June 2015 - Buffalo Teachers Federation

DEDICATION
SOLIDARITY
PROFESSIONALISM
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE BUFFALO TEACHERS FEDERATION VOLUME 44/NUMBER 1 PRIDE
SECOND TO NONE
June 2015
BTF, NYSUT Fighting Receivership
The BTF and New York State
United Teachers (NYSUT) are fighting
receivership of 27 Buffalo Public
Schools and have initiated legal
action.
Two informational meetings
have been conducted by the BTF
for delegates of the 27 schools
designated as “persistently failing”/
struggling” and schools designated
as “failing/struggling.” The meetings,
held at the Grapevine banquet facility
in Cheektowaga, were well attended
by the delegates and teachers from
the affected schools.
The Receiverships give the
superintendent or outside individual
expanded powers and responsibilities
to supposedly significantly
improve student achievement at
schools designated as “persisting
failing”/”struggling” and schools
designated as “failing/struggling.”
A school Intervention Plan (SIP)
of no more than three years is to
be developed by a “Community
Engagement Team” (CET), including,
but not limited to teachers, the
principal, parents, guardians,
other school staff and students (no
students for Pre-k-6).
The CET makes its
recommendations to the Receiver
for the SIP, based on input from the
staff, school community and SiteBased Management team.
The SIP must contain measurable
goals and how goals will be achieved.
Some of the required SIP goals are
student attendance, growth on state
tests, student discipline, student
promotion and graduation, family
engagement, etc.
“We are advising that the staff
include everything that your students
need to succeed, regardless of cost,
such as small class sizes, increased
teachers in various tenure areas,
increased support services, supplies,
technology, equipment, special
programs, ways to improve school
climate, i.e. everything you and your
students need,” Phil said.
“If for some reason the Community
Engagement Committee does
not concur with what you know is
needed, teachers should still submit
a list of what they say is needed to
improve teaching and learning in their
school to the Receiver, with a copy to
me at the BTF,” Phil added.
Seventy-five million dollars in
grant money has been allocated to
be divided among the “persistently
failing”/”struggling” schools, or about
$3 million per school.
No funding has been allocated for
“failing”/”struggling” schools.
“Yes, you must improve in
two years; however, you will not
be provided with the additional
resources to do so.”
“They say ‘student growth and
achievement must improve.’
“We say to them, ‘Fine. Here is
what is required to improve student
growth and achievement. If you don’t
provide the necessities, you are
responsible for the lack of progress
not the students and teachers,” Phil
said.
1
Latest Contract
Offer Calls For
Many BTF
Concessions
The BTF will be bringing charges
against the Board of Education for its
latest, “insulting” contract offer.
Philip Rumore, president of the
BTF said he will be “filing charges against
the District for regressive bargaining and
calling upon PERB for assistance.”
The offer, made Tuesday during
negotiations called for longer school
days, a longer school year and requires
members to pay 20% of healthcare costs.
It also eliminates the cosmetic surgery
rider, increases copays and reduces the
number of sick days and personal leave
days for teachers.
Rumore said although the proposal
was supposed to address “the decline
in student performance,” nothing
“addresses student performance, e.g.
class size, support services (increase
Guidance, Social Workers, Attendance
Teachers, Psychologists, ESL teachers,
Reading teachers, Math teachers, etc.).”
Other items in the board’s proposal
include:
• Eliminating the early retirement
incentive
• Requiring the BTF to suspend all
litigation or complaints against the
board
• Eliminating seniority rights for transfers and staffing of schools
• Allowing the district to establish an
absenteeism control program to reduce the use of sick days
• Requiring a doctor’s note for all sick
days used before or after a holiday or
vacation.
BTF at a Glance
BTF President
Philip Rumore
BTF Vice President
Edith LeWin
BTF Treasurer
Rebecca Pordum
BTF Secretary
Kevin Gibson
BTF Executive Committee Members
Pre-K-6
Lynn Diagostino, Jodi Hammond,
Rachel Lis, Kym Mosgeller,
Trisha Rosokoff, Ruyvette Townsend
7-12
The Battles Continue –
•Negotiations For An Excellent Contract – Not The Insulting Offers We Have
Received
•A New Superintendent
•A School Board At War
•A New And Even Worse APPR
•Receivership
•Elections In The Six School Board Districts
•Mayoral Control
It seems that each summer brings some of the same as well as new challenges.
