Published On: March 19, 2021
TGIF. We are writing this afternoon with a few important updates.

We have been regularly updating our COVID Vaccine Resources page with all of the information we’ve been receiving from the city, state and other vaccine distributors. Here are the latest opportunities:

  • To register for a vaccination appointment from the city, please see this link: https://vaccine.bostonpublicschools.org/ There are many appointments still available! 
    • You will need to sign in using your BPS email address.
    • Educators can now call the family hotline for assistance booking vaccines: 617-635-8873
  • The state shared that Massachusetts is designating 4 days where the state’s 7 mass vaccination sites will only offer 1st dose appointments for K-12 educators, child care workers and K-12 school staff. These dates are: Saturday, March 27, Saturday, April 3, Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11. Workers in this group must use the pre-registration system to request an appointment at one of the seven mass vaccination sites and attest they are a K-12 educator, childcare worker or K-12 school staff.
  • The Boston Medical Center will be hosting a COVID vaccination event TOMORROW for Boston K-12 school staff and child care workers. 
    • There are 1,000 available slots available at the Russell Auditorium and 500 slots at Boston Medical Center. Sign up for this event here or call 617-638-9620 to make an appointment. Adding your name to the form alone does not guarantee you an appointment.

      Event details:
      Saturday, March 20, 8-4 p.m.
      Russell Auditorium
      71 Talbot Ave, Dorchester, MA 02124

      Saturday, March 20, 8 – 4:30 p.m.
      Boston Medical Center
      85 East Concord Street, Boston MA 02118
  • The Whittier Street Clinic has openings all this week for vaccines for Boston residents. Please call 617-858-2444.
Second, we are asking all members to please check your home address and BTU contact information. We want to ensure we have your correct address for mailing ballots to homes for the June elections. Click here to access the member portal. Once logged in, go to “My Contact Info” to edit and make any needed changes.

The tragic news of the shootings claiming 8 lives in Atlanta have been difficult to witness and process, paricularly for our AAPI community.  We are working with AFT to provide more resources to support for our educators and families and the AFT AAPI Task Force will be meeting tonight. Please see statements shared both by the BTU and AFT.

Lastly, we have met twice this week with BPS regarding the BESE mandate to return students 5 days a week beginning April 5. We have shared proposals and are working on both plans and responses for various scenarios that may happen. We strongly believe that DESE and the district need the time, resources and staffing to bring back students in person safely and planfully, and that arbitrary deadlines are causing undue stress and anxiety both for families and educators.  More to come. 

In the meantime, please sign this petition from the Mass Education Justice Alliance and feel free to write members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Commissioner with your concerns about this shortsighted mandate:  
Katherine Craven, James Morton, Amanda Fernandez, Matthew Hills, Michael Moriarty, Jim Peyser, Paymon Rouhanifard, Martin West, Jeff Riley.

Thank you to the student, parent and labor representative on the board who voted against giving this unilateral power to the Commissioner to take away hybrid learning as an option: Jasper Coughlin, Mary Ann Stewart, Darlene Lombos.

We hope you are able to take some time for much deserved rest and relaxation after a very challenging week of tragedy and uncertainty.  We continue to be #InThisTogether.

In solidarity,
BTU Officers and Staff

Share This Story!