Good morning, It may be hard to believe, but we’re at the mid-point of summer and five weeks from the day when the majority of educators report to work. We hope you’ve had some time to rest, relax and recharge. Please see the section below the President’s message for important details on the Special Election for the BTU Vice President. The Nomination period begins August 1st. Last week, dozens of BTU member delegates attended the AFT 2024 Convention in Houston, Texas with more than 3,000 elected delegates from AFT local unions across the country. Guided by the theme “Real Solutions for Real Kids,” the convention came together to pass resolutions to address the present threats to the state of public education, intellectual freedom and our nation’s democratic institutions. Following President Joe Biden’s decision to end his candidacy, AFT was the first union to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. Harris addressed the convention on Thursday, where she pledged her commitment to protect labor rights, condemned the resurgence of attempted book banning, and urged educators to join the fight to prevent the anti-union and anti-education policies of Project 2025 from becoming a reality under another Trump administration.

The electricity was palpable in the room and it’s crucial that we harness this newfound energy into fighting to ensure Vice President Harris wins in November. We encourage you to look into our BTU Electoral Action Team and the AFT-MA 2024 Get Out the Vote Team for opportunities to get involved and work together to preserve the future of democracy.

BTU members exhibited that spirit of activism in Houston by standing in solidarity with Houston educators at a rally calling for the end of Texas’ disastrous state takeover of the city’s schools. Educators are leaving the district in record numbers, student well-being is being sacrificed for the sake of test scores and the community is fighting against anti-democratic decision-making. We know how damaging even the threat of receivership can be to a district and we remain committed to ending the takeovers still in place at the UP Holland and Dever Schools. United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain also addressed the AFT convention following a year of groundbreaking gains for the UAW under his direction. The UAW’s fight to end an inequitable two-wage tier system is both an inspiration and guidebook as we fight to win the respect and compensation our lowest-paid workers and our educators at autonomous and Schedule A schools deserve. Correcting these inequities will only further unify our union, benefit our students and strengthen the labor movement. We were proud to support the Paraprofessional and school-related personnel Bill of Rights resolution at the convention and will fight to get Senator Markey’s PSRP bill passed in Congress. But our strongest tool is our contract, and that is why uplifting our lowest-paid workers and winning a fair wage for all members remains a core priority during our ongoing negotiations with the district. Check out AFT’s website for more highlights and a list of resolutions that were passed. On that note, our next bargaining session will take place on August 8th at the BTU Hall from 10am to 5pm. BTU members are welcome to attend the session at any point. Please register ahead of time so we can provide lunch. We encourage you to apply to become a member of our organizing committee, which will develop and implement the campaign to win a strong contract. BPS to Hire Long-Term Facilities Consultant The Boston Globe reported recently that the Boston Public Schools posted a notice of Request for Proposals for a consultant to advise them on long-term facilities planning, including closing and merging schools. Longtime readers of this e-Bulletin may remember that last time BPS engaged with McKinsey for a similar scope of work, the result was a disastrously inaccurate and misguided report that recommended the closure of dozens of schools. Thankfully, the McKinsey recommendations were discarded after an outcry from families, students, and the community. Our hope is that the district will seek out a consultant that has a track record in crafting long-term facilities plans that center the need for every student to be enrolled in a modern, state-of-the-art facility and not a consultant like McKinsey that has a track record of alienating communities, treating students like numbers, and privatizing and harming public schools. The BTU recently passed a Resolution that puts students first, and clearly states that desperately needed upgrades to our current school buildings must be done, and done expeditiously, and that new school buildings should NOT be contingent on closing schools. If students in the BPS need and deserve 21st Century school buildings, BPS should build new schools. Merging schools in inadequate buildings without providing a new and improved facility, such as was done with the Shaw and Taylor and BCLA and McCormack Schools, is not an answer, and only serves to undermine trust and keep our students in shoddy buildings for years to come. We are heartened that a brand new Josiah Quincy Upper School and Carter School will open in the next year, and a newly renovated Irving School building will reopen soon after that. However, even if we build two new schools each year, it will take over 50 years to provide all of our students with a new school building. We hope that BPS will engage meaningfully with families, students and educators as they consider our facilities needs, and make sure to include the voices of those who work and learn in our schools every day as they make decisions about school buildings. Please read on below for some important updates about the upcoming special election for BTU’s Vice Presidency.

