We have heard that many realignment proposals are requiring educators to earn additional licenses or use multiple licenses at one time. If this is part of your proposal, please let us know so we can use this data to further inform our interactions with the district. If you haven’t already, please forward your realignment plans to BTU inclusion Liaison Katie DeLarosa and reach out to set up a time to talk through any challenges.
Ultimately, we encourage our IPTs and school communities to put forth a proposal that is realistically achievable and best serves your students. None of us benefit if our plans are solely driven by directives or “cost neutral” goals rather than the intent to create a community that capitalizes on our educators expertise in order to assist students with this transition. Student needs should be driving all plans.
Speaking of student needs, we have an update about school facilities in relation to the Wu Administration’s “Green New Deal”. The School Committee has released a new rubric which will guide the district’s long-term capital planning. This rubric establishes a grading system to determine which school buildings have the capacity or potential to support what the district calls a “High-Quality Student Experience”. Based on those scores, a school could be selected for an expansion, a rebuild, a merger or closure. This grading rubric and design model will have significant influence on how the district will spend capital resources and design future facilities in your school communities. The City’s representatives for the GND rubric will be joining our next membership meeting.
The next membership meeting is in two weeks on Wednesday, December 13. As a reminder, our Women’s Rights Committee is holding a Holiday Drive benefit for the women’s shelter Rosie’s Place. They’ll be accepting donations at this membership meeting. Check our BTU events below for suggested donations, or look through a list of suggested donations. Please remember to register in advance for child care for the meeting as well.
In the spirit of solidarity, we have been encouraging our members and community partners to support the thousands of state employees who still haven’t received their contractually guaranteed pay raises. The state legislature went into a formal recess last week without passing a supplemental budget that would have authorized the distribution of funds for these raises. Contact your state lawmakers and let them know how important it is for the workers who keep our government running to receive the wages they deserve. Find you representative here.
Don’t forget! If you are searching for gift ideas, we have another batch of Bruins tickets for Monday, January 15 (MLK Day) at 1:00pm available to purchase at a discount through the BTU. Details are available below. Contact Michelle Frank (mfrank@btu.org) for any questions!
BTU Events and Announcements
NEW-Virtual Discussion on BPS English Learners: November 29
Our community partner the Boston Education Justice Alliance is holding a panel discussion to explore how BPS’s plan for classroom integration will affect English Language Learners. The zoom session runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.Computer Science Education Week: December 4-10
Celebrate Computer Science Education Week with BPSTechnology with the annual #BPSCoders Student Contest and more. Visit https://bit.ly/bpscoders for complete information.
Join this session to develop a basic understanding of BPS technology systems to be effective in the classroom and in schools with students. This tech training session aims to familiarize beginners with the fundamentals of basic navigation and the Google suite, and for those with more experience, a higher level look at these systems. The session runs from 5-7 p.m.
This forum covers everything you need to know about Election to Work Agreements (EWAs), Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and what it takes to improve working conditions at autonomous schools (pilot, innovation, charter, turnaround, receivership). Register for the Zoom link at bit.ly/BTUwws24. The event runs from 4:30-6:00
The BTU is hosting an informational session along with AFT-MA on how you can manage the financial stress of student loan payments. Learn about Public Service Loan Forgiveness and income-based payment plans. Join us at 4:30 or register for a zoom link
School Site Councils play a critical role in hiring of staff, reviews and advises on the budget. They can also waive the provision of the collective bargaining agreement or any School Committee rule regulation. This training will focus on the role the SSC has in the budget building process. Register here
Join us at the BTU to celebrate the holidays with our sibling union organizations. Network with fellow members of the AFL-CIO, including APALA, LCLAA and the APRI among others. Check out the flyer at the end of this email, and contact nmoore@btu.org to reserve a spot.
The WRC is holding a Holiday Drive to benefit the women’s shelter Rosie’s Place at our next membership meeting from 4:30 to 6:30. Some suggested donations are $25 gift cards to Target, Old Navy, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart. You can also give winter hats, glove and scarf sets, throw blankets and spa products including: facial masks, body scrubs, hand lotions, body sprays. You can also purchase items directly via an Amazon Wishlist.
