Today, in partnership with the Mass Teachers Association (MTA) and AFT-MA, we are releasing our reopening proposals. A draft was shared last week with DESE and we will meet again tomorrow. We encourage you to review the document thoroughly in order to get a full understanding of what your unions are asking of the State.
We are advocating for phased reopening that will consist of four separate phases. The first phase is for teachers, Education Support Professionals, substitutes and all other relevant school personnel to have uninterrupted time together to prepare for the return of students and resumption of school in whatever model the local association and district deem best through negotiations. The second phase is for educators to meet with students and families-for relationship building, assessing basic needs and wellness checks. The third phase is the resumption of instruction/learning, whether in person, remote or hybrid, and it focuses on the first six weeks of learning. Finally, the fourth phase will be based on an assessment of where things stand, both in terms of public health data and educational progress under the initial reopening plan.
- Phased Reopening
- Health & Safety
- Modifications/Waivers on State Regulations
- Staff Assignments/Workload, Including Alternative Teaching/Learning Arrangements for Educators and/or Students
- Full Funding and Full Staffing
- Reimagine Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment: No MCAS
- Computers and Internet Access for All
We believe that just as a phased in reopening of our state was needed, a phased-in approach of reopening of schools will enable the safest, most thoughtful and equitable plans possible. No students and staff should be asked to risk their lives by going back in person–not even under a hybrid plan–until all possible health and safetly precautions have been addressed.
Last week, the AFT (our national affiliate) released new data showing that the majority of educators are willing to go back to school if key safety conditions are met. We’ve heard your similar sentiments — educators want to go back to school and see our students in person, however, only feel safe to do so if the requisite safety measures are in place. Unfortunately, the realities we’re facing are a lot more complex, which makes planning to get back to in-person schooling very difficult. The federal and state governments need to provide adequate funding and mandate key safety precautions in order so that our educators and students can return to school.
We will keep you updated as we continue to have conversations with both the district and the state on reopening our schools. Please mark you calendar for August 12 at 4:00pm as the next BTU Town Hall where will be diving into the reopening plans in much greater detail.
Finally, It’s undeniable that reopening Massachusetts’ public schools and colleges safely this fall will cost significantly more than in pre-COVID times. But due to uncertainty about the state’s commitment to funding public education, school districts all across the state are making budget cuts and laying off educators, and our public colleges are slashing their already-bare-bones budgets. Tell Governor Baker to commit to fully funding public schools and colleges in Massachusetts, and to use his relationships with fellow Republicans to push for the passage of the HEROES Act.
As always, we are #InThisTogether. Stay safe, everyone!
- Based on public health guidance, the City is further modifying its temporary travel policy such that employees traveling back to Massachusetts from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, or New Jersey will no longer be required to self-quarantine for 14 days prior to physically reporting to work. As with other reopening changes, employees should be mindful that travel continues to carry risk of infection and should be cautious when planning any personal travel plans. Please note that all other restrictions, including the City’s restriction on non-essential out of state work-related travel, and all temporary modifications of the City’s Attendance Policy remain in full force and effect.
- The Winthrop and Woburn Public Libraries have laid off all of their unionized librarians. We are asking for everyone to come together to save the libraries and the vital services they provides to their communities. Please sign both the Winthrop and Woburn petitions.
- Unafraid Educators and the Boston Education Justice Alliance (BEJA) co-founded a Relief Fund for BPS students and families experiencing financial need during this ongoing pandemic — regardless of immigration status. In just a week, more than 500 BPS families have applied for support through the fund.
Please donate to and share the Relief Fund with your networks. All BPS students and families are eligible to apply. - The AFT’s Summer benefit allows members to enroll for free in Summer’s web-based student loan management platform. Please complete this brief contact form (the link has been corrected) to receive an invitation to Summer.
- Continue to submit your COVID-related questions or concerns on our Google Form. We will continue to check responses over the summer as we continue with negotiating reopening plans.