NEW-BTU Special Election Information

Today, October 16th, is our Vice President Special Election! In-person voting will be held at the BTU on October 16th from 8am to 6pm. Every member will need to show a photo ID to vote in person. You may email Michelle Frank (mfrank@btu.org) on the 16th to find out if your ballot was received. If for some reason your ballot has not been delivered please come vote in person! To hear candidates Lea-Antionette Serena and Paul Christian introduce themselves please visit the member portal on the BTU website, the videos are under the election tab. REMINDER THAT NEW MEMBERS WILL NOT RECEIVE A MAIL-IN BALLOT AND MUST VOTE IN PERSON. The results of the election will be announced the evening of the 18th.

You may contact ombudsmen Danielle Fraine with questions or concerns at electioncommittee@btu.org. Members are welcome to attend and ask questions at the start of election committee meetings. Next meeting is October 28 at 5 pm at the BTU. Contact mfrank@btu.org with any questions about your membership status.

 

Dear Member,

One of the most consequential elections of our time is now less than three weeks away. Early voting begins in Boston on October 19th and runs until November 1st. The deadline to register to vote is October 26th. You can find out the times and locations for early voting on the City of Boston website. We cannot leave anything on the table and each small interaction can pay dividends. Talk to your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and encourage them to make a plan to VOTE!

The BTU membership voted overwhelmingly to endorse a YES vote on Question 2, and we strongly urge you to vote YES as well. According to recent polls, between 51 and 58 percent of Massachusetts voters intend to vote YES on Ballot Question 2. Those numbers are encouraging but not to the point where we can consider its passage a foregone conclusion. If Ballot Question 2 passes, students would still take the MCAS but their score would not factor into graduation and instead local school districts, classroom teachers, town officials, and individual communities would be empowered to set the standards for graduation requirements.

The BTU has participated in multiple canvass opportunities over the past weeks and will be sharing more opportunities to get involved in the coming days. Stay tuned and keep an eye out. If you’re looking to learn more about the ballot question, then there is a great opportunity on Wednesday, October 23rd. Former BTU President Jessica Tang will be participating in a debate led by youth moderators on Ballot Question 2 at Roxbury Community College. Please register ahead of time.

On the presidential election, the choice should be clear: The Harris/Walz ticket features a woman who has dedicated her life to public service alongside a former teacher and fellow AFT member. The Trump/Vance ticket has endorsed a blueprint that calls for dismantling the Department of Education, a reduction in funding for the country’s most vulnerable students, and an end to public employee unions. Our jobs and our children’s future are on the ballot in November, and the BTU has endorsed Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

The BTU has also endorsed Senator Elizabeth Warren, a longtime ally and fierce advocate, and encourages you all to support her reelection.

Massachusetts has the power to punch above its weight and beyond its borders. We encourage you to get involved by joining our BTU Electoral Action Team or the AFT GOTV team to participate in phone banks targeting voters in swing states.

Contract Negotiation Updates and Upcoming Actions

The BTU and BPS met for their 22nd bargaining session last Tuesday, which focused on inclusion. For the first time since negotiations began, the district offered some restrictions on expanding the current model of forcing one teacher to obtain multiple licenses and perform the jobs of multiple teachers.

While completely inadequate, it is the first time the union has received contract language that would limit the district’s ability to require teachers to hold multiple licenses. This is proof that all the activism and mobilization that BTU members have engaged in over the past eight-plus months has paid off. Our voices have power and we need to continue to keep the heat on our employer until we reach an agreement. The BTU Negotiating team is formulating a counterproposal.

Our next bargaining session is scheduled for Thursday, October 17th at the BTU Hall from 5 to 8 pm. Let us know if you plan to attend. Multiple schools plan to host walk-ins that same morning and we encourage all schools to show their solidarity by participating in Throwdown Thursday and wearing their BTU union shirts or pins.

ABA Strand Class sizes

The BTU negotiating team has centered the proposal to set class size limits and staffing minimums for ABA strand classrooms since the district made the unilateral and ill-advised decision to increase the limit to 11, and in some cases 12, students. The BTU has heard from members citywide about how this change has created safety concerns and negatively impacted an educator’s ability to ensure each child in these classrooms receives the attention they deserve and to which they are legally entitled. More than 200 ABA strand educators wrote and signed onto a letter to the district detailing how this change will result in students receiving less direct services and further hinders the district’s ability to deliver an equitable education to all students.

Fall Conference

The BTU’s annual Fall Conference will be taking place this weekend in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. All of the hotel rooms reserved by the BTU have been claimed, but we welcome members to attend on Saturday to take advantage of workshops which will cover building rep roles, grievances, arbitration and contract organizing plans. The BTU will also be participating in a local voter outreach effort on Saturday morning in support of the Harris/Walz ticket in NH.

