DEDICATION SOLIDARITY February 2021 PROFESSIONALISM OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE BUFFALO TEACHERS FEDERATION VOLUME 51/NUMBER 3 PRIDE SECOND TO NONE

as per NYS regulations, they will not be Going Back to School Has Not Been able to use sick time and may lose pay for those days. We are checking on the Without Issues at Most Sites legality of this. So, like it or not, we’re back to It seemed like the logical thing to Teachers returned to the classroom school. Gone is the fun of interacting do; keep the schools closed to prevent and found food and other debris still with the students and socializing with students, teachers, and other personnel in the same place it was when schools our co-workers. Gone are the field from contracting Covid-19. Not forever, closed back in March. Instead of hiring trips and group activities. Gone is the just until the District was prepared to more cleaners, the District decided expectation that we are safe in the re-open with an adequate safety plan in the teachers could do the day to day workplace. place. cleaning of their rooms. The superintendent seemed to Many teachers, from various schools agree and promised he would not send throughout the district, reported Scholarships school employees “into the mouth of the thermal machines to monitor the volcano.” His chief medical advisor temperatures were malfunctioning and Available agreed that Covid numbers would have were not monitored by a nurse. In fact, Scholarships, some earmarked to dip below 5% before schools could some individuals simply ignored the specifically for the children of Buffalo safely be opened. warning that indicated they should not teachers, are being offered by The Com- But shortly after the winter break enter. munity Foundation of Greater Buffalo. Dirty bathrooms, classrooms and when a couple of vocal parent groups The Foundation will be awarding started talking to the press, opinions equipment prevail. One teacher found rat droppings and a dead rat in her scholarships for the 2021-22 academic started to change. The superintendent year in the spring. and Board of Education, meeting room. Others reported that repeated remotely, decided schools were safe. requests for sanitation servicing were Students who currently are high The superintendent visited a handful of ignored or not completed until the next school seniors or are already enrolled in schools and said the District was ready day. an accredited program are encouraged to open schools. The District doctor Meanwhile, very few high school to apply. decided it was safe even though the students are reporting to school. And, Applications are accepted from stu- Covid infection rate was still above 5%. some of those who are reporting are not dents all over and Lost in the rush to reopen the social distancing or wearing their masks some money is allocated specifically for schools were the promises for new properly. the children of Buffalo Teachers. Awards ventilation systems, daily sanitation More teachers than students are range from $1000-$6000. procedures and temperature monitoring reporting to school. At one school, there The application process opened on of all students and staff. were 15 teachers milling around a high January 1st and closes May 1st. school cafeteria, doing their duty to To apply, visit www.cfgb.org and supervise about the same number of click on the icon to apply. You also may Court Decision Rendered students. call the CFGB at 852-2857. The decision on the BTF’s request There are also many reports of for an injunction to halt in-person in- teachers cramming together in the struction was received just as the Pro- employee entrance corridor, waiting vocator went to press. Courtfor their Decision turn to have theirPending temperature Save The Date State Supreme Court Justice Emilio taken.The decision on the BTF’s Colaiacovo initially reserved judgment request Andfor an then injunction there is theto halt issue in- of after a day-long hearing on February 5. personkeeping instruction the windows had not open. been Even a small March During the hearing, the BTF and District renderedcrack when is causing the Provocator rooms to be went so coldto 2 presented their arguments and enlisted press.that some teachers have resorted to Read Across America witnesses to testify. wearingState Supremeheated blankets. Court Justice At one school, a teacher assistant took off three days Unfortunately, the judge denied our Emilioafter Colaiacovo telling her reserved administrator judgment the cold 11 request for an injunction in aid of arbi- Februaryexacerbated 5 after aher day arthritis.-long hearing. He Nominations for BTF Executive tration to prevent the return to in-person said he Aswould if there render aren’t his enough decision problems in a Committee, Council of learning. “While we obviously disagree timelyalready, manner. the majority of teachers who Delegates Meeting. with the decision and as our attorneys want to get vaccinated, can’t get During the hearing, the BTF and examine it, we will continue to move Districtappointments. presented their The arguments shortage of and the forward and leave no stone unturned, enlistedvaccine witnesses is not expectedto testify. to end anytime 30 no battle unfought, to ensure that our soon. BTF Retirement Workshop schools are and remain safe for our stu- TheTo add BTF insult was topreviously injury, the denied District has dents, parents, staff and of course, our- an injunctionwarned its to employees keep schools that fully if they- travel selves”, said President Phil Rumore. remoteoutside by Judge the state Frank and Sedita need. to quarantine

