Published On: March 17, 2020
Dear member,
We hope that everyone is able to take a breather today and the rest of the week. We know the last week has been stressful and difficult. As we prepare for the new situation we find ourselves in the coming weeks, we are committed to sharing pertinent information with our members as soon as it is available.

If you missed it, we have been sharing special bulletins that detail the latest developments from the district and the state. If you need to revisit them, the Special Bulletins are available on the BTU website. Here are some of the highlights and newest updates:

  • All Boston Public Schools are slated to be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17.  There are no expectations for school-based staff to do any remote work on March 17. 
  • Despite Channel 5’s erroneous announcement, BTU members who work in schools are expected to stay home Wednesday through Friday of this week. We thank Mayor Walsh and Supt. Cassellius for their responsiveness and leadership.  
  • We are aware that current expectations for remote learning have been inequitable and inconsistent across the district with some schools requiring daily graded assignments and others leaving things more flexible. We have been advocating that principals give everyone a few days this week without rigid expectations to re-coup and re-group as we work on common expectations for remote learning, and engage educators in creating guidelines that make sense. We are focused on equity and access across schools, grade levels and student profiles, and requirements that recognize the unique circumstances that educators face including the need to care for children and parents.
  • BPS schools are expected to remain closed through April 27, 2020, unless the situation improves dramatically and it is safe to re-open schools earlier.  
  • Clarification on the five days: Educators will be called in for five workdays before school reopens to help prepare for the transition back before students return–not April vacation. If the closure gets extended to May, educators will be called in for additional five workdays in May, and if the closure gets extended to June, then educators will be called in for five workdays in June. Please note that these will be five workdays before students return to schools and will not include any currently scheduled vacation days. Also, please remember that while we are still working on compensation for per-diem subs, but all others will be receiving regular compensation during this time. 
  • Food distribution sites will be open to all Boston students throughout this closure. District created work packets will be available there for families to pick up as well.
  • BPS is asking for volunteers to help at the food distribution sites today and this week. If you are available, you can arrive as early as 7:30am to about 12:30pm. When you arrive, please see the volunteer captain so they can explain what is needed. For questions, please contact Sam Depina. We will be in touch with the larger BTU Volunteer Corps soon. 
  • The City is working to get laptops and internet access to all families in need.
  • Check out a helpful article about COVID-19, social distancing, and precautions to take from one of our school nurses, Susan Arase.
The BTU office will be closed on Tuesday, March 17. Starting on Wednesday, March 18, BTU staff will be working remotely and the office will be closed. We will re-evaluate our closing regularly as things develop. All BTU officers and staff are available via phone and email for individual questions. You can find our contact information here.
The office line will still be open, too.

The Eye Care Center will be closed starting Tuesday, March 17 until at least the end of March.  All appointments will be canceled and individuals will be notified. They will reschedule the appointment as soon as possible. The Eye Care Center’s number is 617-288-5540.
The Health and Welfare Office will be closed on Tuesday, March 17 and closed to walk-ins March 18-20. Further information will be disseminated as it becomes available. Health and Welfare’s number is 617 288-0500.

We appreciate the more than 600 members who have already signed up to be a part of the BTU Volunteer Corps that will be providing assistance to our communities in the days and weeks ahead. We will have more details on the program soon, along with opportunities to support our city and our neighborhoods during school closures.

We will continue to provide you with details and updates as they become available. Please check your email regularly for Special Bulletins every few days. 

In the meantime, AFT, our national union, has a call for action: Tell The Senate to Pass The FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT (H.R. 6201) Now! Learn about this important bill and write to your senator here.

Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education issued a memorandum of agreement and reporton Friday on the findings from the audit of BPS. The report validates well-known concerns that BTU long ago identified for the state as reasons for urgent and additional state investments – not takeovers – in public education, particularly with regard to the special education and English learner needs of Boston students.  

While the memorandum does not constitute a state takeover,it appears to leave the door open in ways that could be dangerous for students and our communities, given the failed track record of top-down district takeovers across the country. We support the new district strategic plan that was already forged with community input by the newly appointed superintendent, Dr. Brenda Cassellius, which addresses the challenges outlined in this report.

Boston parents, educators, and students continue to say NO to state receivership, NO to state “disempowerment” zones, and NO to top-down state interventions that ignore local voices. Please take a moment to sign the petition.

Finally, we’re celebrating International Women’s Month! This crisis has shown the importance of women who are often underpaid for their work in the fields of not just education and child care, but also home care, health care, and many other sectors. It also shows the importance of worker’s rights and important policies such as sick days, personal days, FMLA, and, of course, unions!
While many of the events that were scheduled to highlight this occasion have been canceled or postponed due to global circumstances, we want to extend our appreciation and gratitude to the hard-working women within the BTU and across Boston. If you can find space in your evolving curriculum, check out these downloadable resources to educate your classroom.
Be well and stay safe!


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