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Welcome to the Teacher Transfer Process Webpage
The decision to transfer to a new school is personal and may be based on a variety of reasons. Perhaps you are looking for a change in instructional focus, program options, a new school theme, or even a more convenient location for your life. If you are participating in the transfer process, either voluntary or as a result of budgetary changes, please read the following information carefully. Please keep in mind that staffing is a fluid and on-going process. Staffing is affected by changes in enrollment, building needs, staffing levels, budgets, resignations/retirements/promotions and program changes. Teachers had the ability to submit a request to the Human Resources Department for voluntary transfer by March 23, 2022. Teachers displaced from their current assignment will be informed by their principals and automatically included in the process by HR. Teachers shall hold the appropriate endorsements for positions to which they desire to transfer. Contract and probationary teachers are eligible to participate in the transfer process. Temporary, Emergency Temporary, and Part-Time teachers are not eligible to participate. Teachers wishing to change tenure areas must do so through the interview process, not the teacher transfer process. Teachers wishing to be considered for a TOSA position must participate in the interview process. BTF Transfer Process
If you have any questions about the teacher transfer process, jump to our FAQs by clicking here
or send an email to: HRIntentionProcess@buffaloschools.orgVacancy Lists
Please use the links provided to view vacant positions.
Tenure Area
Transfer Sheet Document
Art Business Vacancy List- CLICK HERE Elementary Education Vacancy List- CLICK HERE English ENL Vacancy List- CLICK HERE Guidance Vacancy List- CLICK HERE Home & Careers Library Math Music Physical Education Psychologist Reading Science Social Studies Social Worker Special Education Vacancy List- CLICK HERE Speech Technology World Languages BTF Transfer Process – Frequently Asked Questions
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1) How will I know which school has available vacancies?
HR will send out vacancies at least one week prior to the commencement of the transfer process. At this time, the transfer process, for non-receivership schools, is scheduled for July 1, 2021 – August 16, 2021. In the meantime, please take the time to conduct research about schools you may be interested in and take advantage of the soon to be scheduled opportunities to visit schools. We will not have definitive information about vacancies until the budget is approved by the board, which is scheduled for May 15, 2021. Please be aware that once the transfer process begins, and choices are made, the vacancies will change. If there are no vacancies available for a tenure area, HR will contact teachers to let them know that we will not hold a transfer process for that tenure area.
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2) How will HR notify teachers who are on a leave of absence?
Letters with transfer process information will be mailed to teachers who will remain on a leave of absence through the end of the school year.
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3) What is the criteria for a teacher to be able to get an approved transfer?
Professional conversations/interviews with building administration or their representative (administrative) must occur before a teacher can transfer into a school. Do not contact the Principal regarding school visits or interviews, please use the school open house calendar to plan your school visits.
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4) When is the deadline for when a transfer request can be submitted?
Article XIV Section B of the BTF collective bargaining agreement identifies the deadline of March 23, 2021.
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5) I have been displaced by the budget process, but did not submit a request to transfer. What do I do?
Teachers who may be reduced from their buildings due to changes in enrollment will be automatically included in the transfer process by Human Resources,where they will select from available vacancies in seniority order. Teachers impacted by budget changes must still meet with building administration to have a professional conversation/interview.
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6) If I am the most senior teacher in the transfer pool, can I “pass” my slot in anticipation of another opening? Or, must the person with the most seniority make a decision first and then be removed from the transfer process?
The transfer process will be conducted in one round. Teachers will be able to take advantage ofthe positions that are available when their name is called. If further vacancies become available after the transfer process, teachers who have not accepted a transfer will be contacted based on their seniority.
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7) My budgeted position has changed slightly, but will remain predominately at my current location. Do I have right of first refusal to stay in my building?
The District and BTF have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to offer the right of first refusal to teachers where a position is .4 or above and increases to 1.0. Also, teachers who are in a 1.0 assignment that reduces to .8, and the district can match the positon with a .2, have the right of first refusal for the positon.
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8) My Principal is requesting volunteers to transfer due to a reduction in my tenure area at my school. If I volunteer, do I get super seniority?
Voluntary and involuntary transfers shall be maintained on a single transfer list.
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9) I transferred at the beginning of this year to my current assignment because there was a reduction at my previous location. Can I voluntarily transfer this year?
Transferred teachers will remain in place for a minimum of two (2) years, unless they are impacted by budgetary changes.
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10) Will the District identify the specific courses/schedule/grade level of the available vacancies?
HR will work with principals to obtain as much information as we can about the openings that willbe available and share the information prior to and during thetransfer process.
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11) What happens if I am out of town/country/unreachable during the transfer process?
It is your obligation to supply contact information for the teacher transfer process. If they are unable to reach you, they will move on to the next teacher in seniority.
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12) I hold a TOSA title that is being reduced for next school year. How am I impacted?
If there is a budgetary impact to your position, you have payroll location rights to a classroom assignment in your tenure area at your current location, so long as you have more years of service than the least senior teacher in that tenure area. If there are two TOSA teachers with the same title, and one of the positions is reduced, the most senior TOSA has rights to the title, regardless of funding source. If you are a TOSA teacher that has the least seniority in your tenure area, and there is a reduction in that tenure area, you will be reduced from you will be reduced from your TOSA assignment if there are no volunteers that accept the reduction. Therefore, the TOSA teacher and the second-least senior classroom teacher will be reduced and must participate in the TOSA interview process or teacher transfer process.
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13) Can I invoke my contractual right to transfer into a school where the Principal does not agree that I am a fit for the school?
Human Resources will review the fit recommendation from Principals to evaluate if the vacancy requires specialized skills, including:
a. Bilingual
b. Montessori
c. Advance Placement Experience
d. Rigorous Instrumental Program
e. Physical Education w/ Health or Life Guard Certification
f. Unique Programmatic Needs
Other factors being equal, in the judgement of the Board, the teacher with the greatest length of time in the Buffalo Public Schools System shall select from available vacancies by contractual seniority in their tenure area. The Associate Superintendent for Human Resources will make the final determination regarding a teacher transfer in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement.
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Updated: 04/20/2022