidarity day, passed Buffalo Teachers Federation. It will be published five times before returning the student to the during the 2019-2020 school year as a service to BTF teacher’s class. a motion (unanimously) to continue to members and interested parties in the community. Subscription price is included in BTF dues. organize and prepare for legal action on Postmaster, send address changes to: behalf of any of our teams/organizations BTF Provocator, 271 Porter Avenue, “WE CAN NOT Buffalo, New York 14201. that have faced similar discrimination. Advertising: Rates and anticipated publishing schedule AND may be requested from the BTF, 716-881-5400, FAX 716-881-6678. Although advertising is screened, advertising does not imply BTF endorsement of the WILL NOT “WE CAN NOT product, service or the views expressed. Your patronage of our advertisers is appreciated. BE SILENT” AND The BTF is an affiliate ofNYSUT, AFT and NEA.

We must ensure that our students’ WILL NOT February 2020 learning environment and safety are Volume 50, No. 3 BE SILENT Circulation 4400 not compromised by disruptive student behaviors while also working with the NOT NOW, NOT EVER” 2 Chicago Teachers Glad Letters to the Editor for BTF Strike Support Thank you so much for the support BTF Supports EPIC YMCA Thanks BTF during our recent 11-day strike! Thank you for your commitment to While the issues of this strike with Purchase of Ad helping others learn, grow, and thrive concerned the Chicago Public Schools, Thank you. On behalf of the Board of through your support of the Y’s 2019 this became a fight for so much more – Directors, staff, and the families that we Annual Campaign. Please enjoy this for the schools our children deserve, for serve at EPIC-Every Person Influences YMCA desk calendar as it highlights the power of organized labor and for a the many people who benefit from the fairer and more just society. Children, please accept our gratitude On November 15, Chicago Teachers to the Buffalo Teachers Federation YMCA. Your support helps the Y to Union members voted to accept support of EPIC’s 2019 Annual Heroes transform people’s lives by providing the tentative agreement with an 81 Reception, with the purchase of the full access to healthy activities, teaching percent yes. This contract is a powerful advertisement page. new skills, inspiring strong character advance for our city and our movement EPIC supports new families, families values, enriching family relationships for real equity and educational justice facing challenges and parenting and so much more. for our school communities and the teens through parenting classes The impact of the Y’s charitable children we serve. and workshops. We increase family mission to serve all could not extend as On behalf of the 25,000 red-wearing engagement in education by connecting far as it does without you. Thank you members of CTU who marched in parents and teachers, encouraging again for being a generous supporter. rallies, stood on strike lines and carried early literacy and building parents’ Sincerely, picket signs, I wish you solidarity, and capacity to be actively involved in their Danielle Roberts, Executive Dir. again, my heartfelt thanks! In Unity, children’s education. Our youth services Jesse Sharkey, President focus on developing self-confidence BTF Donates to CEJ and healthy relationships for middle Thank you for your great generosity! and high school students. Through our We, at CEJ Buffalo (Coalition for BTF Donates to Explore professional development programs, Economic Justice), greatly appreciate we train teachers and agency staffs the Buffalo Teachers Federation & More Annual Appeal strategies critical to family engagement. donation of $1,500, and your continued On behalf of Explore & More – Because of your donation, we can support. Your contribution helps The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s help families, schools and communities to further our mission through our Museum, I want to extend a heart-felt raise children to become responsible campaign work, including Buffalo thank you for your generous support! and successful adults by encouraging Transit Riders United (BTRU), the Poor People’s Campaign, and our work with The Museum is exceedingly grateful for literacy, supporting youth and helping labor, such as Wendt and New Era. both your assistance and for embracing families through all the challenges (and Your support is invaluable to us, our mission to provide the children of joys) of parenting. thank you again! If you have specific Western New York with a world-class For more information about our questions about the work we are museum offering hands-on educational programs and successes, please visit doing, please reach out to me at experiences that inspire creativity, our website at www.epicforchildren.org. [email protected] or by phone, curiosity and imagination. Again, thank you for your generosity. 