Published On: June 18, 2024

 

End of Year Updates!
Last Tuesday, the BTU joined AFT-MA and multiple partners to rally and lobby in support of the Educator Diversity Act at the Statehouse. The landmark legislation would address recruitment, support and retention for a more diverse educator workforce.
Good morning,

First off, we’d like to wish all of our grandfathers, fathers, caregivers, father figures, and role models a belated Happy Father’s Day!

During the last week of school, it is important to take a moment to appreciate each other for making the 23-24 school year a successful one! Thank you all for all you do for our students and schools! Together we have met this year’s challenges and continue to build on the foundation for a brighter future for our students, educators and communities. Although the school year may be coming to a close, our union is well prepared to keep the momentum we’ve built together going through the summer and into the fall.

Boston is going to experience a heat wave starting this morning. Temperatures are supposed to break the 90 degree mark from Tuesday to Thursday. 10 schools–Bates, Community Academy, Kenny, Mather, Mel King (Peterborough), Mel King (St. Mary’s), Mozart, Lee Academy, Otis, and the Taylor–do not have AC installed. We flagged these concerns last week and were told by BPS that these schools will be prioritized to receive additional resources such as fans, cold water and other heat mitigation supplies. Please reach out to your building rep or field rep if you do not feel that your school has adequate resources.

Last Tuesday, the BTU joined AFT-MA and other partners for a day of advocacy in support of the Educator Diversity Act. This landmark legislation would remove institutional barriers which have prevented qualified educators of color from getting certified and leading classrooms where Boston’s students would feel seen. It would also require measures across the state to address recruitment, support and retention as well. Thank you to Elementary Field Rep Lea Serena for her leadership on making the day a great success! See coverage below under BTU in the News.

At the State House we also continue to advocate for the R+ bill, the Thrive Act while also working to win the MCAS ballot question. We will be supporting efforts to remove MCAS as a barrier for students to receive their diplomas and instead move towards graduation requirements that are reflective of successful completion of coursework through multiple assessments. While MCAS will still be given, it will not longer have high-stakes punitive consequences.

Last Wednesday, we held the final membership meeting of this school year. The membership approved the Committee on Political Education’s (COPE) recommendation to endorse a slate of state senate and house of representative candidates. You can see the whole list of candidates here. Don’t forget to join the BTU Electoral Action Team!

At the June membership meeting, BTU President Jessica Tang shared that her last official day will be July 8th and Vice President Erik Berg will become President on July 9th. This fall there will be a special election to fill the Vice President position. Please see below for important updates and details from the Election Committee.

On Thursday, the BTU and BPS met for its 14th session of collective bargaining negotiations. The district said that it did not see a point to agreeing to additional bargaining sessions over the summer until the BTU abandons a significant amount of its proposals and presents a list of priorities. The BTU has already communicated its main priorities: reaching a wage agreement that addresses the needs of our lowest paid workers and fixing the ineffective inclusive education model of forcing one teacher to use multiple licenses to meet the diverse needs of our students. The district has not offered any response to our inclusive education proposals.

We remain committed to reaching an agreement as soon as possible as long as that agreement meets the needs of our students and educators. We will be sharing more details about future bargaining sessions and organizing strategies shortly. Please see the bargaining summary below for more details and continue to check out btu.org/bargaining/ over the summer for updates.

 

On Saturday, the BTU celebrated Juneteenth at Franklin Park. Members of the AFT Black Caucus Boston chapter passed out free books donated by AFT-MA. Thank you to our Black Caucus members who organized and volunteered at the event! Here are some Share My Lesson resources regarding Juneteenth which could be very useful during this final week of school.

This bulletin will be the last regularly scheduled weekly bulletin for this school year. We will have periodic special bulletins throughout the summer as needed, which moving forward, will be sent out by Erik Berg.

