Published On: August 20, 2024

Happy August!

BTU members are encouraged to register for the Summer Organizing Institute taking place at the BTU Hall tomorrow and Thursday to connect with colleagues from AFT MA locals across the region and learn about contract enforcement and organizing in your respective schools and communities. Check out the agenda here.

Strengthening those organizing muscles will be essential in the coming weeks as we continue to engage in negotiations with the district in pursuit of a new contract that provides a brighter future for Boston’s students and educators. On August 8th, the BTU Negotiating team met with the district for the first time since the school-year ended, and presented our counter-proposal to the district’s inadequate wage proposal.

The BTU proposal is guided by our principle of equal pay for equal work and the belief that students thrive in stable school communities staffed by experienced educators who are supported by the district. Our initial offer would go a long way towards supporting our lowest-paid members and correcting a long overdue inequity that has placed significant financial burdens on our autonomous and Schedule A school educators. Boston’s teachers and paraprofessionals ought to be able to live in the city they serve.

Our next scheduled bargaining session, which will focus largely on inclusive education, will be at the BTU Hall on August 21st, though we may add a session before then. Stay tuned!

Presidential Election

The Presidential election is less than 90 days away and we are thrilled to see a fellow AFT member on the Democratic ticket. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz spent more than 20 years as a public school teacher, coach, mentor and union member. He and Vice President Harris understand the power of public education and the importance of optimism, equality, and decency.

 

For resources on the Harris/Walz ticket, check out https://aftvotes.org/. You can volunteer with the BTU Electoral Action Team and the AFT MA 2024 Get Out the Vote Team for opportunities to work together to preserve the future of democracy.

Congratulations to our own Retired Teachers Chapter Chair Marilyn Marion on getting elected by the Democratic State Committee to be one of Massachusetts’ 11 Electoral College members! Marilyn will have the honor of casting one of the actual votes for President and Vice President on behalf of Massachusetts voters.

Please also mark your calendars for September 3rd, primary day in Massachusetts. Check out the graphic at the top of this email to see the full slate of state candidates endorsed by the BTU!
Changes to IEP Forms

 

Massachusetts has updated the IEP (Individualized Education Program) form and is requiring all districts to use the new format starting this school year. The IEP has not been updated since 2001 and while the format is new, it is important to highlight that the laws for special education have not changed. To prepare for this transition, BPS sent approximately 40 staff, including the regional Special Education Assistant Directors, to a train-the-trainer workshop in June. BPS also held a three-day institute at the end of July for educators. An overview of the new requirements and changes can be found in this document and the full set of resources from the institute can be found in the online Inclusion Folder here (bit.ly/InclusionFolder). Katie DeLaRosa, the Inclusion Liaison, attended the institute and will continue to keep members updated with new information and resources to assist in the transition. Please reach out with any questions.

At the July institute, participants shared many concerns about the district’s management of this change and what it means for educators. In response to these concerns, the BTU has officially sent a demand to bargain to BPS. We are advocating that BPS provide training for all educators during the first two days of school that includes any district-specific forms they expect educators to use. BPS has responded that they are working on a FAQ that we will also share with our membership and that they are training school administrators during the summer Management and Operations Institute. EdPlan is also offering webinars in August and September on a variety of topics that you can view here. Use this form if you do not have EdPlan access or your school/position has changed.

The new IEP process encourages more collaboration among IEP Team members, focuses on the individualized parts of an IEP and introduces more ways to measure success. However, we believe that in order for the process to work as designed, schools would need significant additional resources that the district has not yet provided. Educators would need more common planning time, IEP meetings would be longer, and teachers using multiple specialized licenses would have to take on even more work. Schools already do not have the staffing to adequately provide IEP services to our students. That is why we are actively fighting for a long-term change to this system through our contract negotiations and a short-term solution with a demand to bargain. More updates to follow.

BTU Special Election Information:

Nominations for BTU Vice President Starting August 1

The nomination process for the Special Election for BTU Vice President opened 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. One hundred 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

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.

Stand in Solidarity with Healthcare Workers: August 13th and 15th

The BTU is standing in solidarity with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East who have been impacted by Steward Healthcare’s mismanagement. The Department of Public Health is holding two public hearings on the closures of the Carney Hospital in Dorchester and the Nashoba Valley Medical Center on Aug. 13th and 15th respectively. Register here to attend the hearing and stand in solidarity with 1199SEIU.

Summer Organizing Institute: August 14-15 at the BTU

Join the BTU and AFT MA 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 Educator Social: Thursday August 20, 3:30 – 5:30PM

Join us in welcoming new members to our union at next Thursday’s New Educator Social. This year’s social will take place at Boston University’s George Sherman Union (775 Commonwealth Ave 02215) with food, drink, and parking provided. As in past years, we encourage members to join us as volunteers, either tabling as a representative of a committee or helping new educators who wish to apply for membership. Sign up as a volunteer here.
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.

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!

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: Sept. 3 & 4

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.

Paraprofessional Informational Meeting and Resources Fair: October 10th 

Come join us at the BTU Hall on October 10th at 5pm for important information and great resource materials from colleges, MTEL support and more. Register here!

NEW-BTU Fall Conference: October 18th to 20th 

Join us for the 2024 Annual BTU Fall Leadership Conference from October 18-20 at the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel (250 Market St, Portsmouth, NH 03801). The program will include plenary sessions, skill-building workshops, meals, and social events to build up our power and unity as BTU member leaders. The registration deadline is October 4th.

 

Community News & Events

LinkUp at The Lawn on September 4th: 4 to 9pm This event at the Lawn on D (420 D Street, Boston) offers Boston’s educational community a vibrant space to connect and create lasting change for our children and families. This dynamic event brings educators, parents, students, and community leaders together to enjoy an evening that will positively impact our schools and neighborhoods. Register here

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

BTU member Shakeeda Bartee, an Instructional Coach, spoke at the bill signing ceremony of the Affordable Homes Act. The legislation ratified by Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Liz Driscoll makes available $5 billion in funding for tax incentives, new housing construction and zoning reforms to spur new housing construction in the state. You can see Shakeeda speak on our Facebook page and read a summary here.

 

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