And just like that, it’s September once again. This month is going to be different than any first month of school we’ve ever experienced, and we want to take a moment to appreciate the hard work you all are doing to prepare your virtual classrooms for the best remote learning experience possible. It can’t be said enough that these circumstances are unprecedented and extremely difficult, and your perserverence and professionalism has not gone unnoticed.
Today is the Massachusetts primary–be sure to make your voice heard! The BTU has a long list of endorsed candidates that will fight for our collective needs and interests. To find your polling location, visit the Secretary of State’s website. Please take the necessary safety precautions when voting in person.
Don’t forget! We have created a second survey for our members in response to BPS’ new proposal. Please complete this survey in our member portal. We want to hear from you!
We have several upcoming important events and meetings, so please take a look at our BTU Events & Announcements section below for important information on upcoming forums, town halls, committee meetings, and more.
Our first membership meeting of the new school year is Wednesday, September 9 at 4:30 p.m. You must register in advance in order to get a Zoom link. Due to logistical restrictions, registrations cannot be accepted past 4 p.m. the day of the meeting.
We continue the fight to ensure the safety of our members, students, and families. This means not only for looking at school buildings for safe facilities, but also monitoring rates and conditions in every Boston neighborhood, especially those with high rates of positive tests for COVID-19. The district requirement that we enter buildings on September 14 for professional development and remote teaching is abnormally dangerous and unnecessarily puts lives at risk. We are organizing to take action around this. Please keep an eye out for a call from your Building Rep or other members at your school, and be in touch if you have any questions.
A group of unions representing teachers and school employees recently worked with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to inform CDC guidance for school staff in advance of the upcoming school year.Please take a minute to review this guidance. Thank you to our brothers and sisters in labor for advocating on behalf of school staff!
- As part of a National Day of Action, AFT President Randi Weingarten will be joining Rep. Lori Trahan on Facebook Live tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. for a conversation about what federal support is needed for educators and health care professionals. Keep an eye on Rep. Trahan’s Facebook page for a form on suggested topics of conversation.
- We continue to receive questions about options for leave, particularly for high-risk educators. We recommend seeking an accommodation from the Office of Equity first. Please see the latest special bulletin for updated details.
- 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. Please donate to and share the Relief Fund with your networks. All BPS students and families are eligible to apply.
- Continue to submit your COVID-related questions or concerns on our Google Form.