716.427.3625. Thank you for your recent Sincerely, In solidarity and with deep gratitude. contribution of $200 to our 2019 Annual Tara N. Burgess, Executive Dir. Holly Nowak, Executive Dir. Appeal. As a member of the Explore & More family, you understand how important it is for kids to learn through BTF Supports BPO Substitutes United play. Your gift is already unlocking the limitless potential of all children through Kids Concerts Thanks BTF for Aid our many play-based learning activities. It was an absolute pleasure to visit On behalf of the Hicks family and Through the generosity of donors you all at your office last week. Substitutes United of Buffalo, we wish like you, Explore & More has been able I immediately felt so welcome and I to extend our heartfelt thank you for all to grow our operations each year. This appreciate the time you took to discuss your help and support during this tough continued growth has readied us to the BTF and the BPO with me. I think time, the passing of Stephen Hicks. serve over 200,000 visitors annually it is truly incredible that you offer such You were a true mentor to him and as we settle into our new home at a great opportunity to your teachers, we look forward to continuing that relationship. We appreciate all you have Canalside on Buffalo’s Waterfront. parents, and students. done. It was very considerate of you Through your gift, you are helping to This program embraces the and we appreciate your thoughtfulness. revitalize our region for children and importance of a musical, cultural, Please stay well and have a happy, families. collective experience in our lives. I healthy New Year. Thank you for believing in the look forward to seeing BTF members Sincerely, importance of play and informal enjoying our BPO Kids Concerts. Shirley Sapp-Burgess learning experiences and for investing Thank you for your continued Acting President in our community’s greatest asset, our support of our Orchestra and great city! Substitutes United of Buffalo children. Warm appreciation, Warmly, Claire Saunders, Coordinator Group Michelle Urbanczyk Sales & Community Engagement 3 Chief Executive Officer BTF to Host March 24 Hundreds Brave Bad Weather for Women’s March Retirement Workshop Hundreds of Western 1. New Yorkers braved the A workshop for teachers considering frigid temperatures and retirement in the near future will be blowing snow January 20 conducted Tuesday, March 24 by the to attend the Women’s Buffalo Teachers Federation. March in downtown The event will begin at 7 PM at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, located Buffalo. at 6461 Transit Road in Depew. The Fourth Annual Refreshments will be served. Women’s March, part of After a few opening remarks from a national movement, BTF President Philip Rumore, a highlights the role of representative from the New York State women in the fight for Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS) equality and justice for will explain the various options for all. The March was organized by the 2. receiving your benefit. The presentation Western New York Peace Center. will include sample calculations of The BTF, a supporter of the event, benefits, the Post Retirement Death provided free bus tokens to Buffalo Benefit, and penalties for retiring early. Public School students who wanted to When that portion of the program is finished, the NYSUT Labor Relations attend the event. Specialists assigned to the BTF will BTF President Phil Rumore and Vice make a presentation about the District President Becky Pordum and dozens of benefits available to Buffalo teachers. teachers walked with the students. This includes health care, the Early Despite the cold outside City Hall Retirement Incentive, payout for unused on Niagara Square, several speakers 3. sick days, and a bonus payment for addressed the crowd and encouraged early notification of retirement. participants to fight for civil rights for The last part of the program will everyone on the planet. focus on the Supplemental Benefit Among the speakers were: Victoria Fund and options for picking up Ross, executive director of the WNY COBRA coverage after you retire. Peace Center; Nadia Shahram, If interested in attending, look for a posting in your building on the BTF an Iranian American attorney; and bulletin board. Your Delegate Chair Tanvier Peart of Buffalo League Young should have registration forms. You Professionals. Songs were led by the may also call the BTF office at 881- Western New York Resistance Revival 1. BTF Vice President Becky Pordum, left, and 5400 for more information. Chorus and community activist Patricia President Phil Rumore, right, meet with students Bozeman, who received an award from School 6 at the March. BTF Scholarships Sunday during the annual Martin Luther 2. On snow-covered sidewalks in front of City Hall, a large crowd gathers to hear the speakers. King, Jr. celebration in Kleinhans Music 3. Liz Spiro-Carman, an Art teacher at School 6, Available Hall. helped to promote the event and encouraged BTF Scholarships, some earmarked students to attend. specifically for the children of Buffalo teachers, are being offered by The Transfer Letters Due March 23 Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo. If you are planning to move to In your letter, you should identify The Foundation will be administering another school next year, or just want what and where you currently teach the scholarships of the BTF for the 2020- to find out what openings are available, and