WHO TEACHERS ARE AND BTF at a Glance WHAT THEY, THEIR STUDENTS, PARENTS AND STAFF DESERVE BTF President Philip Rumore What follows are excerpts from a New York BTF Vice President Times article for which we have received per- Rebecca Pordum mission to reprint. BTF Treasurer I wanted to share parts of it with you, most Joseph Montante importantly, because Erick Ortiz embodies BTF Secretary the essence and soul of each of you. When Melinda MacPherson-Sullivan he said “Have they assigned a sub for my BTF Executive Committee Members classes?”, it was a reflection of a teacher like yourself. Pre-K-6 Rachel Binda-Lis, April Hall, The article also reflects the real challenges Sophia Howard-Johnson, we face, that we must and will continue to Trisha Rosokoff, Janine Schuster, overcome … not just for ourselves but for our students, parents, staff and our community. Ruyvette Townsend 7-12 Dennis Brancato, Patrick Foster, Lynn Garcia, Melissa Kenney, From – M. Sue Raichilson, Chris Salamone, Eve Shippens A Dying Teacher, Worrying Over Students to His Last Breaths K-12 Dan Levin Wed, January 27, 2021, 3:04 PM Susan Baker, Nicole Herkey, Ellen Malone, Mark Mecca, A family photo of Erick Ortiz, a chemistry teacher Gregory Sawicki, Elizabeth Spiro-Carman whose death due to COVID-19 stoked outrage among educators throughout Houston, Jan, 2021. (Brandon At Large Thibodeaux/The New York Times) Tom Anthony, Marc Bruno, Erick Ortiz lay in a hospital bed just before Mike Mecca Thanksgiving, struggling to breathe. Unable to see his family, he texted his wife, concerned BTF Headquarters Staff about his high school chemistry students: “Have they assigned a sub for my classes?” Philip Rumore, President Four days later, he was put on a ventilator. He would never recover. Joseph Montante, Presidential Assistant Ortiz, a 52-year-old father of three who had diabetes, was wary about returning to the Rebecca Pordum, Presidential Assistant classroom, his wife said. A lover of science, he studied biology in college and worked in a Tim Connick, NYSUT Counsel lab before becoming a high school teacher in 1997, a career shift inspired by his wife. Jenna Burke, NYSUT Labor Relations “I kind of talked him into it because I loved it, and he ended up loving it, too,” Maria Ortiz Specialist said. Matthew Kibler, NYSUT Labor Relations Her husband wore a plastic face shield and a mask in his chemistry classes after schools Specialist opened in October. Ortiz said she believed he became infected with the virus later that Robert Mueller, NYSUT Labor Relations month while proctoring the SAT for five hours, in a classroom with about 20 students. She Specialist recalled him mentioning that some of the students were coughing during the test. About a week later, he came home feeling under the weather, she said, and tested Visit Our Updated Website positive for the virus. For the next week, he stayed behind the closed door of their bedroom, www.btfny.org ill with a fever that hit 104 degrees and an increasingly severe cough. Early on Nov. 16, Maria Ortiz went to check on him, she said, and found he could not speak. She called an ambulance. “They didn’t even tell me what his oxygen was; they just said it’s really low, we need to take him to the hospital,” she recalled. “He never came out.” For Ortiz and her children, the loss has been devastating. “Dad was everything to them,” she said. She also received messages from some of her husband’s former students, BTF Provocator Staff including letters that were delivered to the funeral home. “He was one of the most caring Joseph Montante, managing editor, photo editor Chris Salamone, editor and hardworking people I’ve met,” one student wrote. Her grief is mixed with anger, because she believes the welfare of her husband and his The Provocator is the official publication of the Buffalo Teachers Federation. It will be published six times colleagues was not prioritized. “Teachers are also on the front lines educating children, during the 2020-2021 school year as a service to BTF trying to get them ahead, during this pandemic,” Ortiz said. “And they’re not being treated members and interested parties in the community. with respect.” Subscription price is included in BTF dues. Postmaster, send address changes to: © 2021 The New York Times Company BTF Provocator, 271 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14201. Advertising: Rates and anticipated publishing schedule may be requested from the BTF, 716-881-5400, In these difficult times, please take a deep breath often, to reflect on how, in FAX 716-881-6678. Although advertising is screened, maybe a way you didn’t realize, you made a positive difference in a student’s life. advertising does not imply BTF endorsement of the product, service or the views expressed. Your patronage You have impacted on students’ lives, their children’s lives and on and on. of our advertisers is appreciated. Why? You are a teacher and you care. The BTF is an affiliate ofNYSUT, AFT and NEA.

