Don’t forget to track your nominations on the member portal under “My Nominations.” You need to reach the required number by March 10 at 6 pm (Full time office, 100 signatures; Executive Board, 50; Para Council or Delegate, 25; RTC positions, 25.) Paper nomination forms must arrive by mail in the BTU office no later than March 10. All of your papers must be in one envelope. The list of Candidates Seeking Nominations is also on the member portal. If you wish to add your name please opt-in here. The list is being updated regularly. Candidates for offices other than Delegate are reminded that candidate statements and photographs for the BTU newspaper must be submitted by March 15. The word count limit is 400 for full time positions and 300 for Executive Board and Para Council. All submissions should be addressed to both gvirchick@btu.org and mmaguire@btu.org. A list of validated candidates will be sent to the membership via email at the completion of the validation process. Candidates should inspect the list for accuracy.
WikiWisdom Forums
We are launching a WikiWisdom Forum in partnership with BPS. This forum is open to all BPS staff to share your best ideas in response to the overarching question: “Based on your experience with BPS, and especially this past year, we are looking for your ideas for reimagining what school could be. If there were no bounds, what would the ideal learning experience be like for our students?” Share your responses. You can respond to previously posted ideas or start a new thread of your own. All ideas will be used to produce a summary report in late March.
Return, Recover, Reimagine Task Force
Building from our successful collaborative efforts from last summer, this Taskforce will be an opportunity to engage BPS stakeholders in the design, improvement, and implementation of planning for our return to school in fall 2020. The Task Force will be composed of 7-10 subcommittees each with key stakeholder representation including educators, caregivers, and students. Subcommittees will meet regularly through the spring and summer. Task Forces will include: Assessments (already appointed through a previous process), Curriculum, Grading, Learning Management Systems/Digital Learning, Intervention/MTSS, Out of School Time Intervention, Transformative SEL, Multilingual Learners, Special Education. Read each subcommittee’s tentative guiding question, and apply here.
Summer Learning Feedback Groups
Planning for summer learning experiences for students is well underway. We will be convening groups of teachers, paraprofessionals, and other educators to review plans to date and give input going forward. We are in search of those with experience in any of the following:
- 5th Quarter Summer Learning Academies (K-12)
- 5th Quarter High School Credit Recovery (6-12)
- Extended School Year (ESY)
- Summer Early Focus (K1-2)
- EL Summer Academies (3-12)
NEW- Less Testing, More Learning Committee Meeting: March 11, 5:30-6:30PM
After an initial meeting a few weeks ago, the Less Testing, More Learning committee is convening once again as we look to reduce and eliminate the use of high-stakes testing in our assessments and accountability system. At this meeting, we will be setting up a regular meeting time and starting off our process to elect co-chairs. If you would like to join us, please email Roberto Jimenez.
NEW- Opt Out of MCAS Forums: March 14 – 17
Some of our partners from the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance have set up forums to educate people about the opt-out process for MCAS by telling stories of parents who opted out and by sharing the facts about parents’ rights to opt out. Please use this social media toolkit to share this out with other members and parents.
NEW- Virtual Meet and Greet with Congressman Jake Auchincloss: March 16, 4:00-5:00PM
Please join the BTU along with other locals from AFT-MA for a virtual Meet and Greet with Congressman Jake Auchincloss, who was elected in November 2020 to represent Massachusetts’s 4th Congressional district. The 4th Congressional District represents Newton, Brookline, Holliston, Medway, North Attleboro, etc. but everyone is welcome. Register here to receive the Zoom login information, which will be sent in the days prior to the event.
NEW- Haitian Educators Committee Meeting: March 16, 5:00PM
Join the Haitian Educators Committee for a meeting. For more information and the Zoom link, please contact Bianca Pierre.
Paraprofessional Virtual Break Room: March 16, 5:00-6:00PM
Join your fellow colleagues in a Virtual Break Room – Saint Patrick’s Day edition! Come in to say hello and have a casual social conversation and check-in. Remember, no work/union talk allowed! Click here to register. A link will be sent to you in the days prior. Be sure to wear something festive!
This Is Us Fireside Chat: March 16, 7:00PM
As education stakeholders continue to debate the impact of the pandemic and distance learning on students, we must leverage the voices of students in the contentious and courageous conversations that focus on them. Students deserve a seat at the decision-making table. Tune in to this student panel to learn how the pandemic has impacted and shaped students’ high school experiences.
NEW- Early Literacy in Dual Language Programs Workshop: March 22, 5:30PM
Join Danissa Lopez, 1st grade Dual Language teacher at Umana Academy, for a workshop that will provide information on the basics of early literacy/language acquisition for students who speak more than one language. K-2 educators and administrators are invite. Make sure to register here!
Eliot School Salon Series: March 24, 7:00-8:30PM
Join the Eliot School Salon Series for a compelling and nuanced conversation about “Talking to Kids About Race, Justice, and Their Power Using Art” with Tanya Nixon-Silberg, Founder of Little Uprisings and co-founder of Wee the People and Zahirah Nur Truth, ZNT ARTS Teaching Artist and Arts Education Consultant. Our conversation amplifies the voices of two educators who are actively engaging with young people and the adults who help mold them.
NEW- Parent2Parent Conference: March 27, 10:00AM-2:30PM
Please join us for the Parent2Parent Conference! Our theme this year is Learning, Parenting, Teaching: Strengthening Communities Together. As we’ve all adjusted to huge changes in our education system this year, collaborating to support students is more important than ever. This is a conference for parents AND educators to share and learn from each other, support family engagement, promote family advocacy, and strengthen family and educator collaboration. Register here. Flyers are available in 10 languages and interpretation will be available for all who register. For more information, please contact Ilene Carver.
NEW- Inclusion Done Right Committee Meeting: March 29, 4:30PM-6:00PM
The meeting agenda will include an update on inclusion expansion across the district, and an opportunity for educators and families at schools where inclusion is expanding to hear about best practices. Please come and share what’s going on with inclusion at your school so we can identify common issues as we continue to advocate for “inclusion done right”. Interpretation will be provided with registration. Please register here.
Annual Paraprofessional Conference: April 10, 9:00AM-12:00PM
This year’s VIRTUAL conference will include a plenary emphasizing the important role you play in both your union and community, as well as a series of workshops to support both you and your students during the COVID pandemic. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity for professional development and to build connections with other fellow paraprofessionals throughout the Commonwealth. Click here to register.
NEW- Equity Protocols Training: April 27, 6:00PM
The equity is offering protocol training for Paraprofessionals and ABAs. Equity Protocols Training is an introduction to the Office of Equity. During the training, attendees will review BPS policies and procedures regarding bias-based conduct, particularly around race. They will also learn about how students, families, and others can report possible incidents of bias. It will provide an overview of the process at the school and district level bias is reported. Register now!
Seeking Support from Personnel Subcommittees and Hiring Committees
We are seeking the support of members who serve on school based personnel subcommittees and other hiring committees to ensure that experienced Boston Public Schools educators, our fellow BTU members, are considered for all open positions in your school. Please read this letter for more information.
Sick Bank Donations
The BTU Sick Bank provides additional leave in the case of an unexpected or prolonged illness when all other options have been exhausted. You never know when you may need to use the sick bank yourself, and it may help you avoid a loss of compensation in the future. Those who have 3 or more consecutive years of service are eligible.
Union Dues
In 2020, teachers paid $1,433.77 in union dues; paraprofessionals and substitutes paid $716.85 in union dues; and ABAs paid $931.81 in union dues. Please direct any questions about dues to Secretary-Treasurer Betsy Drinan.