What is so pathetic is that none of the State and local laws, initiatives and
actions have anything to do with improving teaching and learning conditions for
our students. They are all about power, control, money and what I call blame
shifting – finding someone to blame for their incompetence and failure to provide
real solutions to improve the education of our students.
Thomas Anthony, Dennis Brancato,
Lynn Garcia,Thomas Gattie,
Joseph Montante, Sue Raichilson,
Christine Salamone
K-12
Susan Baker, Megan Corcoran,
Lucille Emmi, Melinda
MacPherson-Sullivan, Mark Mecca,
Gregory Sawicki, Linda Sieckmann-Dugan
At Large
Barbara Hall, Sophia Howard-Johnson,
Melissa Kenney
BTF Headquarters Staff
Philip Rumore, President
Edith LeWin, Presidential Assistant
Rebecca Pordum, Presidential Assistant
Tim Connick, NYSUT Counsel
Dennis Licherelli, NYSUT
Labor Relations Specialist
Nick Whitman, NYSUT
Labor Relations Specialist
Deana Fox, NYSUT Labor Relations
Specialist
Visit Our Updated Website
www.btfny.org
As always, we have battles to fight.
As always, we will fight and win these battles. Our victories may not come as
quickly as we wish; however, they will come.
Why? Because Buffalo teachers pull together and never give up.
BTF Provocator Staff
Rebecca Pordum, managing editor
Chris Salamone, editor
Joseph Montante, photo editor
The Provocator is the official publication of the
Buffalo Teachers Federation. It will be published during
the 2014-2015 school year as a service to BTF members
and interested parties in the community. Subscription
price is included in BTF dues.
That is why I am so very proud to be your president.
You are the very best.
Postmaster, send address changes to:
BTF Provocator, 271 Porter Avenue,
Buffalo, New York 14201.
Advertising: Rates and anticipated publishing schedule
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
product, service or the views expressed. Your patronage
of our advertisers is appreciated.
The BTF is an affiliate of NYSUT, AFT and NEA.
June 2015
Volume 45, No. 3
Circulation 5000
2
Officers Re-elected For Two-year Term
To BTF Executive Committee
BTF President Philip Rumore and Vice President
Edith LeWin have been re-elected for another
two-year term. They won re-election facing two other
teams of candidates by a majority of votes.
“To be re-elected president of the finest,
hardest working and dedicated teachers, is an
honor,” Rumore said.
“While the heat of elections can be divisive, that
has never and must never happen here. I look forward
to working with all candidates and their supporters.
Together, as in the past, we will meet and overcome
all challenges,” he added.
The election results, with (i) indicating
incumbents re-elected, are as follow:
Officers:
Philip Rumore President
Edith LeWin
Vice President
Kevin Gibson
Secretary
Rebecca Pordum Treasurer
low number of voters, said the BTF will investigate
other voting methods to get more teachers to vote.
“The low voter turnout is troubling. Only about
1,370 teachers of 3,700 teachers cast ballots in this
election,” Rumore said.
“An election for NYSUT Delegates from BTF will
be held next spring. I have obtained information from
companies providing internet balloting.
“This year’s elections committee will be
reviewing the various companies. Along with other
interested members, they will consult with other
unions that have used internet voting with the goal of
using internet voting in next year’s NYSUT elections.
Hopefully, this will improve voter participation,”
Rumore explained.
Pre K-6:
Sophia Howard Johnson
Christopher Stephens
Trisha Rosokoff
Rachel Binda-Lis
Phyllis Mays
Teresa Leatherbarrow
Extended Pay Plan
Dates Set
Extended Pay Plan reimbursement dates for this summer
are:
• July 17
• July 31
• August 14
• August 28
Teachers who have deductions taken from paychecks
throughout the year for summer disbursement, are eligible
for the reimbursements.