that you want to be advised of all 21 academic year in the spring. the deadline for transfer letters is available openings in your tenure area. Students who currently are high March 23. There is a sample letter on the BTF school seniors or are already enrolled in Transfer letters must be sent website under BTF Forms. an accredited program are encouraged to Ms. Jamie Warren, Associate If you do not want your principal to to apply. Superintendent for Human Resources; know about the request, you can ask Applications are accepted from Buffalo Board of Education; 65 Niagara that your letter be kept confidential. students all over Western New York and Square; City Hall Room 719; Buffalo, Once your letter has been received, some money is allocated specifically for New York 14202. your supervisor will contact you the children of Buffalo Teachers. Awards As per Article XIV of the Contract sometime during the summer and range from $1000-$6000. (pages 30-31), a teacher can apply for inform you of the available positions. The application process opened on a voluntary transfer for the next school You will then have four days to decide January 1st and closes May 1st. year by writing a letter to the Human whether you want to accept a new To apply, visit www.cfgb.org and click Resources Department by March 23. position or remain at your current on the ‘For Scholarships’ tab. You also school. may call the CFGB at 852-2857. 4 Reimbursement for Rx Teacher Salary Is Based on 202 Days One of the least understood but In order for a temporary teacher to Co-Pays Available most important aspects of the salary be provided health insurance over the Did you know that you can receive we earn as teachers is the paycheck summer, that teacher must have been a reimbursement for prescriptions structure. Most teachers know their employed a minimum of 100 days in you and your dependents had filled in salary and know they receive a 5-day the school year and still be on the pay- 2019? check on the second Friday after roll at the end of the school year (Article The Supplemental Benefit Fund will school starts, followed by a full check XXVI (2), A (9)). pay $2 for every prescription filled for every two weeks for 21 pay dates In both of the above instances, you and each eligible family member, thereafter. these are paid days out of the total of up to $100 per person. Doing the math, our checks are 202, not school days. Thus, the fact You must obtain a computer- spread over 43 weeks or 215 week- that there are now 202 service days generated prescription roster from your days. Our Contract says we will work may, in some instances, be beneficial pharmacist and submit it along with for a total of 188 days but many issues to teachers. a completed Rx Co-Pay Claim Form involving pay are based on a formula Furthermore, when the District re- to: SBF, c/o BTF, 271 Porter Avenue, using 1/200. So are we paid for 188, ports service credit to the Teachers’ Buffalo, NY 14201. 200, 215 days or some other number? Retirement System, they are report- The Rx Co-Pay Claim Form is The definitive answer is none of the ing paid days. A full year of service is available from your building delegate, above. It’s 202. defined as 170 days with NYSTRS but the SBF Office, or our website, www. Each year, the Director of Person- that is paid service days, not school btfny.org, under the forms tab. nel, Wage, and Salary Administration days. So the 202 days could make a The deadline for submitting the (currently Richard Thompson) issues a big difference in the service credit re- forms is 5 PM Friday, March 6. calendar with pay warrant dates and a ported for teachers, especially those listing of which are the 202 paid days of who do not work a full year. T T T T T T T service. This school year, that includes In general, the 202 days of paid the 188 work days plus the following service works to the advantage of holidays: Labor Day, Columbus Day, teachers. Since many aspects of com- Election Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanks- pensation call for an exact number of giving Day plus Friday, Christmas Eve days, the paid days of service usually and Day, New Year’s Day, MLK Jr. Day, help teachers achieve that minimum Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Easter threshold faster. In some cases, that Monday, and Memorial Day. Note that difference could be significant! prior to the 2016 Contract, we were paid for 200 days. However, when two days were added to the teacher sched- ule, the number of “service days” in- NYSUT/AFT/NEA/BTF creased to 202. Dues for 2019 While we are paid for the 202 days listed above, our pay is spread over It’s that time of year when 215 days. The additional 13 days are everyone is gathering information to T T T T T T T the rest of Winter Solstice Break, the prepare their tax returns. Remember, rest of the Mid-Winter recess, and the if you file an itemized tax return, rest of Spring Break. This arrangement Union dues withheld from your makes it easier for teachers to plan and paycheck may be tax deductible. provides regular paychecks during the Please check with your tax course of the school year. The fact that professional as new Federal tax laws there were 200 