We fight for safe and healthful conditions in our schools because we care … we are February 2021 Volume 51, No. 3 teachers. Circulation 4400 BTF Supports Virtual Letters to the Editor Theatre Presentation

BTF Supports Virtual Toys Distributed On behalf of all of us at Teachers Theatre Presentation To 1,200 Families College, thank you for your vital support. The college received your gift We were so happy to receive your Happy New Year from the Toy Story of $1,000 through Buffalo Teachers gift of $500 on 12/22/2020. Thank you Toy Drive Committee! Federation in support of the Center for for including Ujima in your year-end As we closed the books on 2020, a Educational Equity (CEE) on November giving and making our world bright! year like none we’ve ever seen, I want to 11, 2020. Through your generosity, we Your generous donation moves us pause to simply say Thank You. Thank will continue to nurture changemakers closer to our goal. The unpredictable you for your commitment in supporting and pacesetters whose own lives are times make it difficult for children to get our Toy Story toy drive. Your generosity changed at TC, and who in turn make a all the educational and developmental in supporting Buffalo’s inner-city positive impact on the lives of others. opportunities they should be receiving. communities is greatly appreciated. Thanks to committed donors like That is why Ujima believes that we Your creativity in ensuring the safety you, CEE can pursue its mission to must expand The Dunbar Project and of others as required by CDC guidelines champion children’s opportunities to make it available to as many young during this pandemic was epic. We are graduate from high school prepared for artists as we can. Even if it means sincerely grateful for every tireless effort college, careers, and civic participation. doing so virtually. We appreciate your in donating, wrapping and/or distributing Your gifts fuel efforts to define and gift. You are making a lasting difference toys to over 1,200 families. secure the full range of resources, in young people’s lives through the The Toy Story Committee is quite supports, and services necessary to transformative power of art. proud of the service afforded to families guarantee this right to all children. Don’t forget to check out Ujima’s in need during these trying times. It is in Your support extends our legacy by Virtual Season and our presentation coming together for the greater good that ensuring that TC remains a place where of Athol Fugard’s play “PLAYLAND” met the needs of others. Thank you! talented people break new ground, on January 29, 30 and 31, directed We pray peace, purpose, and and where their ideas grow, spread, by Ujima alum Phil Knoerzer. You can prosperity from the Toy Story Committee. and change the world. Thank you for also keep up with our virtual events on Ruyvette Townsend investing in all that we accomplish. Facebook and Instagram. Desiree Breckenridge-Barnes With much gratitude, As The Dunbar Project classes get Patrick Gary-Jean Linda Colquhoun, Senior Director started, we will share with you what the Esthlia Hunt Stewardship & Donor Relations young artists are working on and what they are learning. We also appreciate that you believe in Ujima’s future and Mayor Thanks BTF for Supporting Reading we welcome your support and faith in us. You’re the best! Thank you for supporting my 18th Again, I would like to extend a Ujima sends you gratitude and good Annual Reading Rules! Kid’s Summer special thank you to all of the sponsors, wishes for your health and happiness in Reading Challenge and Awards donors and volunteers for helping me the New Year! Ceremony through your generous hold a memorable Awards Ceremony Kindly, sponsorship contribution, in-kind for the 18th Annual Reading Rules! Margaret M. Smith donation, or volunteerism. Kid’s Summer Reading Challenge Managing Director I am pleased to announce that over on Aug. 24 at the Buffalo Niagara Brian Brown, Company Member 2,000 youth worked on improving Convention Center. Your generosity their literacy proficiency skills between and ongoing support allowed every June-August to achieve the goal of Champion Reader to receive free BTF Donates to becoming Champion Readers! children’s books, book bags and I would also like to thank parents, envelopes filled with complimentary Kids Escaping Drugs caregivers, and teachers for joining me passes to our city’s most beloved in my mission to help prevent summer cultural institutions along with laptops, On behalf of the Alex Pichette learning loss by encouraging this kindles, and educational scholarships. Memorial Foundation, I would like to summer’s participants to read seven Families were also able