7-12:
Tom Gattie
Melissa Kenney
Dennis Brancato
Chris Salamone
Tom Anthony
M. Sue Raichilson
Lynn Garcia
K-12:
Melinda Macpherson-Sullivan
Mark Mecca
Gregory Sawicki
Patty Jackson
Lucille Emmi
Susan Marie Baker
Sean Crowley
At Large:
Mike Mecca
Joseph Montante
Barbara Hall
Visit Our Website
www.btfny.org
Rumore who indicated his disappointment in the
3
74 Retiring Teachers Served More
Than 1,500 Years In Buffalo Public
School Classrooms
Seventy-four retirees, with more than 1,500 total years teaching in the
Buffalo School District, attended the annual BTF Retirement Dinner May 27 at
Salvatore’s Italian Gardens on Transit Road in Depew.
Among the retirees were two current members of the BTF Executive
Committee Lynn Diagostino and Linda Sieckmann Dugan, and former
Executive Committee member David Morrison, who also had the most years
in the District with 42.
BTF President Phil Rumore thanked the retirees for their years of
dedication and said they impacted thousands of children throughout the
years. Melinda MacPherson Sullivan served as Mistress of Ceremony.
The retirees, listed by their number of years of service are:
Kathy Janulewicz Teresa Russo
Pamela Sivertsen
Alyce Ann Marion
Barbara Pawlak
Cherry Williams
Kathleen DeMerle
Maria J. Buscemi
Lydia Kocher
Barbara Polizzi
Gwendolyn Williams Susan Dobinski
Linda Myers
Francesca Kurnik
Clare Burmeier
Cheryl Gainer
Brigid Moran
Angelina Piraino
Susan Schultz
Kathleen Backus
Terry Smith
Glenda Blackman Christine Pugh
Nancy Barry
Rosemarie Buie Hall Faith Otwell
Linda Manley
Marilyn Foote-Kragbe
Carmen M. Irizarry
Michael Keller
Josephine Krajnik
Rhonda Mathiebe
Dianne Johnson
Cheryl Malzan
Barbara Sullivan
Joanne Vanderbush
Karen Blakelock
John Herlan
Virginia Homewood
Linda Young
Karen Arnold Michael Hangen
Nancy Idzik
Lynn Diagostino
Anne Blonski
Linda Coppock
11
12
15
16
16
16
16.5
17
17
17
17
18
18
18.5
20
20
20
20
20
21
21.8
22
22
22.5
23.5
23.7
24
25
25
25
25
25
26
26
26
26
27
27
28
28
29
29
29
29.3
30
30
Greta Doscher
Marjorie Jakiel
Patricia Mattina
Godwin Moka
Gloria O’Neill
Mary Riccio
Linda Sieckmann Dugan
Debra St. John
Paula Weber
Paul Webster
Maria Steiniger
Kathleen Eye
Raymond Kamery
Jacqueline Terry
Susan Baker-Kroczynski
Julie Christiano
Cynthia Johnson
Jacqueline Johnson
Jessica Sovik
Carolyn Stringfield Wilson
Mary Rosbrook
Joanne Vivian
Angela Bumbalo
Lauren Poveromo
Neil Lange
Sharon Reese
Lucy Rousselle
Deborah Prusakowski
Alfear Turley
David Morrison
4
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30.6
31
31
31
32
32
32
32
32
32
32.5
33.5
34
34.2
35
35
35
35.6
36
42
5
For Third Year, BTF Distributes Books
To Buffalo Public School Students
For the third year, every student
in Buffalo Public Schools received a
new book from First Book on behalf of
the Buffalo Teachers Federation and
NYSUT.
The delivery and distribution of
37,000 age/grade level appropriate
books has been completed with the help
of coordinators at each of the district’s
schools.
The project was initiated by BTF
President Philip Rumore after seeing
a presentation by First Book while
attending a meeting of the American
Federation of Teachers, one of the
BTF’s national affiliates.
Working with First Book, the AFT
and New York State United Teachers,
the BTF’s state affiliate, set a goal of
presenting each of Buffalo’s students
with their own book on a yearly basis.
This year’s delivery brings the total to
107,000 books distributed to Buffalo
children.
Under the initiative, First Book
provides new books for free, except
for a 70 cent shipping and handling fee
that is covered by the BTF and NYSUT.
Teachers at every school select books
for each of their students. One teacher
at each school, usually with the help
of the other teachers, volunteered to
undertake the task of collecting the
desired book titles from each teacher,
completing their requests online, and
arranging for the book distribution at
their school.