Closing Remarks from BTU President Jessica Tang:

This is my last ebulletin as president of the BTU. It has truly been an honor to serve the incredible 10,000+ (and growing!) members of the Boston Teachers Union. I could not imagine seven years ago what trials and unprecedented challenges we would face as a union–between the Janus decision, multiple mayors, school committee chairs, and superintendents or a global pandemic–but I also could not imagine the incredible successes we were still able to achieve despite it all. Our union continues to lead whether through groundbreaking contracts, policy initiatives, or organizing wins. I shared some of these reflections as well as hopes for our union’s future in my last submission as president to the BTU paper this month. As I share in that article, “however, this is not “goodbye”…it’s just “see you later!” Or perhaps another way to put it, I will still be saying “hello,” to you all, just from a new role. And in this new position as President of AFT MA I will continue to support the BTU community. I will also still continue to be a proud and active BTU member and will always be so proud of the work we have done together. I look forward to the work we will do together in the future. See you soon! “
Outgoing BTU President Jessica Tang received a card full of well-wishes from BTU members at her last official membership meeting as President.

BTU Special Election Information:

The 2024/25 BTU election committee will be holding a special election for the position of Vice President. Any member in good standing of the BTU/RTC is eligible to run for this position. Electronic and paper nomination pages will be available on August 1st. Paper pages can be picked up at the union hall. Members can only sign nomination papers for 1 candidate in this race. 100 signatures are required but it is recommended that prospective candidates gather more in case of duplications.

Nomination papers must be handed in at the BTU union meeting on Sept 11th, 2024. An election will be held on Oct 16th. If there are more than two candidates, this will be a primary. If there are only two candidates, that will be the final election. The election will be conducted through mail-in ballots and in-person voting. In May of 2025, our regular elections will be held for all elected positions including Vice President.

Please click this link for rules and regulations regarding elections – most notably the rule against using BPS/BTU resources and paid time to campaign.

You may contact electioncommittee@btu.org with any questions about the election. Contact mfrank@btu.org with any questions about your membership status.

BTU Events and Announcements

Important Updates on Inclusive Education and Professional Development:

The work of BTU members on inclusion planning teams next year will include monitoring the implementation of inclusion in grades K0, K1, K2, 7, and 9 while also planning for the roll out in grades 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, and 10 in SY 25-26. This year’s challenges are even more of a reason for BTU members to ensure their voices are represented on the teams. Please see the Updated IPT Election & Membership Guidance for more information and submit the names of your IPT members to bit.ly/IPTmembers as soon as possible.

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.

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.

Apply to be a Summer Organizing Union Leader! (Earn a stipend!) The BTU seeks Summer Organizing Union Leaders (SOULs) to support BTU’s contract and organizing campaigns. This is opportunity comes with a stipend. Program runs from July 8-August 9 with flexible hours. Learn more and apply at btu.org/soul.

Haitian Educators Committee Meeting June 21, 5:30-7:00 PM Our last meeting will be in-person on Friday, June 21st, at 5:30 pm at Toutwel Restaurant in Mattapan! Come join us to discuss the highs and lows of a great school year and plan for next year. For more details reach out to Bianca Pierre.

Summer Organizing Institute: August 14-15 at the BTU Join AFT Massachusetts and the Boston Teachers Union 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.

NEW-Contribute to the Unafraid Scholarship-Boston 2023-2024

The Unafraid Scholarship was founded by BTU’s Unafraid Educators in order to provide financial support for students who are not eligible to receive FASFA due to their immigration status. You can contribute to the scholarship by donating 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.
Check out our summary of the 14th session of collective bargaining with BPS from last Thursday, June 11th.

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
  • Important PD Scheduling Info for Next Year – FAQ
  • Power Saturdays Applications Now Open!
  • Educators Thriving: Make Your Well-being a Priority This Year
  •  Thinking Through Art at the ISGM

Community News & Events

NEW-Condon Retirement Party Tuesday June 18th 5pm @ Florian Hall Dorchester: June 18th

Join us for a retirement celebration honoring 7 long-time employees at the Condon Elementary School: Annellen Lydon, Carol Ann Petruccelli, Laura Clemons, Josefina Terrero, Sharon O’Dwyer, Sheila Yetman, Karen Barese The Party is from 5 to 9pm and costs $60 if you’d like to contribute a gift and attend. You can also contribute $30 towards a gift if you cannot attend. Please send funds and RSVPs via Venmo to @Buntha-Hazell. Contact: Buntha.Hazell@gmail.com

NEW-Mass Teachers Association: Understanding and Combatting Antisemitism: June 27th 5-6:30 pm (Virtual) Join Jewish organizers, labor activists and community members from the New England Jewish Labor Committee in a discussion about what antisemitism is, a historical overview, and what we can do about it now. You can register here

Climate Resilient Schools Network meeting – June 27 The topic of the last organizing meeting of the year is the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in clean energy and climate in US history, which has the potential to invest billions in school infrastructure! Sara Ross, co-founder of UndauntedK12, will speak about how schools can make the transition to clean energy and save money by tapping into these powerful federal tax credits. You can find more information here. Register here.

