Good morning,
New Membership Applications Need to be Collected
Last week at the membership meeting we announced that the city has demanded that all city unions submit membership applications for all covered employees. The request by the city was unexpected but legal. We have asked BTU building representatives to ask all members to fill out our application cards again, though just about all of us have done so in the past. Sorry to have to ask, but it will take less than a minute and it is required. We appreciate everyone's cooperation.
MASS #1 in Nationwide 8th Grade Science Test Congratulations to Massachusetts students and their teachers who came in first in the 8th grade NAEP science test insofar as having the highest percentage of students who scored either proficient or advanced! Seehere (PDF) for chart. T-Shirts in Hot Demand  By the way, we have just ordered another round of t-shirts if you still want them. They have been in hot demand and we have now sold upwards of 5,000.
Sheltering of Severance Workshop Date Changed
The sheltering-of-severance pay workshop has a change in date. It will now be held on June 12 at 4 PM.
Transfer and Open Posting Lists Out; Pools ScheduledThe transfer and open posting lists were out last month. If you have any questions, please email or call Caren or Michael at the office. Open posted positions will be up until they are filled. For questions on para-related issues, please email Jenna. Teacher excess pools are tentatively scheduled for the end of the month. The teacher mock pool will be held on May 24 from 4-6 PM at the BTU. The para mock pool will be on June 5, and the para pool is scheduled for June 7. Candidate Elizabeth Warren Addresses BTU Membership Last week's membership meeting saw Elizabeth Warren give a speech. Senate Candidate Warren is challenging Sen  | | 400 BTU members listen to Elizabeth Warren |
ator Scott Brown in this year's election. Candidate Warren is the BTU and AFTMA-endorsed candidate, and she was warmly received. Stand for Children Initiative Petition Threatens Progress The Stand for Children Initiative petition threatens the progress our schools have made by disrupting positive developments that are in place. A number of organizations and individuals have begin to speak against the petition. Opponents now include: Massachusetts Education Secretary Paul Reville, the Massachusetts Parent Teacher Association, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators' Association, the Massachusetts Elementary School Principals Association, the Massachusetts Reading Association, the Massachusetts Association of College and University Reading Educators, the Massachusetts School Library Association, the Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies and the Massachusetts Administrators for Special Education. Here's a summary of what the STAND petition would do if enacted by voters this November: - The SFC initiative would change current law so that an experienced teacher who loses his or her job because of a school closing, layoff, or program/position cut would lose all rights to another job in the district.
- Under the proposed initiative, the displaced teacher could enter a new school only if the principal in the new school "agree(s) to the hiring and assignment." The above is true even for teachers with outstanding track records and multiple years of strong evaluations.
- The initiative would change current state law so that, in cases of layoffs or program/budget cuts, decisions about which teachers go and stay would be primarily determined by evaluation ratings.
- This change would come at a time when the state is rolling out brand-new and untested teacher evaluation regulations. For this and other reasons, Mass. Secretary of Education Paul Reville has said the ballot initiative "is not well timed" and "would not be helpful to our efforts to improve evaluation and execute a variety of other educational reforms."
- Under the SFC initiative, one not-quite-perfect evaluation --which the teacher has no right to challenge -- could cost an experienced, high-quality teacher his or her job in cases of staff reductions or school reorganizations.
- The initiative would severely limit teacher voice in the design of evaluation systems.