BTF Treasurer and Presidential
Assistant Rebecca Pordum coordinate
with the schools and First Book.
The coordinators and the school they
represent are:
#3
Celeste Cavanaugh
#6 Marilyn Foote-Kragbe
#17
Nava Fader
#18
Jacqueline Morris
#19
Jennifer Schwertfeger
#27
Carrie Herbert
#30
Elizabeth Campion
#31
Michele Humpartzoomian
#32
Dana Rider
#33
Dawn Giovinazzo (Carlson)
#37
Angelynn Franovich
#39
Courtney Malicki
#43
Elizabeth Downs
#45
Isabella Keegan
#53
Liza Waters
#54
Jeanne Cheney
#59
Christina Carter
59A
Karen Stefaniak
#61
Sophia Howard-Johnson
#64
Rosa Ziolkowski
Dana Pepe
#65
Kristin Reeves
#66
Mike Geyer
#67
Lynn Diagostino
Rebecca (Becky) Avery
#68 Janet Venetor
#69
David Benson
#72
Michael DiNunzio
#74
Autumn Stevenson
#76
Delilah Flores
Monty Hale
Kevin Lesniowski
#79
Cynthia Davis
#80
Krista Weber
#81
Amy Carl
#82
Randi Greenberg
#84
Amy Carl
#89
Harmonie Conte
#91
Monika Zanni
#93
Sarah Gallien
#94
Tiffany Moore
#95
Amy DeWolfe
#9 Adrienne Spurio
#99
Janet Volk
#115
Nicole Herkey
#131@#40 Ryan Bowers
#131@#44
#156
Catherine Krautsack
#192
Melissa Kenney
#195
Melisa Holden
#197
Mechelle Williams
#198
Kathleen Jarvis
#200
Amy Visniesky
Julie Christiano
#204
Ayodele Ojumu
#205
Brittany Mecca
#206
Katie Thomas
#212
Kelli Monaco-Hannon
#301
Morgan Kristal
#302
Justine Sorri
#304
Elizabeth Brandjes
#307
Margaret Mulholland
#335
Eric Simonsen
Thank you for making this project
a huge success and for inspiring our
students to be avid readers!
6
Time To Make
Changes To
Sick Leave Bank
Attention ALL teachers!
It’s that time of year again when
you can join, make or change your sick
leave bank enrollment.
Requests to enroll, change, or
withdraw must be in the BTF Office no
later than Thursday, June 25, by the
close of the business day, 5 p.m.
To enroll or change your days,
complete both the purple enrollment
card and the grey authorization card.
Teachers previously donating
one day who failed to change their
contribution in 2011 must re-enroll if they
want to be members of the Sick Leave
Bank program.
Teachers wishing to terminate
membership must withdraw by written
request. These requests must be mailed
by certified return receipt requested
only!!
We cannot accept faxed copies of
withdrawals or enrollments.
See your building delegate or
contact the SBF Office for Enrollment
cards.
The Sick Leave Bank Trustees
are: Dennis Brancato, Sophia Howard
Johnson and Melissa Kenney.
NYSTRS Reps Elected
Delegates and alternates were
elected by teachers May 8 to attend the
November convention of the New York
State Teachers’ Retirement System.
The delegates and their alternatives,
listed alphabetically are:
Roger Aumick, Sami M. Cirpili,
Maria Baker
Rachel Binda-Lis
Dennis Brancato
Timothy M. Camp, John McTigue
Lynn Garcia
Thomas Gattie
Sophia Howard-Johnson
Melissa Kenney
Melinda MacPherson Sullivan
Mark Mecca
Joseph Montante
Kym L. Mosgeller
Elaine J. Pietka
Rebecca Pordum
M. Sue Raichilson
Claire Rosart, Kim Gugliuzza
Christine Salamone
Cathleen Stearns
Ruyvette D. Townsend
Mary Young, Amy Gambon-Dennis
Letters to the Editor
BTF Donates $250 To
Vietnam Veterans
Thank you for your recent gift
of $250 to the Vietnam Veterans of
America, Chapter 77. Your gift has
been applied to the Peter P. Tycz
II Memorial Scholarship fund and
will help deserving students stay
in school. In recognition of your
donation, your name will be placed
on a plaque at the Chapter 77
Museum, 47 Main St., Tonawanda.
