Published On: January 19, 2022
We hope you all had a nice long weekend as we reflected on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We hope everyone is also staying warm and dry this week.

We are continuing to closely monitor COVID-19 rates, absences and staffing in our schools. In case you missed it late last week, please see our latest Special Bulletinwith important information and action steps regarding the Omicron surge. 

Update on the vaccine mandate:  We held an informational meeting on Monday for BTU members interested in learning more about the latest development on the vaccine mandate and impact bargaining. As we shared at the meeting, all BTU members regardless of compliance status should continue to report to work. Anyone not in compliance will receive a letter today.  However, the earliest anyone will be put on unpaid leave is January 24. We continued impact bargaining yesterday, will meet again on Thursday and hope to have more updates to share soon. We hope to have another informational meeting before next Monday and will send information as soon as it is confirmed. Please contact your Field Rep if you have any further questions in the meantime.  

As of yesterday, every home in the U.S. is now eligible to order 4 free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests to be delivered within 7-12 days of the order. To order your free COVID-19 tests, please visit covidtests.gov. 

The Governor and DESE also announced a new testing policy yesterday that would enable opt-in twice weekly testing in lieu of pool surveillance testing and contact tracing. While we welcome increased access to testing, we need to learn more about how this would work and are in conversations with the district about how this will impact BPS.

Master Contract Bargaining Update: The negotiating team met again yesterday to continue our successor agreement negotiations. As shared previously, you can continue to read the full summary of those negotiations thanks to our silent reps, and if you are interested in becoming a silent rep and joining the next session, please apply here!

BPS is planning to establish new inclusion programs in close to 30 schools beginning in the 2022-23 school year. By contract, and according to a settlement agreement regarding inclusion implementation, please be sure that 1) your school establishes a school site inclusion planning committee by February 15, and hopefully earlier, and 2) the BTU members of the committee are selected by the BTU members at the site.

In past years, the BPS has established the condition that no new personnel or funds may be added to staff inclusion programs. We encourage members of inclusion planning teams to use as your first consideration that the inclusion model is designed to meet student needs, and then advocate along with your school leader that appropriate staffing and funding be provided. Contact your field representatives to ensure they are aware that your school is planning to add a program and with any questions about the process and reach out to Katina for information about the BTU’s Inclusion Done Right committee.

The 2021 Educators of the Year were announced this past week. Congratulations to our members who were awarded this honor, listed below!


Related Service Provider
Lucinda Mills (Behavioral Health Services, Social Worker)
Maria Monteiro- Roby (Brighton HS, Guidance Counselor)

Nurse
Marta Bausemer (BGA)
Adalis Henriquez (Quincy Upper)

Paraprofessional
Juan Diaz (Edison K-8)
Amy Lucidlnezein (Philbrick)

Teacher
Langston Peace (Excel, History)
Amanda Khatcherian (EMK, Health)
Ta Tanisha Curry (Quincy Elementary, K2-1st grade)
Kimberly Kulasekaran  (Carter, Special Education Lead Teacher)
Konstantinos Petmezis (Curley, teacher)
Cheralyn Pinchem (BLS, History)

Finally, we send our congrats to the educators at UP Academy Holland. Educators at four of our schools: UP Holland, UP Boston, UP Dorchester, and the Dever have been organizing to receive equal pay for equal work! Did you know that educators at these four schools work as many as 300 more hours than other teachers, for less pay? Thanks to the amazing organizing efforts of BTU members, and recognition by the receiver that they need to boost pay to retain teachers, UP Holland is now at the Schedule A pay rate for this school year! While this is not complete pay equity, it is a step in the right direction. We are hoping to win Equal Pay for Equal Work at all our non-traditional schools! 

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