Thank you to the incredible members of the BTU Negotiating Team: Melanie Allen (Hernandez and BPS parent), Jennifer Doe (AFT-MA and BPS parent), Nicole Mullen (BAA), CasSandra Samuel (Curley), Lea Serena (Mather) and José Valenzuela (BLA and BPS parent) as well as all of the BTU officers and staff for their long hours, dedication and perseverance throughout this process. Thank you also to the BPS team who also spent early mornings, long nights and gave up their weekends as well to get this agreement done. Lastly, thank you to Mayor Marty Walsh for his support and bringing the sides together to get this MOU done-he played an integral role, and we thank him for listening and truly hearing the voices of BTU members, school leaders, and families.
You can read the full memorandum as well as a press release announcing the memorandum on our website, and we have included some of the most important toplines below.
- Remote is Remote. If all of the students you are assigned to teach are learning from home, you can teach them from home. Everyone can teach remotely from home on Wednesdays during hybrid instruction, too.
- But you can choose to work in the school if you want, as long as you let your principal know.
- Facilities Walk-through with Health and Safety Teams. We agreed to a checklist to verify key health and safety measures before schools are cleared to open for in-person learning, including:
- Results from Independent Air Quality tests
- Alternative Work Options/ Differentiated Work Options and Creative Schedules. The district is committed to working with our Reopening Task Force members to create opportunities for high risk educators to work remotely and support schools in creating schedules that maximize differentiated roles so that not all educators have to teach both remote and in person simultaneously.
- Technology/laptops for paraprofessionals by September 21.
- For Substitutes
- Professional development will be recorded and available throughout the year for per diem substitutes. Any additional required PD will be compensated.
- Any additional required PD will be compensated and count towards health care eligibility days.
- Any subs who worked 120 days in the last SY will participate in and be paid for 5 days of professional development.
- Substitutes now get the same breaks as a teacher
- Flexibility to decide how to teach remotely. As long as each class meeting has a synchronous component, educators can use a mix of synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning time.
- Child Care. With a waiver, the District agrees to allow all BTU bargaining unit members to bring their school-aged child/children who are in grades K-12 to school with them for any fully remote learning times, in the event the staff member cannot find childcare. If the District moves to a fully remote learning model, BTU bargaining unit members may bring their K-12 children to school Monday through Friday if childcare coverage is needed.
While much has been won and resolved, we still have work to do, particularly in support of our East Boston and high needs special education communities. There are two opportunities to support our members and families today and tomorrow:
- The Boston Teachers Union, the Special Ed Parent Advisory Council, Boston Education Justice Alliance, City Life, Mass Advocates for Children, and more are co-sponsoring a socially-distanced rally this afternoon outside the Bolling Building to call for in-person services in safe places for our students with the highest needs. See the flyer for more info. Join the rally or participate in the Car Caravan (meet in the Haley House parking lot around 5:00 p.m. to decorate your car.)
- Representatives from each of the East Boston schools are having a follow up organizing meeting tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 11 at 4:00 p.m. If you would like to attend and support, please contact Ilene Carver to get the Zoom link.
#InThisTogether
#BTUstrong