Bargaining Update: Our silent representatives have been posting updates after each bargaining session. You can check out the latest updates from the November 16& November 30 sessions! During the Nov. 16 meeting, BTU negotiators presented proposals to ensure that paraprofessional support is provided to students with disabilities are in specialist classes; aspirations for ABA specialists; and addressing the whole child. In response to the union’s proposal to provide L4L laptops to ABAs and paras, the district’s response was disheartening, to say the least: “Chromebooks are good enough for these employee groups.” We will need all of us to be sure our demands are taken seriously by management! Make sure to read the full summary, and if you are interested in being a silent rep and joining the next session, apply here!
Our next membership meeting is next TOMORROW, December 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.
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.
In the face of troubling news of COVID outbreaks in multiple schools, BPS Families for COVID Safety (FamCOSa) was organized as a group representing families at more than 20 schools and partnering with teachers, nurses, staff and public health professionals. FamCOSa is organizing a rally entitled “Shining a Light on COVID Safety in BPS” at the State House on Wednesday, December 15 at 4 p.m. Those in attendance will be paying homage in remembrance of those lost to COVID and to listen to testimony from parents, educators, community leaders, nurses and more. We are co-sponsoring this event, and we encourage our members to join in demanding BPS and the State be proactive to stop the spread of COVID in our schools and communities.
In that same vein, we have sent letters both to Superintendent Cassellius and DESE Commissioner Riley with proposals of how to better track and quickly curb the spread of the virus in schools. You can read Commissioner Riley’s response here. While some changes have been made in response to our proposals, they are not sufficient.Thanks to our advocacy, school communities are now being notified the same day a positive case is confirmed. However, contact tracing is still not being done in a timely way. We will continue to advocate for necessary measures to be implemented, and the December 15 event is an important way to raise our collective voice.