With the rising costs of higher
education and the continued
challenges of the local economy,
we both know that there is a
tremendous need for financial
assistance; we averaged receiving
over 90 applications per year.
The number of our scholarships
awarded is tied to fundraising
and, since its inception in 2005,
we were able to present 223-$250
scholarships with a total value of
$55,750.
Again, thank you for your
investment in the future of our
country and your recognition of the
importance of higher education.
The Chapter, the Tycz family,
as well as the recipients, greatly
appreciate your generosity.
Sincerely,
John Heffernan, chairman
Scholarship Committee
BTF Supports Young
Audiences
Thank you for your generous
support.
On behalf of Young Audiences
staff, board, and the children we
serve, I am writing to thank you
for choosing to support Young
Audiences. We received your check
in the amount of $1,000 on May 13.
Your contribution helps us sustain
and grow the quantity and quality
of our arts programs for youth and
services in schools.
Sponsors like you are
necessary to the vitality and
success of meeting our mission.
Your dollars are helping cultivate
a love of learning in our young
Paula Prince Gets
NYSUT Award
people. Through your support, we
are able to continue to expand our
efforts creating opportunities for
more young people to experience
and learn through the arts. Thank
you for making creative arts
experiences possible for the young
people living in our communities.
We are pleased to have you as one
of our supporters.
In thanks for your support,
you will be listed as a sponsor on
our website, in our newsletters
and any related printed materials,
including our annual report and the
National Young Audiences annual
report.
Sincerely,
Cynnie Gaasch
Executive Director
Paula Prince was honored
May 28, during the 28th Annual
Western New York Awards Dinner
of the New York State United
Teachers (NYSUT).
Paula, who retired in
2014, after 23 years of service, was
the attendance teacher at Bennett
HOME Thanks BTF
High School at the time of her
retirement.
For Its Support
She was nominated
Thank you for changing
for the award by Philip Rumore,
lives with your generous support
president of the BTF and the
of HOME’s 52nd Annual Dinner
Celebration. The event was a great Executive Committee.
success, and it is all thanks to you!
The awards dinner was held
at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, 6461
With your support, HOME
Transit Road, Depew.
will serve more than 5,000 clients
this year by investigating housing
Paula served on the Executive
discrimination claims, providing
Committee of the BTF, the Political
housing search assistance, security Action Committee, (PAC), and
deposit assistance, paralegal
the Collective Bargaining Team.
counseling, fair housing education
She was a trustee for the Sick
and more.
Leave Bank and a member of the
Enclosed you will find a copy Teacher Center Policy Board. She
of the event program journal, which also served on various other BTF
includes your advertisement. Again, committees.
I thank you for your continued
As a member of NEA/NY,
support and dedication to the
Paula served on the Multicultural
cause of Fair Housing in Western
Affairs Committee and the Human
New York!
Rights Committee.
With much gratitude,
She was elected to serve
Samantha Long, director
on the NEA National Resolutions
Development and Administration Committee and has also been
elected as a delegate to NEA,
(National Education Association)
NYSUT and AFT, (American
Federation of Teachers). Paula
was also selected to serve on the
Board of Examiners to NCATE.
7
Continued on Page 8...
Letters to the Editor Cont.
BTF Supports
History Bee
BTF Donates $300 To
Klimczak Center
Thank you for your membership in the Forest
District Civic Association and especially for your support
of our activities, such as the American History Bee!
Jim Lee
Thank you for your gift in the amount of $300 to
the SSJ Sister Karen Klimczak Center For Nonviolence
in sponsorship of our April program “Compassionate
Conviction: Creating Change and Building Peace” with
Sister Simone Campbell, SSS.
We are excited that you are helping bring Sister
Simone to Buffalo! As executive director of NETWORK
she lobbies on peace building, immigration reform,
healthcare and economic justice. In response to
proposed cutbacks in the federal safety net, Sister
Simone rolled through nine states with “Nuns on the
Bus.” She was President Obama’s invited guest at
the signing of the Affordable Care Act and a speaker
at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Sister
Simone will call us to a deeper understanding of and
commitment to being justice seekers and peacemakers
in our daily lives.
