Published On: September 8, 2021
Happy Labor Day and happy first week of school, BTU! We hope you all had a restorative summer and are ready for the new school year. We also wish our friends who celebrate Rosh Hashanah a very Happy New Year!

The first BTU membership meeting of this school year is TODAY, Wednesday, September 8 at 4:30 p.m. It will be virtual on Zoom. As always, registration in advance is needed to verify BTU membership and to receive the link. We will be sharing important updates from our negotiations both for a safety agreement as well as our master contract. We will have important presentations about health and safety from BPHC and BPS Health services and other need to know information. You can find the agenda here. There will be a make up/informational meeting next Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. for those who are unable to attend due to the Jewish Holiday with a separate link sent out.  Please email Matt at mbouvier@btu.org to request the link with your name and school/program.  

Quick reminders for registering: 
  • Please remember that you must register at least one hour in advance, or you will not receive a link.  
  • Each link is unique and cannot be shared.
  • Links are sent after your registration and membership status are verified – please do not register multiple times if you do not immediately receive a link.
  • Remember to include your exact BPS ID# in order to expedite approvals. If you are retired or don’t have an ID# for another reason, please enter “000000″.
  • Please make sure that you have updated your Zoom account with the latest update before the meeting in order to avoid complications with your link.

The BTU has been in negotiations with Boston Public Schools over issues of safety and the re-opening of schools. We have not yet reached an agreement, but met twice last week, on Labor Day, and yesterday. We meet again this morning. We are hoping to reach an agreement before the first day of school, and will share tentative agreements at this afternoon’s membership meeting.  
However, it has come to our attention that Boston Public Schools has been providing information to its school leaders, and to the general school community through postings on its website, on subjects of bargaining as if an agreement has already been reached.

For example, BPS has advised school leaders, without an agreement, that:

  1. Schools will be permitted one per diem sub until Thanksgiving break. This provision has been proposed by BPS, and is an open item at negotiations; the BTU has NOT agreed to it because we have proposed a cluster sub for the whole year to help with inevitable quarantines and a more robust plan for continuity of student learning.   
  2. Paraprofessionals and other BTU members can be asked to supervise isolation spaces. We do not think instructional staff should be pulled from classrooms for this purpose and have given alternative solutions. There also needs to be an agreement that there is a separate space for potentially Covid positive students to isolate that is not in the same space as the nurses office where students go to get medications or may otherwise need medical services that are not Covid related. 
While we are working hard to get an agreement ASAP and even offered to meet over the long weekend to get it done, it is concerning that information is being shared both to school leaders and on the general BPS website that suggests all plans have been agreed to and are resolved when, in fact, we are very much still in negotiations and discussions. You can see our latest proposals from last night’s session. Please note again that we are meeting this morning and hope to settle by the end of today.

Formal advocacy for an elected Boston School Committee is getting started! This November, the people of Boston will have the opportunity to vote on restoring their right to vote for School Committee. The BTU is proud to endorse this ballot question and be a member of the campaign’s Steering Committee. This will give us an opportunity to promote democracy and better advocate for our students and members. There will be many opportunities to support this campaign, starting on Boston’s preliminary election day, September 14. Join our growing volunteer list by using this form!

Thanks to all who came to our Meet and Greet event for our endorsed Boston City Council candidates last week! If you missed it, you can still see a recording of it.  There are many ways to help our endorsed candidates this last weekend before the primary election!  The BTU’s fight for a better contract will require us to have strong allies in City Hall. See a full list of BTU-endorsed candidates, and information on canvassing for the most competitive elections. Email Roberto Jimenez to let him know you’ve signed up, or to ask any questions.

Vaccinations are your best protection for in-person learning: Please be sure to visit btu.org/vaccines for the latest updates on COVID-19 vaccines, including upcoming vaccination sites and other information for both staff and students. We urge all who are eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to wear masks indoors and socially distance when possible. The city mandate for uploading vaccination status or submitting weekly testing has begun and must be completed no later than Sept. 20. 

New Teacher Institute 2021 was a great success! Thanks to all the presenters and attendees for engaging in two days of learning to begin the school year strong with our students. Use this link to access resources from New Teacher Institute 2021. Contact Kaitlin Torossian in New Teacher Development with questions!

Save the date for our Fall Leadership Conference! Join us October 22 – 24 at the Sheraton Harborside Hotel in Portsmouth, NH. Our theme this year is “Be Water: Power, Unity, Flexibility & Strength”. Free and open to all BTU members! Register here.

As of yesterday, Tremont Credit Union has reopened at the Union Hall. 

Don’t forget: Do we have your correct mailing address on file? It is important to us that we are able to reach all of our members by phone, mail or email. Please check here to make sure we have your correct information.

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