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| Greetings! 403 (b) Update As you probably know, the city unilaterally changed the 403b offerings allowed school department employees in late November. This is a violation of the BTU Contract. The BTU and counsel met with the city last week to discuss the issue. Insufficient progress was made. We will file a charge at the Labor Commission this week, and we will seek injunctive relief in the court system. Our injunction will seek to return to the status quo, pending negotiations--in other words, we'll seek to keep things as they were while we negotiate. We have also filed a grievance. Here's what we suggest given the city's position on this matter and given that there's no certainty that we will get a court decision any time soon: If you wish to take advantage of the 403 (b)in the first January paycheck, sign up for the city plan by 12/15/08. Your contribution will be placed into an account the city has established as a default fund, the Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund . (The city's tentative 403 (b)plan includes a variety of choices, which the union has provided some information on. You can access that descriptive information here .) You are advised to seek outside, independent financial advice before making any decision. You can also access a list of FAQs in e-Bulletin #18 . You can also request that the city distribute your funds into any of the nine other funds the city has tentatively proposed. The city has said, however, that the distribution into these nine other funds will not be accomplished prior to 4/1/09, which is an exceptionally long time frame. The city's proposed change in the 403 (b) plan offerings has no effect on the Mass SMART Plan, also known as the 457 plan. If you have the Mass SMART plan, your contributions will continue as they are currently unless you make an affirmative decision to change. If you are not a Mass SMART participant, you can investigate that plan here . The 457 plan operates essentially like the 403 (b) plan, with similar tax advantages (deferral and sheltering of income) although there are a few operational differences. This entire exercise is discomforting to our membership. The city should have handled it differently, especially considering the uncertain fiscal climate we find ourselves in. Eventually the dust will settle, the legal issues will be cleared up, and the union will negotiate a better plan for all of us. While nothing is certain, it is highly unlikely that the city's current crop of 46 vendors, most of them insurance companies, will continue intact. The list is unwieldy, the quality of their products is uneven. The word 'uneven' is actually too charitable a term. Many of the plans offered through the insurance companies (see here ) take monetary advantage of our members by assessing an insurance charge of anywhere from 1% to 1.5% off the top before any accrual of interest (or growth) is attributed to the member's account. This off-the-top charge is assessed each year on the total dollar amount of all variable annuities. Here's how this works: Let's say you have an account that earns 8% in a given year. Your net earnings, the amount you actually earn after the insurance charge is assessed, drops from 8% to somewhere between 6.5% to 7%. There is no shortage of information on this topic, as financial advisers have long held that 403b variable annuities have been overloaded by insurance costs. Here's an excerpt from an article in Morningstar , one of the most reputable sources of information of financial products. "It's all about cost. Most 403 (b) plans rely heavily on variable annuities, because insurance companies have had a mortal lock on the 403 (b) business for a long time. The investing is often done by mutual-fund managers hired by the insurance company (known as sub-advising), but the annuity usually has much higher annual expenses than a comparable mutual fund." (Flee the 403 (b)? Why 403 (b) plans are often weak, and what you can do. By Peter Di Teresa, 04-23-02) ******************************************************************* School closing negotiations were tentatively completed last week. We are still dotting the i's and crossing the t's on the agreement, which ought to be completed shortly. As soon as it is, we will publish it on our web page. The BTU office staff will, of course, be glad to come out to your school and go over the language agreed to. ******************************************************************** This past week more than 300 school representatives (school counselors, administrators and teachers) met in two shifts at the BTU at the 2nd annual "Next Stop" conference. The conference was a joint undertaking between the Boston Teachers Union and the Boston School Department. Next Stop brought together people from all levels to listen to an explanation of the wealth of programs available in the BPS. The goal is to obtain a full explanation and understanding of the system's programmatic offerings at all grade levels. Why? So as to be able to properly explain the wealth of opportunities available to students as they choose new schools. Staff ought to have sufficient information at their fingertips so as to properly advise students. Helping students make the best decision will have a positive impact on their school performance. And making the right choice at the high school level can only help lessen the dropout problem. What's more, a few of our students leave our schools each year for charter schools because they may not be fully informed about the choices available within the BPS. We'd like to change that dynamic. The meetings were a success, and it was impossible to find someone in attendance who did not learn something new about our wonderful schools and the hundreds of programs offered, from the wealth of AP courses in our high schools to the math and chess clubs at many of our middle schools. Did you know, for example, that Charlestown High offers a forensic science program? Or that the Edwards has a middle school football team? All information will be posted on-line shortly. It was uplifting to hear people brag about their schools! It was also great to hear school representatives hold up a welcome mat for all. Our goal: transmit that enthusiasm to our staff