We hope everyone stayed warm this past weekend during the “Cold Day” and, despite groundhog predictions, we hope to have milder weather for the rest of the season.
It’s Black History Month, and Black Lives Matter at Schools Week of Action is this week, February 6-10! Please see our website for details on this year’s week of action, as well as other Black History Month resources, and remember to send your photos to photos@btu.org! This year’s materials will consist of a brief tool kit of activities centered around movie viewing, guided discussion, writing prompts, and a door decorating contest. Here is another place you can share your own projects and resources that you are willing to share with others! We’re eager to hear how things go, so please look out for a report-back form where you can share your thoughts. Please share your suggestions and what helped most to help planning for years to come. Black history is American history and impacts all of us.
As a reminder, we hope you will join us on Friday, February 10 for the BTU Winter Party. This can be a tough time of the year, and we want to make sure you all get a chance to relax and unwind! Registration is strongly encouraged – and please remember that while most of our events are open to the public, this is a BTU-member only event.
Our February membership meeting is tomorrow, Feb. 8 beginning at 4:30 p.m. We will begin with a presentation about the Dorchester Bay development, whose proposed plans will impact our building and surroundings. We will also be sharing our 2023 legislative priorities, an action plan on the ongoing pay issues impacting our members and sharing updates on the contract implementation.
Please remember to bring your BTU card for admittance to our monthly meeting. As usual, we will have a problem-solving table for those who do not have their cards, but you must bring a photo ID or BPS pay stub. If you need childcare, please register here.
We also want to highlight the fact that BPS released a new budget this week. While our students and schools continue to need additional resources to address growing needs, this budget continues to sustain “soft landings” and level funding for continuing recovery, supporting important programs, and continues to take steps towards building the schools our students deserve. BPS is holding a public comment session on this budget on Thursday, February 16 at 5p.m. where all can weigh in on what is needed.
As shared previously, we are proud to be a part of a multi-stakeholder community coalition that spearheaded new legislation to create a better accountability system that is more democratic, authentic and impactful. See Globe coverage. Please sign this petition to support the THRIVE Act, which would end the practice of school receivership, dramatically reduce the harm caused by standardized testing, and provide local school communities with the resources students need to succeed. Read the BTU’s full statement on the THRIVE Act.
The Inclusion Done Right Open Meeting is this week, February 13, at 6:30pm. Here, you can share concerns, ask questions regarding your school, share action ideas and collaborate with others! Reach out to Kafunda Banks and Chantei Alves with any questions. Save the Date: This meeting will fuel what we will discuss and create an action plan for at the March 1 Open Forum. Register here.
Last week, we celebrated the Lunar New Year at the BTU, in collaboration with BTU APALA members and the BTU Racial Justice Standing Committees. Check out the full album of photos. Many thanks to the event organizers, Murphy School students, Asian Women for Health and Wah Lum Kung Fu (see lion dancers pictured below!) and everyone who attended for making the event such a great success!
The Reimagine School Funding Project aspires to dramatically re-envision how school funding in BPS can more equitably support our students and schools in having what they need to thrive. To do this, BPS is asking educators to provide input to help them understand and learn how BPS can better and more equitably reimagine our funding formula and policies in a manner that meets the needs of our parents, students, educators and staff, and school leaders. Please fill out the survey! The survey will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on February 24, 2023.
Lastly, a reminder to order your BLM at Schools t-shirt! This year’s t-shirt design winner, Erick Tirado, is a student at the BINCA. Please purchase a shirt using this link to show solidarity in the movement, support this young artist, and remind our students they matter. Shipping is included in the cost of this shirt. Please do not add any other items in the BTU Swag Shop to your order for this shirt.