With your gift, you recognize the importance of
working to eliminate violence and join with many other
supporters of the Sister Karen Center for Nonviolence to
make this happen. Thank you again for your generosity!
Warm regards,
Vivian Waltz, director
BTF Donates To SUCB Program
Thank you for your generous donation of $500 to
the Student Support Services Sumer Bridge Program
2015. Your donation will be used to assist students that
are at risk to purchase books, supplies, lunch and other
miscellaneous items needed for them to succeed in
college.
The program, which has a capacity of 25, will
begin July 6 through Aug. 7 from 8:30-2:30 p.m., for
five weeks. The students will take two courses each
for three credit hours and one seminar course that is
1 credit hour, totaling 7 credits hours towards the Fall
2015 semester. Your donation is very much appreciated
by staff and students!
Once again, thank you for your personal attention
to this matter and your support of the program
participants.
Sincerely,
Florence D. Johnson, director
Schools Should Have Safe and
Healthful Working Conditions
By NICK WHITMAN
NYSUT Labor Relations Specialist
As you can imagine, the BTF office receives calls from
members throughout the school year regarding the working
conditions in their building. During the winter, the calls are
generally about cold classrooms. During the early fall and late
spring, the calls are generally about hot classrooms.
The “Property Maintenance Code of New York State,” part
of the “New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building
Code,” requires that schools be maintained at a minimum
temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The Code does
provide an exception for “areas of vigorous physical activity”
such as gymnasiums.
In short, if you are required to teach in a school where the
temperature is less than 65 degrees, you should bring that
situation to the attention of the principal and/or engineer as
soon as possible.
You should also bring it to the attention of the BTF. The
BTF staff and officers have close working relationships with
members of the District’s Plant Services Department. If the
issue is not being addressed quickly and efficiently at the
building level, we may be able to utilize our relationships to
secure more attention or resources brought to bear on the
issue.
Unfortunately, the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention
and Building Code does NOT specify a maximum indoor
temperature. Instead, the New York State Education
Department simply recommends that “common sense be
exercised when determining whether the indoor temperature
in a school building poses a health risk.”
While the BTF contract does not specifically address
either the minimum or maximum building temperature, it
DOES contain provisions that may be successfully utilized to
address temperature-related issues when they arise.
Article XI. A. states that “Teachers shall have safe and
healthful conditions under which to carry out their professional
duties.” Clearly, that provision can be applied to nearly
any situation that impacts a teacher’s working conditions –
including extremely high or low temperatures.
If your building is facing a situation that prevents teachers
from having safe and healthful working conditions and you
cannot get assistance in addressing that situation from the
building level administrator, please contact the BTF office for
assistance.
8
BTF Releases Auditor’s Report
9
BTF Releases Auditor’s Report
D&D
D
D ENTAL GROUP
&
Dr. Daniel A. Martinez
Thank you BTF for your generous donation to
School 84’s Annual Towel Party and Basket
Auction!
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844 West Delavan • Buffalo
(Next to Rite Aid on the corner of Delaware and Delavan)
(716) 883-4998
With your help we are able to purchase much
needed equipment for our students with multiple
disabilities.
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.
10
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For The 2014-15
School Year
Periodically, the BTF receives inquiries about
the Extended Pay Plan. Essentially, the
Extended Pay Plan is a form of a savings plan
for teachers who want to be assured they have
budgeted monies for the summer following the
school year.
Interest monies are used to help defray the
BTF’s operational expenses and thereby keep
dues costs down. The program is optional for
any Buffalo teacher who wishes to participate.
Any teacher who wishes to participate in the
Extended Pay Plan for the summer of 2016
should be aware of all the information that
follows.
Q. How much money do I receive during the
summer?
A. You decide how much you want to receive
during the summer of 2016. Assuming there
are no difficulties, payroll deductions occur
from 20 paychecks during the 2015-16 school
year. The amount you receive will depend
on how much you have deducted from each
check.
Q. How do I receive my summer payments?
A. You may receive your summer payments as
paper checks mailed directly to the address
that is on file with the BTF. There is also a
direct deposit option. (Please see the Direct
Deposit Section.)
Q. How much money will come out of each
check?
A. The exact amount of deduction is
determined by you and will be withheld
from 20 of your 22 warrants. The minimum
deduction per pay warrant allowable is $40.
