As the November 30th deadline for Inclusion Planning Teams approaches, we are continuing to press the district to share the latest updates in regards to what the expectations will be for IPTs, particularly as it pertains to the SEI plans that have been announced.  As we shared in our last Inclusion Newsletter last week, we know that BPS has been in dialogue with DESE to further narrow the SEI roll out.  We do not think it will end up impacting all K-8 schools for next fall and strongly disagree with both the timeline and current plans. We will share more detailed updates as soon as we are able to.

The Andover Educator Association displayed resolve, resilience and a commitment to the broader movement of workers’ rights last week. The AEA went on strike for 5 days and endured hefty fines levied by a judge after the School Committee resorted to a punitive law banning public sector employees from striking. But with the support of union siblings and the public, the AEA reached a deal that included wage increases, paid parental leave and more planning time for teachers. Congratulations!

Our paraprofessional siblings in North Reading (an AFT-MA affiliate) are now fighting for similar respect. According to their figures, 67 percent of paras there have to work a second job to make ends meet. We all know the value paras provide to our schools and students. We stood in solidarity last week and will continue to support their fight. In case you missed it, paras from MA joined Senator Markey in DC recently to file a new bill called the Bill of Rights for Paraprofessional and Education Support Staff.

Our labor solidarity isn’t limited to educators. Last week, our team testified in support of housing affordability bills, and in particular emphasized the need for rent control, the Tenant Opportunity Protection Act (TOPA) and Expiring Use.

One of the greatest challenges currently facing educators in Boston is housing affordability. The state needs to remove barriers blocking access to stable, long-term affordable housing so our educators can afford to live in, and become a part of, the communities they serve.

As we offer support to our allies, we are also focusing inward by continuing to craft a strong, representative and progressive contract proposal. Our Contract Bargaining Committee continues to meet on a weekly basis and has made significant progress in identifying key priorities among our members. We’ve made it a priority to analyze the demographics of our survey response data in pursuit of presenting an equitable proposal that incorporates input from all races, backgrounds and professional positions. We continue to do the work to make sure that equity is at the center of our bargaining campaign, and look forward to sharing toplines of our new package in December and to vote on our new package in January.

We want to wish everyone a restful Thanksgiving holiday and hope you have the time to recuperate with your friends and families if you do celebrate.

The holiday season is also an opportunity to give back to your community. If you have the means to support your neighbors who are struggling, we encourage you to contribute to our Women’s Rights Committee Holiday drive for the women’s shelter Rosie’s Place. They’ll be accepting contributions at the next membership meeting on December 13. Check our BTU events below for suggested donations. Or look through a list of suggested donations.

If you are searching for gift ideas, we have another batch of Bruins tickets for January 15 available to purchase at a discount through the BTU. Details are available below.