BTU Special Election Information:

Nominations for BTU Vice President Starting August 1

The nomination process for the Special Election for BTU Vice President will open at 8 am on August 1. Please see the updated Electronic Nomination Instructions and Candidates Guide for more information. Paper nomination forms will be available at the union office.

Each member can only nominate one candidate in this race. 100 nominations are required, but it is recommended that prospective candidates gather more in case of duplications.

Any paper nomination forms must be handed in at the BTU membership meeting on September 11, 2024; electronic nominations are also due by the end of this meeting. Election day is October 16. This will be a primary if there are more than two candidates; if there are two or less this will be the final election. Voting will be conducted by mail ballot, with an option for in-person voting on election day.

You may contact electioncommittee@btu.org with any questions about the election. Contact mfrank@btu.org with any questions about your membership status.  Please follow the e-bulletin for regular updates.

 

 

BTU Events and Announcements

NEW-Join the BTU Contract Organizing Committee!

The Contract Organizing Committee will work in collaboration with the negotiating team and Executive Board to develop and implement organizing and action plans for our contract bargaining campaign. We’re looking to convene a diverse group of BTU members, representing a range of bargaining units, roles, grade bands, races, experience levels, and school types across as many schools as possible. Learn more and apply here.

Summer Organizing Institute: August 14-15 at the BTU

Join the BTU and AFT Massachusetts for our annual Summer Organizing Institute. Whether you are a brand new building rep or activist learning the basic building blocks of organizing or a seasoned union leader looking to bargaining your strongest contract ever these two days are for you. Register with this form.

BTU Events and Announcements

Important PD Scheduling Info for Next Year – FAQ

The district has made a shift in how professional learning is being offered for next year (SY24-25). As part of the existing contractual PD hours (not extra time like this year SY23-24), all Teachers will be asked to participate in a 12 hour course addressing some fundamental knowledge and competencies required to implement the district’s inclusive education plan. These courses are differentiated by curriculum aligned to the curricula required across the district. Schools are asked to permit educators to attend a course that aligns to the curriculum they teach. For an overview of the shifts and the content see this slide deck from BPS.

While offering more choice is a great step forward, and one that BTU members have been seeking for years, these shifts can create some questions and challenges. We have created an FAQ document to address the issues we have heard from members. Please continue to share your questions and concerns with the BTU so we can address them as needed. Please contact Paul Tritter for assistance.

Building Rep Orientation: August 28 or 29 at the BTU Hall

Whether you are a new building rep or a returning one, we look forward to reconnecting before the school year begins! The orientation will cover everything you need to know as a building for the new school year, including all the materials you need to conduct a 30 minute union meeting in the first week of school. This year we are offering two date options: Wednesday, August 28 from 10am-12pm or Thursday, August 29 from 4:30-6:30. Both sessions are at the BTU (180 Mount Vernon St, Dorchester 02125). Please RSVP here.

NEW-Join the AFT-MA 2024 Get Out the Vote Team

AFT-MA members are taking action to get out the vote for the democratic ticket in battleground states this Fall and Summer! Fill out this form to let staff know how you are interested in getting involved, and you’ll hear back shortly to get plugged in. Democracy and Education is on the ballot this year!

Inclusion Planning Team Updates

– Don’t forget to submit your election results for your school Inclusion Planning Teams to bit.ly/IPTmembers.