You may increase this amount in $5 units (i.e.
$45, $50, $55, $60, etc.).
Option 1: One check or direct deposit issued
during the summer recess.
Formula: to determine the exact amount of
the summer check or direct deposit under
Option 1, multiply the amount deducted each
paycheck times 20.
Example: $100 withheld per paycheck times
20 equals $2,000. If you saved $100 per
paycheck and selected Option 1, your one
summer check or direct deposit would total
exactly $2,000.
Option 2: Two checks or direct deposits
issued during the summer recess.
Formula: to determine the amount per
check or deposit under Option 2 multiply the
amount deducted each paycheck times 20 and
divide by 2.
Example: $100 withheld each paycheck times
20 equals $2,000 divided by 2 equals $1,000. If
you saved $100 per paycheck and selected
Option 2, your two summer checks or direct
deposits would each total exactly $1,000.
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BUFFALO TEACHERS FEDERATION
271 PORTER AVENUE
BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14201
716-881-5400
Permit No. 824
Buffalo, NY
Address Service Requested
Option 3: Four checks or direct deposits
are issued at two-week intervals during the
summer recess.
Formula: to determine the amount per check
or direct deposit under Option 3 multiply the
amount deducted each paycheck times 20 and
divide by 4.
Example: $100 deducted per paycheck times
20 is $2,000 divided by 4 equals $500. If you
saved $100 per paycheck and selected Option
3, your four summer checks or direct deposits
would each total exactly $500.
Q. Are there other teachers participating in
the BTF Extended Pay Plan?
A. Currently more than 1,700 teachers are
participating.
Q. How do I sign up?
A. You must complete an Extended Pay Plan
card. The Extended Pay Plan card is divided
into 3 cards. Be sure to complete the top two
cards as instructed. Be sure the amount that
you would like to have deducted from each
paycheck is listed. The third card is for direct
deposit (please see the direct deposit section
below). Cards are not available online. Contact
your building delegate for an application form
or call Rebecca Pordum or her secretary at the
BTF Office (881-5400). ALL CARDS MUST BE
RETURNED TO THE BTF OFFICE.
Q. When should I sign up for the Extended
Pay Plan?
A. Submit your form during the months of May,
June, and July for the following September.
New teachers may enroll when they receive
their New Membership Packet.
Q. What is an advance withdrawal?
A. An advance withdrawal is available to you
should you need funds before the summer.
One withdrawal per school year is allowed. Call
the BTF and ask to speak with either Rebecca
Pordum or her secretary and they will take
the necessary information over the telephone.
Please be advised that it takes three to five
days to process a check.
Q. Am I allowed a second withdrawal?
A. Yes, however, if a second withdrawal is
taken, you will be asked to discontinue your
paycheck deduction for the remainder of the
school year.
Q. Will I be able to have my summer check
before the scheduled payments?
A. No. To keep our records accurate, upto-date and provide sufficient time for our
accountants to review the accounts, there
will be no withdrawals after June 1st (of each
school year) unless there is an extraordinary
circumstance, which we will ask be
accompanied by appropriate documentation.
DIRECT DEPOSIT
The BTF/Extended Pay Plan Program
reached an agreement with First Niagara
Bank for DIRECT DEPOSIT of your Extended
Pay Plan checks. Listed below are ways that
Direct Deposit can make your summer checks
efficient and safe:
• 100% of the funds are available when the
funds are deposited to your account.
• Funds are in your account when you are sick
or on vacation.
• No worries if the mail is late.
Please consider this benefit. You
will need to complete the third card of the
Extended Pay Plan card. The best way
to ensure the accuracy of your banking
information is to include a voided check for
the account that you would like to have the
funds deposited into.
• First Niagara Bank will have your
Extended Pay Plan funds electronically
deposited during summer into the bank of
your choice. You DO NOT need to have an
account at First Niagara Bank.
• Please remember that if you make any
changes to the account that your Extended
Pay Plan funds are deposited in, YOU MUST
notify the BTF before June 1st to be sure
that your summer payments are deposited
into the correct account.
*Special Note: If you receive paper checks,
please be aware that they are only payable
for 60 days after the date of issue, as
stated on the front of the check. Also be
sure to update your address to be sure that
your payments arrive on time.