 

 

BTU Events and Announcements Racial Justice Standing Committee Meetings: First Tuesday of each month. The Racial Justice Standing Committee will meet the first Tuesday of every month from 5-7pm. This year, the committee has set two goals: 1. to provide racial justice training for building representatives, and 2. to create a protocol for union members and building reps on how to address racial harm. If you are interested in joining us, or if you would like to receive updates about this work, please contact co-chairs Lea Serena (lserena@btu.org) or Paul Tritter (ptritter@btu.org).   Resource Donations for Newly Arrived Families The Housing Justice Committee is working with local organizations to collect donations of requested items for newly arrived families who are unsheltered or living in temporary shelter. If you are interested in contributing needed items, please fill out this form and we will be in touch with more information about how to donate. Housing Justice Committee Meetings: October 21st Are you interested in advocating for students experiencing homelessness in BPS, and addressing housing affordability for BPS staff? The Housing Justice Committee meets every other Monday evening at 5:30 at this Zoom link. RSVP hereto let us know you are interested in getting involved! Para 101 PD for newly hired paraprofessionals: Multiple sessions in October, November and December Para 101 is about building a community of paraprofessionals who are knowledgeable about their rights and are aware of the support and strategies that they can use to build stronger relationships with students and teachers in the classroom. Please see this flyer for all of the dates and details. Solidarity Rally with UNITE HERE LOCAL 26: Oct. 25th, 5 pm Join the MA Labor Movement for a rally at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. In the meantime, please encourage leaders, members, staff, apprentices, retirees, and supporters to join the 24 hour picket lines at the Boston Hilton located at 1 Hotel Drive in Boston as well as the Boston Park Plaza Hotel located at 50 Park Plaza in Boston.

October Unafraid Educators Meeting: Monday, 10/28, 4:30-6PM Please join us at Fenway High on October 28th at 4:30 for our next Unafraid Educators Meeting! We are the BTU’s Immigrant Rights Organizing Committee, and work to support our students and families. We’ll have pizza, salads, and snacks for everyone.     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 Mentoring For Professional Licensure (Introductory Session Oct. 24th, 5:30-7:00) Productive Learning Environment Night: October 24, 5:00-7:30pm Elementary Illustrative Math Learning Site: October 29, 10am-3pm Teaching About Desegregation Busing in Boston: A Conversation About the 50th Anniversary with Educators Harvard Conant Fellowship Info Sessions Virtual and In-person Community News & Events NEW- Neighborhood Town Hall at the Ohrenberger School with Mayor Wu: Wednesday, Oct. 16th at 7pm Join Mayor Michelle Wu and city staff to discuss Boston’s Residential Tax-Relief Plan. As the city faces an increase in property values, the city has introduced a plan to stabilize residential and commercial shares of the tax levy and prevent a dramatic shift of the property tax levy on residential property, which would otherwise occur as a matter of law. An additional town hall will be held at Charlestown High on October 17th at 5:30 pm.   Urban League: Girls Empowerment Program Oct. 26th The Urban League is co-sponsoring an event with the Northeastern University School of Law. It’s a great opportunity for middle school girls to get introduced to the practice of law and meet women attorneys of color. Please share this flyer and the registration link here: Determined to Rise Academy – Ms. JD (msjdorg.lpages.co) Community Schools Virtual Forums: Limits & Possibilities of Education in an Unequal Society: Monday, Oct. 21, 4-5:30pm A presentation with Dr. Pedro Noguera. Drawing upon research in poor communities in the U.S. and several other nations, this presentation will examine the work of community schools and the role of teachers in promoting agency and empowerment to counter oppressive conditions that often obstruct progress. More information here MCAS on the Ballot Debate series: Oct. 23 from 4 to 6pm In partnership with 826 Boston and WriteBoston, the Boston Debate League is hosting a youth-centered MCAS on the Ballot Public Debate & Conversation on Wednesday, October 23 from 4-6 p.m. at RCC. This will be an opportunity to hear from youth and experts on this issue. Check out the flyer here and register with this link to RSVP. Books Not Bombs: Increasing Federal Investment in Public ED Oct. 26 Register here to join a conversation with Massachusetts educational leaders as they discuss the importance federal funding has in supporting successful local school districts. Busing in Boston: A Conversation About the 50th Anniversary with Educators November 18 from 4:00-6:00 The Boston Desegregation and Busing Initiative is co-sponsoring this event with UMass Boston at the UMass Boston Campus Center, 3rd Floor Ballroom. This event is a part of a series dedicated to examining the history and impact of busing in Boston 50 years following Judge Garrity’s decision. Learn more at www.bostondesegregation.org In Memoriam Jean T. Cristiani, who worked in Boston Public Schools for more than 3 decades, passed away peacefully at the beginning of October. Jean held many positions in BPS but spent the majority of her career as a school psychologist. Jean was a talented educator and active BTU and then RTC member. Magda Y. (Alvarez) Donis, a longtime BTU member and BPS educator formerly of the McCormack, passed away peacefully on October 11th. Details about her memorial services can be found here.