paid days for so long are in effect. explains why overage pay, termination The total dues for full time compensation, and additional days of employees are $883.60. four (4) hours or more are paid at the This includes $574.34 for the rate of 1/200 of a teacher’s salary (Ar- period January-June ($44.18 x 13 ticle VIII, B (2)). This did NOT change checks) and $309.26 for September- in the 2016 Contract and that works to December ($44.18 x 7 checks). the benefit of teachers. For part time employees, the total dues are $441.80. But the 202 days of paid service has This includes $287.17 for many more implications than termina- January-June ($22.09 x 13 checks) tion compensation or overage pay. In and $154.63 for September- order for a teacher to move up a salary December ($22.09 x 7 checks). step, (s)he must have 160 days of paid Adult Learning Center dues service in a school year or a combina- totaled $408.76. This includes tion of school years (Article XXV, E (4) $287.17 for January-June ($22.09 (a)). x 13 checks) and $121.59 for September-December ($17.37 x 7 5 checks). BTF Prevails in Sixth Class Arbitration A decision from PERB arbitrator all! Did You Know… Marvin Johnson affirmed the BTF’s Labor Relations Specialist Jenna That upon the request of the position that academic teachers Burke contended that the Grievant must teachers, the BTF Building Committee working in grades 7-12 “shall be be “made whole” by receiving 20% of his may arrange for the installation of assigned no more than five (5) forty-five salary for the portion of the school year vending machines for staff use only? (45) minute teaching periods per day.” he taught a sixth class. The installation, operation, control, This language can be found in Article In this case, CTE Director Rob Harris and maintenance of the machines X, A of the Contract. testified that “an individual agreement shall be the responsibility of the In this grievance, a teacher was between a principal and a teacher to teachers in that building subject to “asked” to teach a 6th class in the teach a sixth class was outside of the reasonable safety precautions. 2015-16 school year by the assistant CBA.” Accordingly, Arbitrator Johnson All proceeds from these machines principal. The teacher, believing ruled that “…the District violated shall be used in such manner as compensation was automatic, agreed the Contract when it entered into an the teachers in that building shall and this continued for about six months agreement with the Grievant allowing him determine. until another educator was brought in to to teach six classes.” This can be found in Article XI, I of teach the class. So why is this important? The the Contract. The District contended that the lesson here is that neither a principal teacher “volunteered” to teach the nor a director can promise you extra extra class and that as a result, would payment for teaching an additional not receive extra compensation. A class. grievance was filed (which the District This has been happening in various claimed was untimely) and the battle subject areas both this school year and began. The issue of timeliness was last (including math and science). The overruled. upshot is that you should not agree to Ultimately, the case wound up in teach an extra class. If you are assigned front of Arbitrator Johnson and the an extra class by your administration, decision was issued that the District you need to contact your LRS and file a must pay the teacher for the extra class. grievance. This is not the first time such a decision A Federation grievance was filed this has been issued, but the fact is, the year (and last year) on the matter. And District continues to assign certain while the District has agreed to pay the teachers a sixth class and payment for affected teachers for the extra class, the this class is not automatic. In fact, our larger issue is that they should not be Contract does not address payment at assigning an extra class to anyone! Buffalo’s First African American Teacher Remembered Her name was Ida Dora Fairbush educational curriculum, or popular be sent to every library in the BPS and she truly was a pioneer. She was literature. system. A great deal of research went born on March 15, 1869 and died into the publication and teachers and on September 20, 1945. Between However, a new publication written students are encouraged to have a those two dates, she lived life as by Barbara Seals Nevergold, Ph.D. look. a daughter, sister, student scholar, seeks to change that. Dr. Seals educator, and community builder. In Nevergold was the president of the The BTF has endowed a spite of significant contributions to Buffalo Board of Education before scholarship for Buffalo high school her community, Ida’s story is largely deciding not to run for re-election students in Ms. Fairbush’s name. unknown. Her history, like those in 2019. The booklet, titled Ida D. The Ida Dora Fairbush Memorial of countless other Black women Fairbush, was printed with the support Scholarship of $1000 will be in this country, has not been fully of the Buffalo Teachers Federation. presented for the first time in June documented in local history texts, A copy of the publication will soon 2020.

