Today is a day of action! BTU members at schools across Boston will be “walking in” this morning as a call for the schools our #StudentsDeserve! We are pushing for the settlement of our own contract and in solidarity with striking educators in Los Angeles and others around the country who are organizing and advocating for the schools #StudentsDeserve in their communities. Check out our BTU Action Toolkit with information on and resources to support your walk in today.
Download your own #StudentsDeserve sign. Don’t forget to tag us on your photos from today using the hashtags #BTUproud and #StudentsDeserve. You can also email them to photos@btu.org.
Hurley educators wore #RedForEd on Friday!
We know this fight for the schools our #StudentsDeserve is happening from coast to coast! We are thinking of educators and families in Los Angeles on this second day of their strike. Teachers in LA are fighting for smaller class sizes (they have some of the biggest in California, with over 40 at high schools), student access to nurses, counselors and psychologists, for educator discretion in testing and more. Read one LA teacher’s story about why he’s on strike. You can show your support today by signing this AFT petition to the LAUSD superintendent urging him to meet the demands of teachers, parents and students.
The BTU was proud to stand with parents, students, educators, schools districts and elected statewide leadership for the introduction of the Education Promise Act last week.
Our walk-ins are also about our #FundOurFuture campaign. Last week, the BTU was proud to stand with Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz and Representatives Aaron Vega and Mary Keefe as they introduced the Education Promise Act, which will give the Massachusetts Legislature has the opportunity to end the generation-long underfunding of local public schools and public colleges and universities – this year.
“Chronic underfunding has been devastating for our public schools, and we know that across Massachusetts those hurt the hardest are students who are our most vulnerable. For decades, our state has failed to repair the education inequity that often exists between students in one community and those in the city or town right next door.
“Members of the Boston Teachers Union are proud to stand with parents, students, educators, schools districts and elected leadership across the Commonwealth in calling on the Legislature to update education funding formulas which haven’t been revamped in 25 years. We cannot afford another generation of Massachusetts students to miss out on opportunities they need and deserve. We must fix the education formula. When we fund our schools, we fund our future.” See President Tang’s full statement.
City on a Hill Circuit Street was #RedForEd on Friday. Today in Boston we stand in solidarity with Los Angeles teachers knowing that the fight for the schools our #StudentsDeserve unites us from the west coast to the east. Download the #StudentsDeserve poster for your school’s walk-in! #StudentsDeserve #WeAreLA #RedForEd #BTUproud
In other news, tonight Mayor Walsh will deliver the 2019 State of the City address at Symphony Hall, and the School Committee will convene on Wednesday at 6 PM at the Bolling Building.
We were so sad to hear of the passing of longtime BTU member and former BTU Executive Board member Phil Fasano last week. Phil helped make the BTU the strong union it is today, and he will be sorely missed, as will former BTU member Dick O’Neil, who also passed away last week. Please see both of their obituaries and service information below.
Finally, registration is open for the BTU Winter Conference on February 9! We hope you’ll join us and register today.
Have a great week!