to enjoy free thank you for your donation. books and complete seven book breakfast, entertainment and engage This foundation relies on the summaries. in fun activities during this festive generosity of donors such as yourself Nearly 17,000 students in grades celebration that honored this summer’s and is grateful for your support. K-12 from the City of Buffalo have Champion Readers. We donated $5,850 to Kids completed this educational program Thank you again for supporting this Escaping Drugs this year. This brings since 2006 when I began my first term powerful program that inspires students our four-year total to over $40,000. I as mayor and introduced Reading to practice their reading and writing couldn’t have done it without you! Rules! skills, and partnering with us to make Thank you once again! a difference in the lives of our city and Best Regards, region’s youth. Mary Pichette (School #6) Sincerely, Alex Pichette Mem. Foundation 3 Mayor Byron W. Brown BTF Community Action Committee Leads the Fight for Lead Abatement in Buffalo An anonymous knock on the door at exposure. And then I quoted the wherein most of our students reside, the home of a BTF activist has led to a motto, that we are lead-free and, if not, landlords be partnership of sorts, to combat housing are putting children and families first.” given enticements to make them so”, issues in the city. “And”, she continued, “I am happy she said. Liz Spiro-Carman, a BTF Executive to say that after I addressed the Spiro-Carman plans to continue her Committee member and Co-Chair Legislation Committee, more Council fight, along with the BTF Community of the BTF Community Involvement members added their names in Involvement Committee until every Committee, and Mitchell Nowakowski, sponsorship (of the bill).” home in Buffalo is free of lead paint. the Democratic Councilman from the Spiro-Carman’s passion for lead “The results (of lead poisoning) Fillmore District met by pure chance abatement isn’t new. As a member of could impact our students and their when he was running for office in 2019. the BTF Political Action Committee, families for generations to come”, she Little did they know, they had some she often focused on the issue when said. things to discuss. interviewing candidates seeking And if Liz Spiro-Carman has Nowakowski wanted to know what endorsement. anything to say about it, it’s not going issues the people in his district were “I focused attention on a question to happen on her watch. concerned with and Spiro-Carman, an ascertaining that rental properties, Art teacher at School #6, had a lot to say. “He came door-to-door asking what is important to us and, then, for the Teachers Create Back-to-School Excitement next hour on my porch, we discussed Many teachers the issue,” Spiro-Carman explained. were so excited to That issue, so important to Spiro- go back to school Carman, was lead poisoning and its and see their effects on children and adults in the city students and went “When this candidate (Nowakowski) the extra mile to came by again, we continued this prepare. One such discussion,” Spiro- Carman said. “After teacher was Kaitlin that, at every political rally etc., Mitch McCluskey, right, a would update me on the progress. first grade teacher at I know he’s not wasting any time Native American because he got on that immediately. Magnet School #19. “Finally, a couple of months ago, “I’m looking forward Mitch reached out to me and asked me to finally meeting my to participate with a committee looking students in person”, to move the new lead abatement law said McCluskey, through the Common Council,” she who is in her fifth year of teaching. “I continued. “It seems he was crediting my dogged focus on this issue as am supposed to receive the vaccine this inspiration to him to move with this week and feel that with the precautions I legislation. He was partnered with have put into place, I can make this a David Rivera, West District Councilman, safe and fun rest of the school year for in developing these new laws.” my students!” Her involvement on the committee McClusky greeted her students led to an impassioned address to the with colorful signs, baskets and Common Council to urge passage of personal spaces marked off for safety. legislation. “I had done some research so I could convey that it wasn’t just children being affected by lead in any house built prior to 1976,” Spiro-Carman explained. “The CDC outlines very clearly that adults can suffer mood swings, physical ailments and cognitive decline as a result of being exposed to lead dust and particles. “Although the Common Council kept focusing on the kids, I emphasized at every opportunity that the parents To share your pictures and are part of the kids’ education and classroom stories, send the information the parents’ exposure Is as significant to [email protected] to the child’s education as the child’s