Most of the information above has come from the AFTMA webpage. The MTA also has an excellent toolkit on this topic. |
WBUR Hosts Talk Segment on the Extended School Day |
Yesterday WBUR ran a 30-minute segment on the issue of the extended school day. BTU President, Richard Stutman, Mass 2020 founder, Chris Gabrielli, and Edwards Middle School Principal, Leo Flanagan, appeared on the show. Listen here. |
Education in the News: This Will Sound VERRRRY Familiar |
Philadelphia to close 40 schools next year, another 24 over next four years. More charters on horizon... Why isn't this BIG news?From the Philadelphia Inquirer:"How will the district's restructuring plan save money? The district wants to simultaneously balance the budget and wholly restructure -- some say blow up -- the district to ultimately provide a better education for kids. But it's worth asking whether the district should consider those two goals separately. "The massive restructuring includes aims to decentralize a massive bureaucracy, by sending a whopping 40 percent of all students to charter schools by 2017, as well as creating 'achievement networks,' which are groups of 20 to 30 schools run by nonprofits...." Read the rest of the Inquirer Daily News editorial, "City Council grills Philadelphia School District on its budget today." From TruthOut.org:"In what should be the biggest story of the week, the city of Philadelphia's school system announced Tuesday that it expects to close 40 public schools next year and 64 by 2017. The school district expects to lose 40% of current enrollment to charter schools, the streets or wherever, and put thousands of experienced, well qualified teachers, often grounded in the communities where they teach, on the street..." Read more of Bruce A. Dixon's May 10 article, "Why Isn't Closing 40 Philadelphia Public Schools National News?" |
Timilty Teacher in Running to Open Act at Comcast Center. Let's Help Her Out. |
The below is from Timility Special Ed teacher Lisa Bello:
"My name is Lisa Bello from the Timilty Middle School. I just received word that I am in a contest for the radio station JAMN 94.5 to be an opening act for their station's concert on June 2 at the Comcast Center, to which they are expecting over 10,000 people. It is a voting-based contest.  A Boston Public School teacher with a chance to open for world famous artists in the music industry! If there is anything you can do I'd appreciate it!" And from the JAM'N web page: Not long ago, Lisa Bello landed a track, Make That Money, on the Joan Rivers-hosted TV Land reality show "How'd You Get So Rich?" You'd be hard-pressed to meet a Bostonian who doesn't dig Lisa; she rocks hometown shows for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of fans and even clocked three Boston Music Awards, earning superlative status as Beantown's best R&B act, female vocalist and indie artist. But Lisa isn't rich -- unless you're talking about her vibe, which is worth its weight in throwback gold chains and doorknocker earrings. Read more and please note that everyone can vote once per day. |
PD Activities for Teachers: Pathways, MTEL Prep |
The BPS is running Pathways & MTEL Prep sessions for teachers.
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Upcoming Events |
Boston GLBT and Ally Educators, Administrators and Central Office Staff: Free Social and Networking Event
In collaboration with the Boston Teacher Residency, the Office of Equity and GLSEN (Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network), the newly forming GLBT Educators Network of Boston (GEN-BPS) is hosting a free social and networking event this Thursday, May 17 from 5-7 PM at the Savin Bar and Kitchen (located at 112 Savin Hill Ave in Dorchester). An RSVP is not necessary. Just come on out and bring a friend or ally! Contact Frank Pantano with questions by email or at 617-756-3341
RTC Alert! Retirement Board Meeting Date Change | As you know, May 22 is the date of the Spring Luncheon, so we realize some of you who planned to attend the Retirement Board meeting have signed up to attend the RTC luncheon. Several members of the RTC Legislative Committee plan to attend the meeting at City Hall and will attend the luncheon immediately afterward. If you are still willing to attend the meeting on this new date, please be at the BTU at 9 AM. We will carpool to City Hall. If you plan to go on your own, please go to the Retirement Board Room 816 and they will inform you where the meeting will be held. |
NBPTS Event Upcoming Please plan to attend the May 17 National Board Recognition event. This event is to promote Take One! as a strong Professional Development option for individual teachers and schools, honor the contribution of National Board Certified Teachers, and première the movie Mitchell 20. This event is open to all teachers and administrators interested in bringing Take One! and/or full Board Certification as PD options to their classrooms and schools. This is a wonderful way to get started on next year's PD planning. Please join us on Thursday, May 17 at BTU Hall from 4 to 7:30 PM. Refreshments will be served. Co-Sponsors: BTU & BPS Office of Teacher & Leadership Effectiveness, MTA, AFT-MA & NBPTS. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Karene-Sean Hines at 781-267-9122.
Register Now for the Second Annual Boston Area Educators for Social Justice Conference
All Souls Author to Speak at the BTU On Tuesday, May 22, Michael Patrick MacDonald, author of All Souls and a South Boston native and Boston activist who continues to work for social change nationally, will speak at the BTU at 5:30 PM. All Souls books will be available for a reduced price (cash and checks only), along with free teachers guides. Everyone is welcome to this free event. Light refreshments will be served.
B Rep Banquet Mark your calendars: The B Rep Banquet is scheduled for June 4. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
Comedy Night at the BTU
Save the date! June 9 is comedy night at the BTU to benefit the BTU school. More information to come. See here to purchase tickets. Scholarship Brunch The Scholarship Brunch will be held on June 9. At the brunch, the BTU gives out close to $70,000 in scholarships to BPS students as well as dependent scholarships to our active members' children and our retired members' grandchildren. It is a marvelous event, and as always we thank our membership for their generosity. Sheltering Severance Pay Workshop Scheduled Save the date! There will be a meeting on Tuesday, June 12 at 4 PM for those interested in sheltering their severance pay. We have this meeting every year, and a letter will go out to each person who has taken the Early Retirement Incentive inviting him or her to the meeting. All, however, are welcome to attend.