D&D D &DENTAL GROUP Dr. Daniel A. Martinez “Family and Cosmetic Dentistry” 844 West Delavan • Buffalo (Next to Rite Aid on the corner of Delaware and Delavan) (716) 883-4998 BTF members and dependents welcome as always. Most services are covered in full. Co-insurance, deductibles & non-covered services are the responsibility of the member. 6 Don’t Shortchange New York State: Be Counted! Fill Out the Census Every 10 years, the US Constitution For the first time, people will be able requires Congress to count every person to fill out the Census survey online, living in the United States. by telephone, or by mail. The Census This count, known as the Census, Bureau will begin sending mail to all includes all residents, non-citizens and residents in the middle of March and the children. first day to complete the Census online Information from the Census is used is March 12. In the following weeks, to distribute more than $700 billion the Bureau will send reminders to in federal funds for programs such households that have not responded. as Medicaid, Title 1, school lunches, As the response rate increases, the special education, housing assistance, state’s share of federal funding gets and many others. larger. In addition, New York State’s Children, non-English speakers, congressional districts and State Senate immigrants, and those without access and Assembly districts will be redrawn to the internet are at higher risk of being in 2021 based on Census data. Experts, undercounted. This is due to fear and using population trend projections, distrust of government, concerns about predict New York could lose one, privacy and security, and apathy. possibly two, congressional seats. NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE BTF Leads Fight PAID Permit No. 824 for Football Teams Buffalo, NY BUFFALO TEACHERS FEDERATION Once again, the Buffalo Teachers 271 PORTER AVENUE Federation was the first to step up BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14201 for BPS students when Section VI 716-881-5400 football officials decided to change the scheduling model and leave Buffalo athletes out in the cold. Almost immediately after announcing it planned to move to league-based scheduling, which would leave Buffalo schools without a league, the BTF went to bat for our Address Service Requested students. Within a week, the BTF, Board of Education, City of Buffalo, and and “support efforts to ensure the community leaders were prepared admission of BPS teams to all such Ninety-Seven NYS to take legal action when Section VI leagues”. decided to delay its decision and hold Rumore said the Section VI Teachers Achieve further discussions before taking any and ECIC actions appeared “to be action. discrimination against our students” “Gold Standard” and violated “Title IV of the Civil Under league-based scheduling, NYSUT has announced that 97 Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits city schools remain in the section, but teachers from across the state have discrimination on the basis of race, would face challenges in filling out a earned national certification from the color, national origin, sex, and religion schedule by not being in a league. National Board for Professional Teaching in public schools.” The Buffalo Public Schools petitioned Standards. Another 60 educators had With the threat of legal action to become football-only members their certifications renewed in 2019. by the BTF, the School Board and of the Erie County Interscholastic Among the 97 is BTF member the City of Buffalo, Section VI has Conference, but the ECIC turned Lan Zhang, an ENL teacher from decided to delay its move to league- them down, citing difficulty fitting the School 19. More information on this based scheduling. schools into the schedule. will be forthcoming but Ms. Zhang is If league scheduling is That’s when BTF President one of only 2,115 teachers statewide implemented, five Buffalo Public Philip Rumore quickly took action. who have completed a rigorous Schools and one charter school will He brought the matter to the BTF performance-based, peer-reviewed be left without a league. The BPS Executive Committee, which passed assessment process that includes a teams affected are Bennett, Burgard, a resolution “to take and support review of teaching portfolios, student Hutch-Tech, McKinley, and South legal actions against the Erie County work samples, videos and analysis of Park. Section VI’s lone charter school Interscholastic Conference (ECIC) a candidate’s teaching and student with a team is WNY Maritime/Health for refusing Buffalo Public School learning. Congratulations!! football teams admission to the ECIC” Sciences.

Save the Date Welcome New Members The following 39 teachers have joined the Buffalo Teachers Federation since the February 20 last printing of the Provocator. Welcome to the union! Ski Day at Kissing Bridge Erin Bastian Elizabeth Anne Jasen Moire Puccio Register Online Alyssa Biscotto Jacqueline Johnston Amanda Richter February 29 & March 1 Orman Blenman Caitlin Kamholz Kristina Rovison Variety Club Telethon Katie Broderick Elizabeth Kobialka Kelly Sanbelmo Seneca Niagara Casino Kerry Calvert Lila Mandzyk Megan Schrader Christina Carducci Robert McGinnis Michael Schroeder March 6 Susan Colosimo Melissa McGowen Andrew Sliwowski Rx Reimbursement Requests Claire Deschamps Charles Meier Adam Smith Due by 5:00 PM Lauren Dierken Dawn Merle Lovell Smith Kathy Frederick Lauren Miller Melissa Smyth March 24 Yvonne Gibson Liat Notaro Julia Tuttle BTF Retirement Seminar Joshua Girard Mary Jae Peterson Krista Van Wagner Salvatore’s Italian Gardens Torye Harris Jessica Phillips Sarah Wetherbee 8