Transfer Letters IT Coach Preps Girls to Win Competition Teaching virtually this year has proved to be quite successful for one Buffalo Due March 23 teacher whose pilot program for the If you are planning to move to another district propelled her students to win an school next year, or just want to find out international competition. what openings are available, the deadline Instructional Technology Coach for transfer letters is March 23. Rebecca Fast started the Girls Who Transfer letters must be sent to Ms. Game (GWG) program as a pilot for the Jamie Warren, Associate Superintendent district at the request of Sarah Edwards, for Human Resources; Buffalo Board of director of Instructional Technology. Education; 65 Niagara Square; City Hall “It’s very exciting”, Fast said. “I felt Room 719; Buffalo, New York 14202. the (winning) project was strong, but we As per Article XIV of the Contract were so new, I had no idea how it would (pages 30-31), a teacher can apply for a compare to other projects.” provided by Dell. The gift bags included voluntary transfer for the next school year Girls Who Game is an outreach by writing a letter to the Human Resources custom-made laptop backpacks, water program from Dell computers and bottles, and team T-shirts. Department by March 23. Minecraft for Education to increase In your letter, you should identify what interest in technology and STEM careers “There were some issues recording the and where you currently teach and that for girls. Minecraft for Education is a video through Teams or by using a screen- you want to be advised of all available game-based learning platform that recording software, but they persevered, openings in your tenure area. There is a promotes creativity, collaboration, and and I believe they produced a quality sample letter on the BTF website under problem solving in an immersive digital project”, she said. BTF Forms. environment. Prior to becoming an IT coach three If you do not want your principal to For the competition, teams were years ago, Fast taught science at Schools know about the request, you can ask that provided a specific challenge to research, 53, 79 and 59. During those years, she your letter be kept confidential. then they plan and build their project in also worked as part of the Buffalo Science Teachers Network (BSTN), a partnership Once your letter has been received, Minecraft Education. with . your supervisor will contact you sometime Fast said the competition included during the summer and inform you of the teams from across the In 2003, she left BPS for a year while available positions. You will then have and Canada. She and her students working towards becoming an Educator four days to decide whether you want to learned of their success during a virtual Astronaut with NASA. When she returned, accept a new position or remain at your celebration. The winning team will receive she continued to be part of the Network of current school. a 30-minute session with the Global Educator Astronaut Teachers and taught Minecraft Team. briefly at School 91 before becoming a Science Support teacher and then “It took some time to get it going as Science/Project Based Learning Coach at Welcome I did not know the girls, but I had been Bilingual Center School 33, a job she held working with the staff at School 196 and for five years. had worked with the staff at School 76 New Members last school year, so I reached out to find To see the winning project, scan girls interested in participating,” Fast the QR code below: The following 16 teachers have explained. “We had a full team by the end joined the Buffalo Teachers Federation of October.” since the last Provocator issue. For this competition, Fast’s team Welcome to the union! was challenged to build an eatery of the future. Students researched, Jennifer Beeson then planned and built their design in Minecraft. Kevin Borchers For the final project, the students Kathleen Cody made a video tour of their world Benjamin Eberle explaining each part. Alexandra Gomez-Brock “It was very challenging Lindsay Green to do this project 100% Bryanna Hill virtually”, Fast explained. Miah Hoerter “Because I hadn’t known the girls before, Rachel Kent we had to establish trust Mary Lopez within the group and Morgan Moran build our team across two different schools”, she Jennifer Paterson said. Anthony Vaccaro One way she did this Jacob Wasylenko was by visiting each of the Alyssa Wojciechowski girls to deliver gift bags Stacia Young 5 Letters to the Editor continued