– We have heard from some schools that IPT members did not receive their stipends in the last June or first July paystubs. Please check your pay stubs and send an email to your field rep or the Inclusion Liaison (kdelarosa@btu.org) if you have not been paid.

Submit Building Rep Election Results

A reminder that all schools should conduct Building Rep elections before the end of the school year. If you need guidance on how to conduct a Building Rep election, please see p. 25 of the Building Rep Handbook. Once you have your election results please submit them at btu.org/brelection.

Paraprofessional Safety Care Training

There will be Safety Care training once we gauge the interest of which training is needed. The Initial Safety Care(12 hours) or the re-certification of Safety Care (6 hours) will be offered. Please register here for two September Sessions.

Paraprofessional Development: Managing Student Behaviors

This Professional Development Session will provide participants an overview of strategies to identify warning signs while working with students in any program area and across grade bands. Participants will learn techniques to identify student triggers and best practices to ameliorate behaviors and provide safety for the learning environment. The two sessions will take place at Tuesday, September 3rd at 10:00am in person at the Boston Teachers Union and Wednesday, September 4th at 12:30pm on Zoom. Register here.

Kindergarten Conference September 5, 2024 8:30am-2:30pm

The Kindergarten Conference at the Four Points Sheraton Norwood will focus on leveraging the curriculum for inclusion & equitable early literacy practices. Breakout sessions will target the curricular and instructional needs of K0-K2 classrooms. The K Conference is for both paraprofessionals and teachers. You can register here.

 

BTU 11th Annual Back to School Fair: Saturday September 28th, 10am-2pm

Join Educators, Families, Students and Community Partners for a joyous day celebrating Back to School! Thousands of free books! Music, Food, Family Fun Activities and much more! Please share the word with your school community! Check out our page to register and learn more about tabling for your organization!

Educators Thriving: Make Your Well-Being a Priority this Year, Deadline Sept. 23rd In this free course for BTU members learning and practicing concrete strategies to prevent burnout and support your own well-being so you can be your best for yourself and your students. Check out our flyer to learn more, check out an informational video, or register for a free preview session in September. Those who complete the course and all assignments are eligible to earn Academic Ladder Credits toward lane advancement. Spots filled on a first come, first served basis with final due date of September 23rd.

Power Saturdays at the BTU: SY 24-25

Power Saturdays are a monthly day for BTU members to connect, learn, and grow our power together through three unique learning and leadership development opportunities. Member Organizers: Build organizing skills and take action; Education Policy Program: Connect research, policy and practice.; Writing and Research Fellowship: Deepen personal and professional identity through research and writing. Learn more and apply.

 

 

Professional Learning & Development Updates

Each week, we have many new and exciting Professional Learning & Development opportunities to share with you. You can find a full description of each listing on our Professional Learning & Development Updates Page.

• AFT Member Benefit Virtual Workshops
• Degree Completion
• August 2024 MIT Climate Professional Development Workshop (paid) for high school educators
• Stipend Opportunity: Educator Feedback on SY24-25 Professional Learning
• National Board Summer Program Manager: Summer Stipended Role to Support Educators of Color
• Applications now open for fully-online or hybrid teacher/school leadership programs through Salem State

 

Community News & Events Documentary: Years After Garrity: A Move Toward Equitable Education The BPS Humanities department in collaboration with BPS Arts and the Office of Opportunity Gaps will host 50 Years After Garrity: A Move Toward Equitable Education on September 26, 2024. Please fill out this Google Form to indicate your interest in participating. The panel discussion will occur after the viewing of the PBS documentary The Busing Battleground. Questions? Contact Angela Hedley Mitchell: ahedley@bostonpublicschools.org

BTU in the News Julimar Cecilia Avila Mancia, daughter of BTU members Julio and Marta Avila, is swimming on the Honduras National Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics! Julimar swam for Boston University and first debuted at the Olympics in 2020. Congratulations to Julimar and her proud parents. The BTU community wishes her the best!