For the Early Termination Incentive, see the circular. The upcoming deadline is this Thursday, January 14.
We understand that the new high school budgeting formula is predicated on a seven-period day, so teachers will be teaching five out of seven instead of four out of six. If your school is a “traditional” school currently working on a six-period day, and you are now being told that instead of teaching four out of six, you’ll be teaching five out of seven, that change requires a prior 55% approval vote by staff in addition to an official waiver approval under the School Based Management provisions of the BTU-BPS Collective Bargaining Agreement, found on page 28, 3(a). If you are in a non-traditional school, this change may or may not violate your Election to Work Agreement. Please email Caren with questions.
The pro-charter, business-backed forces are girding for a fight with the eliminate-the-charter-cap petition on the horizon this November. The Globe had a report yesterday:
A business-backed coalition is poised to spend up to $18 million and obliterate state campaign spending records in favor of expanded charter schools, launching with mail targeted at state Senate districts, including that of Senate President Stanley C. Rosenberg, three people familiar with the plans said Monday…
We have a plan of our own next month, which we will unveil in February at the membership meeting. Boston-based charters currently drain $121 million annually from our public school budget. Given the current budget hardships our schools are facing, no needs to be reminded how important the fight to keep the cap on charter schools is. As one important step in this fight, keep reading.
Please plan to join us for What is the Future for Public Schools in Boston? this Thursday, January 14 from 6-8 PM at Madison Park. At this emergency town hall, we will discuss the Boston Compact and Enroll Boston, school closures, charter ballot initiative’s impact on BPS and school budgets. See the BTU website to download flyers and for more information. Thank you for helping us spread the word!
A couple of reminders:
Many BTU teachers and Paras are eligible for tuition reimbursement: Boston Teacher Union member eligibility as per the circular.
Permanent teachers who are not eligible for a career award and who commit to three years of continuous employment in the Boston Public Schools will be reimbursed for tuition expenses accrued in a given school year. Payment will not exceed $1,000 per teacher per school year. Per agreement between BSC and BTU provisional teachers will be eligible for a tuition reimbursement payment not to exceed $500 per school year. This definition of eligibility is explicitly meant to include those employees who are in job titles that are compensated based on Group I or Group II of the BTU salary schedules.
Per agreement between BSC and BTU, all paraprofessionals who have completed five or more years of full-time service as of the end of the prior school year will be entitled to tuition reimbursement of up to $1,000 a year for approved college courses. Per agreement between BSC and BTU, all paraprofessionals who have completed more than three years of full time service as of the end of the prior school year will be entitled to tuition reimbursement of up to $500 a year for approved college courses.
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Programming Preference Sheets are to be given to all teachers by February 1. If your school is not participating in this mandated activity, please notify Michael or Caren, depending on which field representative has responsibility for your school. Find out who your field rep is.
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The first reporting deadline for loss of P&Ds and Administrative SPED periods is upcoming. The following forms — Class Coverage, Planning & Development and Administrative Sped Periods — are paid out twice a year; in January and June. These forms should be submitted in January and June (prior to the end of school and no later than June 30).