from page 3 Police Athletic BTF Supports Labor State Senator Thanks League Appreciates Studies with Ad BTF for Endorsement Support The Police Athletic League of On behalf of the Board of Directors Thank you for your donation to my Buffalo, Inc. would like to thank you for of the American Labor Studies Center, campaign for State Senate. I am so appointing Buffalo Teachers Federation I want to thank you for sponsoring an thankful for the support we’ve received as a $1500 Bookworm Sponsor of ad in the commemorative journal for in such an uncertain time and through Reading Rules! Mayor Bryon W. our recent Awards Ceremony. While this roller coaster of an election year. Brown’s 2020 Kid’s Summer Reading Covid-19 placed severe restrictions on And now, after all the votes are counted, Challenge & Virtual Awards Ceremony the nature of the event, we were able to I couldn’t be more honored to be chosen for Champion Readers. present the Mullany medals to our award to represent Central New York in Albany. We appreciate the benevolent winners, Public Employees Federation This year we faced unimaginable donation made to this significant literacy President Wayne Spence and Mullany challenges – an uncontrolled pandemic, program for PAL youth in grades K-12 genealogist LuAnn Cherry, in person. the economic uncertainty that followed, who practiced improving their reading Your generous support will be and a federal government that has and writing skills between June-August. instrumental to our twin goals of failed to respond. While I have been so We are pleased to report that 1,000 promoting the teaching and learning inspired by our community’s resilience youth achieved the goal of completing about the American labor movement and in this crisis, the failures of some elected Challenge I & Challenge II of Reading its history in K-12 schools nationwide leaders have left us struggling. Rules! So they could qualify to win and the historic restoration of the home I ran for office to be an advocate for academic prizes, bicycles, laptops, and Kindles along with receiving a Reading of Kate Mullany in Troy, New York, which my community and the values we share. Rules! Diploma and invitation to attend will provide a physical space to tell the I have spent the last year talking to local Mayor Brown’s Virtual Awards Ceremony story of the young Irish immigrant who leaders about the challenges they are on Aug. 24. founded and led America’s first bona facing from job losses to childcare to We are grateful for strong community fide all-female union – the Troy Collar basic needs like food and affordable partners like you who help make a Laundry Union, in 1864. health care. positive difference in the lives of at-risk Funds from the journal ads will be As I head to Albany next session, I youth who are living at or below poverty particularly helpful to continue our hope that my work there will help restore level in the City of Buffalo, and benefit sponsorship of a gold medal and $1,000 our faith in our elected leaders and from participating in Reading Rules prize to the winner of the best entry government. during the summer. on American labor in the very popular I am so grateful for the overwhelming Thank you again for our ongoing National History Day contest and our support our campaign, my family, and I support and commitment to helping sponsorship of workshops for teacher have received over the last year. As you today’s readers become tomorrow’s on strategies to integrate labor studies know, Jen and I are teachers with two leaders! We hope you have a wonderful into their classrooms. kids in college – we could never have holiday season, and a healthy and happy Given the increasing assault on imagined funding this campaign out of New Year! workers and unions in our nation, our our own pocket. It means so much to us Sincerely, mission grows more important every that people like you donated financially Judy Sperry day. as well as their time to support our Development Director Thank you for your important vision for Central New York. support. We couldn’t do this without you. Fraternally, Sincerely, EPIC Thanks BTF Paul F. Cole, Executive Director John Mannion for Its Generosity Thank you. Yesterday was truly a day of EPIC (Every Person Influences Special BTF Pins Available Children) impact. Thanks to your If you have 20, 25, 30 or 35 years of teaching experience in the Buffalo Public generosity and the many ways you donated, we were able to exceed our Schools and would like a pin to commemorate your service, please complete the goal and raise $4,170. This directly attached form and mail it to the BTF, c/o Jackie Newton, 271 Porter Ave., Buffalo, NY serves and supports families across