Please join us on December 18th for our winter social at Long Live Brewery in Roxbury. Learn more about the Unafraid Educators and support the Unafraid Scholarship (a fund for undocumented students in BPS). We’ll provide dinner. Invite your friends and colleagues! https://bit.ly/UnafraidWinter
Join us at our union hall at 180 Mt. Vernon Street to celebrate Kwanzaa, support black-owned businesses and hear a music performance from BPS students! The celebration runs from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. In the spirit of Ujima (Collective Responsibility) donations for the St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children will be collected.
Our union sibling Della Larsen was forced to retire early after receiving a difficult ALS diagnosis in April. Larsen has dedicated her time promoting ALS awareness and raising funds for new research. Now, she needs financial support for herself and her family. Read more about her experience and consider donating what you can.
It’s that time of year again! This year, our Children’s Holiday Party will be at the BTU on Thursday, December 28th from 12pm-2pm. We need volunteers to make this event just as spectacular as previous years. Sign up today!
The BTU has Bruins tickets available for the game against the New Jersey Devils at 1:00 P.M. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The seats are in Balcony 320 section and are $120 per seat. You can email our admin assistant Michelle Frank for more information and direct your payment through our paypal
Professional Learning & Development Updates
- AFT Member Benefit Virtual Workshops
- Asynchronous Spanish for BPS Educators: Fall 2023
- Secondary Open Up Math Unit Virtual Previews
- Degree Completion
- 2 Day Substance Use Prevention Training
- Nearpod in the Inclusion Classroom PD Sessions: 11/15 and 11/29
- National Board Certification Leader Team Seeks Leaders and Readers
- Effective Team Learning Site 11/28
- Early Childhood Phonics Learning Site 11/29
- Connect & Share on “Explicit Writing Instruction K-12”: Dec 5
- Secondary Leadership Certificate in Critical & Equitable Literacy
- Artifact Lounge: Multiple in-person and virtual sessions in Dec.
- Fund for Teachers: Plan Your Dream Summer Learning Experience
Community News & Events
“Sharpen Your Skills” is a professional development space for BIPOC educators and friends. Come and sharpen your skills to get ready for the hiring season! Here you will learn how to revamp your resume, obtain networking opportunities, and cultivate a space of growth.
Our education justice partners are holding a rally outside of City Hall at 4:30 p.m. to hold city officials accountable regarding educational equity, the Green New Deal (GND), and the urgent need for a comprehensive facilities plan. A City Council hearing on the relocation of the John D. O’Bryant school is scheduled at 6:00 p.m. Learn more here.
Hosted by The Office of Educator Development & Leadership, this is a social for all BPS educators to connect. Participants and educator leaders of the office’s program will also be there to talk about the various leadership programs we have for current educators. We’ll be at District 7 Tavern in Roxbury. Food will be provided and there is a cash bar for drink purchases. RSVP here! Reach out to Randyl Wilkerson with any questions at rwilkerson@
The Arnold Arboretum is looking for a new Manager of Youth Education Programs who will oversee programs such as Field Study Programs, Family Hikes and Arboretum Young Scientists. The position involves working directly with Boston Public School Teachers and requires a background in education. Read through the full job description and consider applying!
The Fidelity Scholars Program provides access to education and ongoing support to historically underserved and underrepresented students who want to attend four-year, two-year and certificate academic programs. The deadline to apply is January 11th.
The Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute located in Boston is hiring several part-time teaching postings that would be ideal for retired high school educators. The average age of students is 22 with more than 150 students being in high school as part of our Early College programs. Check out the job listings.
BTU in the News
Congratulations to Bonnie McBride of Fenway High School for being recognized as a Super Librarian of the Year by the Massachusetts School Library Association. The award recognizes a librarian who has spearheaded an exceptional library program in their school. We are so proud of Bonnie and all of our school librarians and library paras!
In Memoriam
Sarah A. “Sally” Herzig, a retired teacher and BTU member, has passed away at the age of 82. Sally taught in the Boston Public Schools for 38 years, 29 at the Murphy School in Dorchester. Sally was a dedicated educator who loved teaching her second graders, especially poetry and all types of children’s literature. Read her full obituary here