Last Wednesday, despite the snow storm and snow day, hundreds of students from across Massachusetts marched to the State House and lobbied legislators around two major asks:
- Support for gun reform legislation
- More funding for their schools
We are proud to support the students in both of these demands.
Please join our BTU contingent for the March For Our Lives in Boston this Saturday. We will have members participating in the march beginning at 11 AM from Madison Park, as well as at the rally beginning at 2 PM in Boston Common on the corner of Beacon and Charles Streets. Please RSVP using this form if you would like to join us!
Poster making will take place after our membership meeting on Wednesday and from 9-10:30 AM in Madison Park’s Cardinal Hall on Saturday morning. More information can be found on our website at btu.org/marchforourlives.
To advocate for full funding of our schools, we have also been busy meeting with legislators at the State House to support full reimbursements of funds lost to charters (Boston has lost more than $100 million over the last five years because of this), as well as legislation to change the 25-year-old funding formula and implement the Foundation Budget Review Commission’s recommendations in SB 2325. . Look out this week for a special bulletin with a link you can use to send a letter in support of full funding and safe schools.
We know we need funding for many needs, including behavioral health supports and social emotional learning. That’s why our school psychologists, counselors, social workers, nurses and teachers have been testifying for several weeks at School Committee meetings. See this statement from a BPS school nurse on improved health services. Last week, they were also joined by students, parents and communities allies from the Boston Education Justice Alliance. This funding is one of the priorities in our contract package: Creating the Schools Our Students Deserve.
Our Membership Meeting, postponed from last week, will take place this Wednesday, March 21 at 4:30 PM. Please see the full meeting agenda, which includes a visit from City Councilor Kim Janey, and don’t forget to sign up for childcare if you need it. In the event of another snow day, we will postpone. If there is school, we will have the meeting and make it efficient.
Have a great week!