Connecting Health and Academics: A Community Conversation and Health Fair on June 16Boston school nurses will gather at the Mildred Avenue School in Mattapan in collaboration with BPS and the Boston Haiti Health Support Team to connect health services and academics in a joint effort on Saturday, June 16 from 10-2. The event is called "Nurses in Your Corner." See a flier here.
See all upcoming events on the BTU website. |
Summer Opportunities for Students in Math at MIT |
The MIT Office of Engineering Outreach Programs is offering rising 8th, 9th, and 10th graders from Boston and Cambridge an intensive two-week course aimed at improving quantitative reasoning skills so that they can excel in their math courses. Apply online by May 31.
The Confronting Obstacles and Realizing Excellence (CORE) program will run from August 6 - 17, 2012. CORE is designed to help boost students' math skills, which provide a critical foundation for strong college performance in all disciplines, including science and engineering. Applicants should demonstrate a clear need for improving their math skills. For more information, please visit the CORE program website.
Please tell your rising 8th, 9th, and 10th graders about this great opportunity to boost their math skills.
Apply online by May 31. Contact Nick Holden with questions.
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English High ZUMBA Fundraiser | English High School will be going on a service trip to Nicaragua this June. We will be having a Zumba class as a fundraiser for our trip. Join as us as have a fun evening while also getting a great workout! No experience necessary. Please join us on Tuesday, May 15 from 5:30-7:30 PM. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Find us in the Dance Room. Thanks! Sophia Viglas, LCSW |
Retirement Parties |
Marian Meadows, Michael J. Perkins Elementary School Thursday, June 14, 2012 Phillip's Old Colony House, 780 Morrissey Blvd. in Dorchester, MA Time: 4 to 5 PM social hour, with dinner immediately following Cost: $45 (covers dinner and gift). Make checks payable to Nancy O'Malley and mail to 196 Savin Hill Av., Dorchester, MA 02125. Please RSVP by May 31. Call 617-834-9645 with questions or email here.
Delores Blake-Richardson, David Ellis School
Friday, June 15 Lombardo's, 6 Billings Street in RandolphTime: 7 to 8 PM social hour, with dinner immediately following Cost: $60 (covers dinner and gift). Make checks payable to Patricia Burton and mail to 41 Simmons Avenue, Brockton, MA 02301. Please RSVP by May 30. Call 508-269-0319 with questions.
Pauline Dodd, Joseph Lee School
Thursday, June 7, 6 until 11PM Florian Hall at 55 Hallet Street in Dorchester Cost per person: $50 (includes gift, meal, and DJ). Please make checks payable to "Joseph Lee Sunshine Fund" and mail to: Joseph Lee School, Attn: Sara Smith, 155 Talbot Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02124. Please RSVP by May 17.
Kathy Giberti, O'Donnell School
Friday, June 15 at 4 PM
Winthrop Arms Hotel at 130 Grovers Avenue in Winthrop
$30 includes dinner & gift. Cash or check payable to the O'Donnell School. Please RSVP by June 1 to Barbara Grato at 617-635-8454. Claire Dewey, Arlene LaSane, & Sandra McDowell, Henderson (O'Hearn) School June 9 at 1:30 PM Maggiano's Little Italy, 4 Columbus Avenue in Boston $60 per person includes appetizers, lunch, dessert and gifts for the retirees. Cash bar and discounted parking will be available. Please make checks payable to "JoAnn Brown-Henderson Retirement" and submit to JoAnn Brown, Henderson School, 1669 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02125 no later than May 9. Janet Amrock, Martin Luther King School
Thursday, June 7, 5:30 to 9:30 PM
The Common Market, 97-110 Willard Street in Quincy
$60 pp, inc. dinner and gift; $30, gift only. Please RSVP by May 31 and make checks payable to "King Sunshine Fund" c/o King School, 77 Lawrence Ave Dorchester, MA 02121. Contact Maria Harvey, Maryalice Jennings or Diane Thornton with questions at 617-635-8212. Kevin Grogan , Zelda Chamoff , William Henderson , Judy Allenshaw and Brad CohenJune 15 from 5-9 PM at Venezia Please respond by June 1 Cost: $65 includes gift. Please make check payable to Adele Chiachio and mail to: Winship School, 54 Dighton Street, Brighton, MA 02135 or drop check off to Angie Robery at Campbell Resource Center upstairs Special Ed office. |
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