Support Circle, Election News and More

TODAY — Support Circle for Educators Facing Uncertainty
You are invited to a support circle meeting from 4:30-6:30 PM at the BTU for educators feeling stress/uncertainty due to school closures, excessing, SPC role, school turnarounds, or other instability in the BPS system. Email Natalia at ncuadrasaez@btu.org to RSVP and learn more.

New Educators Social at Chez Vous: April 26
Join the New Educators Committee at the Chez Vous Roller Skating Rink (11 Rhoades Street in Dorchester)! Unwind and connect with other early career educators in their first 3 years of working in BPS. To RSVP and learn more contact Danielle at dmcromartie@gmail.com or Russell at russ.weissirwin@gmail.com.

Intelligent Lives Film Screening: April 30
Join BPS students, families, and educators for a screening & post-film discussion of Intelligent Lives! ASL interpretation, light dinner & childcare provided. See the Facebook event.

BTU Night at the Red Sox: May 17
Please plan to join us for BTU Night at the Red Sox on May 17. Tickets are first come, first served and are $40 each. We have 332 tickets for bleacher seats, section 38, rows 27-40. Read more.

Hiring: Administrative Assistant
Please see our Administrative Assistant job posting. We hope to hire someone by the end of the month.

Paraprofessional Transfer Pool Now Open
The Transfer Pool for Paraprofessionals will run until Friday. You must have at least 206 seniority days to apply. You can apply to up to five jobs, but jobs are not guaranteed. Please see this flyer for more.

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BTU Election News

There will be no primary election this year. Mail ballots for the final election will be mailed out on May 10 and must be received no later than June 4. For members who do not vote by mail, in-person voting will be held at the BTU on June 5 from 8 AM – 6 PM. The tabulation of results will begin immediately after the polls close. Mail ballots will include detailed voting instructions. A hotline number for our vendor, MK Elections, will be published in May. Members who do not receive a ballot by mail during the week of May 13-18, or who experience other voting issues, are advised to call the hotline.

Candidate Forums: Candidates will have the opportunity to make a brief presentation during the next two membership meetings; members who would like to learn more about the candidates are invited to attend. Candidates for full-time office and Para Council will present at the April meeting; those running for Executive Board will present in May.

Upcoming meetings: Questions for the Election Committee can be asked during the first 15 minutes of each meeting, or members can call Ombudsperson Kimvy Nguyen at 617-396-7969. Please see btu.org/electioncommittee for more information and a schedule of upcoming meetings.

IMPORTANT: Your address must be correct for you to receive a mail ballot! If you have moved, please call 617-288-2000 to update your mailing information. If you have recently been, or currently are, out on leave, call to ensure you are a member in good standing. (Note: Good standing means paying dues according to BTU bylaws.) If you have retired you must be a dues paying member of the Retired Teachers Chapter to be eligible to vote. You can call the RTC on Wednesdays or Thursdays to check your status.

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Retirement Plus Concern

Were you hired in 2001 or before? Do you understand how Retirement Plus works? If the retirement deduction on your pay stub is 8+2% or 9+2%, you are NOT Retirement Plus.This matters! It could negatively impact your projected retirement date. Please contact Mike McLaughlin at mmclaughlin@btu.org for more.

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BTU Scholarship Information: Please check out updated scholarship information atbtu.org/scholarships2019!

NEW — APALA Membership Drive
The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) is holding a membership drive and it ends on Thursday April 11! APALA is a national organization of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) union workers building out their chapter base in Massachusetts. If you know any AAPI union workers, please forward this to your contacts and encourage them to sign up to be a member with the Massachusetts chapter.

NEW — World Premiere of “New Dreams for a New World:” April 13
“New Dreams for a New World” will receive its world premiere screening at the Boston International Film Festival at Bunker Hill Community College from 2:30-4:30 PM. Directed by retired teacher and RTC member Bob Lamonthe and featuring other BTU members, the documentary looks at people’s hopes for this world, their government, and their lives. Share the poster and buy tickets now!

NEW — Reading of Dr. King’s Letter from the Birmingham Jail: April 16
All are welcome at 4 PM at Boston City Hall as volunteers read the entirety of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s great civic proclamation on the 55th anniversary of its publication.Share the flyer.

NEW — Big Cheese Reads Gala: May 9
Join Boston Partners in Education at the Westin Copley on May 9 as they celebrate the stories that inspire us to dream bigger, while celebrating the many Big Cheese Readers who visited a middle school classroom to build a connection with BPS students. The Mildred Avenue K-8 School will be celebrated! View more information and register by April 25!

Ghana Trip for RTC Members: Travel with us to Ghana from May 3-13 or May 3-19 and explore the history, beauty, and culture in West Africa. Visit castles, walk the forest canopy bridge, and see crafts. View details.

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Retirement Parties

Vicky Magaletta’s Retirement Party: May 23
Celebrate Vicky Magaletta on May 23 from 5-9 PM at Venezia Restaurant in Boston. The cost is $65 per person, and in lieu of a gift, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Hospital in the name of Elio Magaletta. RSVP by May 1 to mbattersby@bostonpublicschools.org.

Karen King’s Retirement Party: June 6
Please join the Mather community on June 6 from 6:30-11 PM at Lombardo’s in Randolph. Contact Lea Serena at lantoinette226@gmail.com to purchase tickets, which are $65 each.

Stacey Isles-Brako’s and Jeanne Foster’s Retirement Party: June 14
Please join the Philbrick and Mozart communities on June 14 at 7:00 PM at Venezia in Dorchester. Please contact jmccormack@bostonpublicschools.org to purchase tickets, which are $75 each.

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Obituary

The BTU is saddened to share the news that Shirley Ann (Martin) Ridley of Dorchester, a member of the BTU for more than 35 years, passed away at the age of 81. View her obituary.

The BTU sends our deepest condolences and sympathies to Shirley’s family, friends, and colleagues.