NEW-AAPI Teacher Cohort Application: Deadline June 28th

We are thrilled to announce an exceptional opportunity for eight experienced high school teachers to bring a transformative curriculum to high schools across the country! This project, originating from the AFT Asian American and Pacific Islander Task Force, seeks to provide a cohort-based learning community to grow in K-12 pedagogy informed by Asian American Studies using sample lessons about Japanese American incarceration. Teachers will receive a $3k stipend. Apply here

NEW-2024 WILD Summer Institute: June 29th

The Women’s Institute for Leadership Development will hold its Annual Summer Institute at the Carpenters Training Center in Boston from 9am to 6pm. WILD is a program that providers women the leadership vision, confidence, and skills to be more effective organizers in the Massachusetts labor movement and community organizations. You can learn more about the program and the application here.

FREE Summer Middle School Science Program, July 1 – August 2

The Arnold Arboretum runs a free, science and nature based summer program intended for current 6th and 7th graders from BPS, called Arboretum Young Scientists. We are actively recruiting students who are interested in furthering their learning and growth in science and love being in nature for our 5 week program, July 1 through August 2. The application form can also be found on the AYS (Arboretum) webpage, and it is in both English and Spanish.

The Emancipator Presents: Historically Black Phrases Live! June 19 at 7pm

This Juneteenth, The Emancipator proudly presents the Boston stop of Historically Black Phrases Live!, a national touring game show experience based on the NAACP Image Award-winning book, “Historically Black Phrases: From ‘I Ain’t One Of Your Lil’ Friends’ to ‘Who All Gon’ Be There?’.” The event will take place at WBUR’s CitySpace hall. You can register for tickets here

NEW-Apply to be a member of the Attorney General’s Youth Council!: Deadline June 16th

The AGO Youth Council will serve as a catalyst for youth engagement, representation, and inclusion. The Council Members will convene 12 times between September 2024 and May 2025 to learn about critical issues, build skills as leader and advocate, and provide counsel to the Attorney General and her staff. Applicants must be a MA resident, 14-19 years old or enrolled at a MA high school by Sept. ’24. Please encourage students to apply!

Empowering Girls, Empowering Futures: Girls Inc.

Empowering girls to become strong, smart, and bold leaders – that’s the heart of Girls Inc. Through mentorship, education, and advocacy, we equip girls in grades K-12 with the skills and confidence they need to navigate life’s challenges and excel in their aspirations. Contact us to bring opportunities for the 24-25 school year to your school. https://girlsinclynn.org/

Thinking Through Art at the Gardner Museum: 24-25 School Year

Thinking Through Art at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is proven to improve teacher and student outcomes. Includes PD, curriculum, and free Museum visits – including buses. Apply by July 1 here. Questions? Contact Sara Egan; segan@isgm.org

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

Check out some more coverage from our June 5th rally for a Fair Contract at the Bay State Banner with quotes from VP Erik Berg as well as BTU members “JD” Davis and “CJ” James who emceed and spoke at our rally, respectively.

The State House News Service shared coverage of the Educators on the Hill Day: “There’s something special about the excitement a student feels when you start speaking Cape Verdean Creole, and they realize you speak the same language as them,” said Lea Serena, elementary field representative for the Boston Teachers Union. “Or the feeling of relief in a parent’s eyes when they understand that talking to their child’s teacher just got that much easier. Or the joy when your student comes in excited because they tried a hairstyle you rocked yesterday … However it’s not lost on me that my story is one of many.”

Educators on the Hill Day was also covered by Channel 22/WWLP News: “When you see an educator who speaks your language or recognizes and understands your cultures and customs, it does make the place a little more welcoming,” said Jessica Tang, President of the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts.

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