Published On: March 23, 2020
Dear member,
We hope that everyone was able to take a breather during the weekend and is settling into the new week. As we prepare for the new situation we find ourselves in the coming weeks, we are committed to continuing our advocacy for both our members and the families we serve. We will continue to share pertinent information with our members as frequently as needed.
Yesterday, the Governor announced a “stay at home” advisory, requesting non-essential businesses and institutions to close their doors. Many families that we serve have already faced job losses and will continue to face economic insecurity as the closures continue. While we advocate for sustainable practices for remote learning moving forward, we continue to advocate for our families and explore ways we can continue to help those facing hardships.

If you missed it, we have been sharing special bulletins over the last week that detail the latest developments from the district and the state. Saturday’s bulletin had extensive details on the latest in negotiations of remote learning expectations and what we are advocating for. If you need to revisit them, the Special Bulletins are available on the BTU website. Here are some of the highlights and newest updates:

  • We know that remote learning is a new experience for many educators, students, and families. We encourage educators to focus this week on continuing to make contact with each of your students; assessing their technology and home needs, and focusing on getting yourselves up-to-speed on the remote learning tools and skills needed to provide educational opportunities. Please see the many supports available in the PD section to help you with this. 
  • We understand that many school communities are still seeking guidance on new remote learning expectations for all of our many different job roles. Please see this joint statement from BTU and BPS as initial guidance as well as Saturday’s special bulletin for our analysis of common practices. The letter and special bulletin are a bit lengthy but begin to answer many of the questions we have received and can answer thus far.
  • On Wednesday, along with other unions across the state and country, we released our BTU Common Good demands, advocating for immediate relief for impacted communities, additional paid sick days, a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, and more in face of the unprecedented public health crisis.  
  • One of the “demands” is also a call for the Commissioner to freeze the MOU between the state and the city of Boston released on Friday, March 13. This is no time for top-down state intervention and the implementation of experimental or unproven initiatives in our schools. Sign and share our petition at btu.org/ourcityourschools. Thank you to the Boston Education Justice Alliance (BEJA) for co-hosting a very well-attended online community forum last week as we continue to organize our fight back.

  • As a part of our Common Good demands, we’re also joining Citizens for Public Schools to call on DESE to cancel MCAS.Contact your representatives and tell them to cancel MCAS now. Now that the Federal Government has allowed states to cancel standardized testing this school year, there is no reason the state shouldn’t take this step.  
  • Check out a helpful article about COVID-19, social distancing, and precautions to take from one of our school nurses, Susan Arase.
  • We appreciate the 900+ members who have already signed up to be a part of the BTU Volunteer Corps that will provide assistance to our communities in the days and weeks ahead. Dozens have already helped out this week! Thank you to everyone who has signed up and helped out.  

Please continue to submit your questions or concerns on our Google Form.

Finally, we have some new information and important action items from our Political Action team.Last week, Councilor Annissa Essaibi George presented a “Resolution in Response to the DESE District Review Report on the Boston Public Schools” to the Boston City Council, who voted unanimously to support the resolution. Read the resolution and find out more information about the 2020 census and registering to vote.  And, of course, don’t forget to sign the petition!

We will continue to provide you with details and updates as they become available. Please check your email regularly for Special Bulletins every few days. 
Please also remember to take time for your own self care and that of your families and loved ones. We are proud to be a part of the larger BTU community and in difficult times, it’s important to remember that none of us is alone, we are #InThisTogether.
Be safe and be well this week! 

Share This Story!