As you may have read, the Black Educators Alliance of Massachusetts (BEAM), has filed a charge seeking to enjoin the School Committee’s December 15 vote to close or merge schools. We support their effort.

We have also been engaged with the School Department in negotiations concerning the assignment rights of teachers and paraprofessionals at the affected schools. Here is an update of those negotiations:

We will be meeting with the School Department to discuss the reorganization at both West Roxbury High School and South Boston High School this Wednesday, March 9. Building representatives from each of the seven small schools will be in attendance. It wasn’t too long ago that these schools were broken down into small schools. Now the department is doing a 180 and consolidating the same schools. Things go full circle, don’t they? We hope to resolve all remaining assignment issues at the schools on Wednesday.

At the Lee Elementary and Lee Pilot schools, the BTU and the school department have reached a tentative agreement. We will be visiting the schools shortly to explain the agreement. We also have an agreement at the East Zone Early Learning Center, and we have been out to the school to explain the terms of the agreement.

At all of the other schools affected “€” Gavin, the Engineering School, the Social Justice Academy, the Farragut, the Fifield, the Agassiz, the Emerson, and the Clap “€” all staff automatically go to the excess pool, or can transfer. Staff at the Gavin can apply to UP Academy, of course, if they wish. Ditto for the Clap “€” staff can apply to remain at the Clap Innovation School if they wish.

Schools that are moving “€” Dorchester Academy, Middle School Academy, and CASH “€” teachers and paras can move or not move with the school. A letter has gone out to those affected so informing them.

Teachers and paras at the Alighieri, because their school is being absorbed by the Umana, will have a right of first refusal at the Umana.

There are all sorts of nuances to the above. Please call the BTU office, and asked for Caren,  Michael or Jenna, or call to schedule a visit and we will be glad to your school.