(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - The Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) has released the results of a survey of Buffalo Teachers’ opinions of the Buffalo Public Schools District’s 2020-2021 Reopening Plan, which they have overwhelmingly rejected.

BTF President Phil Rumore said “the results of the survey of Buffalo Teachers ‘is cause for great concern for parents, students and our community.’”

“The ‘plan’ is no plan.’  It is a ‘compilation of partial statements culminating in no delineated action/procedures.’  As such, ‘it poses a serious danger to the safety, health and well-being of our children, parents, School Staff and the community - as well as to the education of our students.’  That this ‘plan, unlike in other communities, was withheld’ from the District Reopening Committee, parents, School Staff and the community, ‘is a symptom of callous indifference.’  ‘This is not a dictatorship.’  Parents, School Staff and the community ‘must have accepted input into the development of and a vote on the adoption of any school re-opening plan,” Rumore said.

The survey was conducted from Thursday, August 6th through Sunday, August 9th - and only Buffalo Teachers could participate as their individual school district identification number was required.  In addition, the survey was only sent to Teachers’ personal e-mail accounts.

The results of the BTF’s survey are as follows:

• 3,155 Teachers completed the survey.  The BTF has the e-mail addresses of 3,653 teachers, therefore, 86% of Teachers responded.
• 86.56% DO NOT think the Buffalo Public Schools 2020 Reopening Plan provides for a safe reopening for Buffalo students, parents and Staff.
• 82.08% DO NOT support the Reopening Plan’s Working Draft submitted to New York State on July 31st (2020).
• However, 13.65% of Teachers think the Reopening Plan is a good start at developing a reopening plan.
• 71.95% DO NOT support the two (2) day/three (3) day hybrid rotation schedule.
• 76.20% DO NOT support the delineation of how school buildings will be sanitized during and after schools.
• 90.24% DO NOT support face masks being encouraged - but not mandatory.
• 81.12% DO NOT support the delineation of how health screenings will be conducted.
• 76.66% DO NOT support the delineation of procedures to be followed once a person is possibly infected or found to be infected with the virus.
• 70.14% DO NOT support how parents/Staff will be notified of suspected/actual virus incidents.
• 83.22% DO NOT support the delineation of how incidents of non-compliance with established health/safety protocols will be handled.
• 78.89% DO NOT agree with the delineation of how many Nurses will be assigned to each building.
• 60.39% DO NOT support the delineation of how curriculum will be modified for virtual learning.
• 67.55% SUPPORT that there be a delineation of how Teachers’ input will be sought, made known and incorporated into the reopening plan to be adopted.
• And 82.32% SUPPORT a delineated process that will be used for the reopening plan to be adopted that includes a vote of the Board of Education, the District Reopening Committee, District Parent Organizations and Employee Unions.