New 14201. This form may be faxed to 716-881-6678 York State and beyond. In case you missed it, we have  recapped all things “Giving Tuesday” on Name______home/cell phone:______our website. The day may be over, but your impact is just beginning. Our 40th Home address:______anniversary year isn’t over yet, so be sure you are following along on social ______media for more ways to support and Personal E-mail:______celebrate. With deepest thanks and School______Number of years teaching in BPS______appreciation. Tara N. Burgess, EPIC Executive Director Reimbursement for Rx NYSUT/AFT/NEA/BTF Co-Pays Available Dues for 2020 Did you know that you can receive a reimbursement for prescriptions you and It’s that time of year when your dependents had filled in 2020? everyone is gathering information The Supplemental Benefit Fund to prepare their tax returns. will pay $2 for every prescription filled for Remember, if you file an itemized you and each eligible family member, up tax return, Union dues withheld to $100 per person. from your paycheck may be tax You must obtain a computer- deductible. Please check with your School Zone Cameras generated prescription roster from your tax professional as new Federal tax pharmacist and submit it along with a laws are in effect. School zone cameras were completed Rx Co-Pay Claim Form to: reactivated February 1 to coincide with SBF, c/o BTF, 271 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, The total dues for full time the reopening of schools. The cameras NY 14201. employees are $971.96. are designed to catch motorists who The Rx Co-Pay Claim Form is available This includes $618.52 for the travel over the 15 mph speed limit in from your building delegate, the SBF period January-June ($44.18 x 14 school zones. After a one-month grace Office, or our website, www.btfny.org, checks) and $353.44 for September- period, citations will begin on March 1. under the forms tab. December ($44.18 x 8 checks). The deadline for submitting the forms The cameras are located near is 5 PM Friday, March 5. Forms may be For part time employees, the the following schools: placed in envelopes and dropped through total dues are $485.98. • Discovery School #43 our mail slot. This includes $309.26 for • Porter School # 3 January-June ($22.09 x 14 checks) and $176.72 for September- • George Blackman School #54 December ($22.09 x 8 checks). • Grabiarz School #79 Did You Know… Adult Learning Center dues • Arthur Eve School #61 That no derogatory letters totaled $382.14. This includes • Houghton Academy #69 or reports shall be placed in a $243.18 for January-June ($17.37 • #74 teacher’s file without the teacher’s x 14 checks) and $138.96 for • Stanley Makowski #99 knowledge and an opportunity September-December ($17.37 x 8 to make a written statement of checks). • Bennett Park Montessori #32 defense to be attached to the • Academy Middle School #131 derogatory statement? • Harvey Austin #97 This provision is part of our • Olmsted #156 collective bargaining agreement • Louis J. Bennett High School and can be found in Article XVI, F • Performing Arts High School of the contract on page 34. • Hutch Tech High School • McKinley High School • DaVinci High School 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. NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 824 Buffalo, NY BUFFALO TEACHERS FEDERATION 271 PORTER AVENUE BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14201 716-881-5400

Address Service Requested

We Control Our Future Court race after the final tally of Happy New Year! Welcome to 2021! May it be a much better year than the last absentee ballots. one. This school year is flying by and before we know it, the 2021-2022 school year will Other local races where we were be here. successful included William Conrad, Next year will be a significant one for the Buffalo Public Schools as the 2021- a NYSUT member who captured 2022 school year will see a hotly contested election cycle. Six district seats on the Buf- the 140th Assembly District seat. falo Board of Education will up for election as shown below: In addition, Karen McMahon was re-elected to the State Assembly to represent the 146th District as was Name District Term Ends Patrick Burke in the 142nd. Sean Hope Jay North 2022 Ryan, a long-time ally of public education, captured the State Senate Kathy Evans-Brown East 2022 race for the 60th District and Jon Paulette Woods Central 2022 Rivera won the right to represent the 149th State Assembly District. Jennifer Mecozzi West 2022 All of the above candidates re- ceived assistance from the BTF Louis Petrucci Park 2022 and NYSUT through VOTE-COPE Sharon Belton-Cottman Ferry 2022 contributions. Assisting candidates whose ideals and values match ours is certainly in our best interest. BoardBoard members members play play a critical a critical role is a systemBy lawalready, our setunion up dues for this, cannot be If every member in the BTF con- inrole decision in decision making making that thathas has a direct a direct andused in case for this you purpose. haven’t So,heard how of can it we tributed to VOTE-COPE at a $2 per effecteffect on on thethe learninglearning environmentenvironment for for yet,do it this? is VOTE-COPE. Pass the hat when social paycheck level, the BTF would have studentsstudents andand on the teachingteaching enviro environ-n- eventsVOTE-COPE are again is permittedthe political? Have a approximately $60,000 to spend mentment for for teachers.teachers. fund-raisingbaked goods arm sale? of NYSUT. Fortunatel It isy, there is on political action issues such as It is criticallyIt is critically important important that that we we work describeda system by already NYSUT set as up the for this,non- and in the 2022 school board race and hardwork to hard get toschool get school board board members members partisancase you action haven’t fund heard that ofcoordinates it yet, it is upcoming mid-term elections. electedelected whowho support publicpublic education, education, theVOTE voluntary-COPE. contributions of That level of funding would put us shareshare our our educational educational priopriorities,rities, and and membersVOTE to support-COPE NYSUT- is the political fund- in a good position to get candidates whowho believe believe thatthat creating a a good good rel a- endorsedraising arm candidates of NYSUT. and It iscampaign described by elected who share our educational relationshiptionship with with teachers teachers is key is tokey esta tob- committeesNYSUT as that the nonare -pro-educationpartisan action fund values and who want to work hard establishinglishing positive positive morale morale,, which translateswhich andthat pro-labor. coordinates NYSUT the voluntary mostly gets contrib u- to improve teaching and learning translatesinto a better into learning a better environment learning for involvedtions of in members state-level to support races such NYSUT - conditions in the Buffalo Public environmentstudents and for a better students teaching and aand better as endorsedelections candidates for governor, and state campaign Schools. teachingworking environmentand working for environment teachers. for assembly,committees and that the are state pro senate,-education and The 2021-2022 school year is a teachers. In the last election, we saw tens butpro also-labor. allows NYSUT unions mostly like getsthe BTFinvolved critical one for us because of the of Inthousands the last election,of dollars wein funding saw tens come of to inactively state-level fund races local suchraces as by elections re- for coming school board election. We thousandsinto the candidates of dollars’ campaigns in funding to come help fundinggovernor, up tostate 40% assembly, of all VOTE and the state need to play in the “big leagues” of intotheir the election candidates’ chances campaigns. The message to help to COPEsenate, contributions but also allows back unions to the li ke the political fundraising in order to get theirus is election clear. If chances.we want to The get messagecandidates to localBTF union. to actively These fund funds local will races be by re- candidates who share our values uselected is clear. who If weshare want our tovalues, get candidates we need criticalfunding for upour to next 40% election. of all VOTE COPE elected to the school board and other electedto be able who to shareplay in our the values, big leagues we need by contributionsIndeed, the back2020 toelection the local union. offices. tohelp being able to tofund play candidates in the big at leagues close to by cycleThese saw funds many will of be our critical endorsed for our next We can do this by getting in- helpingthe same to levelfund ascandidates other special at close interest to candidateselection. win close races. volved in VOTE-COPE. Our goal is to thegroups. same level as other special interest Assemblywoman Monica Wallace get everyone involved as contributing groups. was successful in a very close members! By law, our union dues cannot be contest in the 143rd Assembly If you are not yet signed up, used for this purpose. So, how can District only after all of the absentee please call the BTF at 881-5400 or we do this? Pass the hat when social ballots were counted. Judge Amy reach out to one of your building events are again permitted? Have a Martoche also came out on the delegates to get a contribution form. baked goods sale? Fortunately, there winning end of her State Supreme