and students. The school department did a terrific job of getting virtually all schools to send representatives. The support of this project from the superintendent was apparent and appreciated, and dozens of the superintendent's key staff, as well as BTU officers and staff, were in attendance to show support for this joint initiative. We are proud to work with the school department in helping to promote our great schools. By the way, representation and cooperation from each of the system's schools and programs was near-universal. All schools and programs were sent multiple invitations to attend the workshops. All schools and programs were also sent multiple requests to fill out a Q & A sheet detailing what the school offers, i.e., after-school activities, and so on. (These sheets will provide the basis for the on-line school-by-school informational 'brochure.' ) One small alternative program did not attend, but did send in a Q&A sheet. That was unacceptable, but at least the school did something . One school did nothing--didn't show up and didn't send in the Q&A sheet: The Patrick Lyndon Pilot. Memo to the Lyndon Administration: We are one school district, and your school is part of it. |
| $1500 Incentive for Early Notification of Retirement |
This is the same offer we've had for the last few years. The deadline is December 19th. To find the form go here , scroll down, and click on HRS-PP08. As of now, despite the rumors, there are no other early retirement plans in the works, either in the city or on Beacon Hill. But depending on the state's fiscal outlook, this may change. It is impossible to predict. Some of the more recent incentive programs came without much warning. |
| From the VP: Important Info for Long Term Substitute Teachers; Missing PDP Certificates?? |
Attention: Long term substitutes. If the position you are in as of December 1, 2008 is expected to last for the duration of the school year you should receive a contract. If you are in this situation and have not received a contract, please contact Patrick Connolly, BTU Vice President, at pconnolly@btu.org. If you are missing PDP Certificates from 2006 - 2007 or 2007 - 2008, please contact Patrick Connolly, BTU Vice President at pconnolly@btu.org. List the school, principal/headmaster, and the school year. With so many members recertifying this year it is imperative that all receive their certificates. |
| Help Our Retirees Seek Tax Benefit Active Employees Receive |
Active employees are allowed to deduct their health insurance premiums from their salary before being taxed federally. This benefit ceases upon retirement. There's a national movement to change this legislatively, and all are encouraged to download the petition from our web page and follow the instructions. Active members are encouraged to help out. After all, we will all some day be retirees! Thank you. |
Meeting with BPS Head of High Schools. Please RSVP.
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| Pathway Program for Moderate Disabilities Licensure |
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Pathway Program. Applications are now being accepted for the winter cohort of the Pathway Program for Moderate Disabilities Licensure. The deadline for submission is Friday, January 9, 2009. Pathway is an accelerated licensure program specially designed for newly hired special education teachers, teachers in inclusion settings already licensed in other fields, capable special education paraprofessionals with bachelor degrees aspiring to transition into teaching positions, and promising substitute teachers who seek to contribute to the BPS as special educators |
| Professional Leadership Projects--New Round |
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The Boston School Committee and the Boston Teachers Union Announce Professional Leadership Projects for BTU Members 2008-2009 School Year. Deadline for Proposal Submittals: December 19, 2008. |
| Seeking Mediators |
The Boston Teachers Union is looking for three (3) BTU members to be trained as and to serve as mediators for grievances denied at Step I. Candidates must be a BTU member. The deadline for applying is December 19, 2008.
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Please Bring Unwrapped Toys to Adult Holiday Party to Donate to the Home for Little Wanderers |
BTU Members: Please remember to bring an unwrapped gift to the adult holiday party that will be donated to the Home for Little Wanderers. We thank you in advance for your kindness. We also thank very much the BTU social committee for its organizing this effort. Thank you all very much. |
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| AFTMA Announces Scholarships |
See the announcement on the AFTMA's web page. |
Events |
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| Race, Culture, Identity, and Achievement Study Group |
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The Race, Culture, Identity, and Achievement Study Group is open to all BPS employees. It is offered in conjunction with the seminar series and offers an opportunity for participants to engage in further discussion of the topics, insights, and concepts shared by the seminar speakers and to explore ways of applying these insights into our settings. In addition to attending the seminar series, participants will meet for two additional hours each month following the seminars, with a final meeting in May 2009. Study group participants will complete a project involving a lesson plan, unit, or professional development plan. Upon successfully completing the seminar series and study group project, each participant will receive 30 PDP's and 2 in-service credits. All study group meetings will be held at the CLD office, 55 Malcolm X Blvd, from 4:30-6:30P.M., on the following dates: |
| Harvard Graduate School of Education offers a one-year Teacher Education Program (TEP) |
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| Conant Fellowships at the Harvard Graduate School of Education |
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The James Bryant Conant Fellowships at the Harvard Graduate School of Education help outstanding teachers and administrators from the Boston and Cambridge Public Schools who wish to pursue additional graduate studies. The Fellowship pays the cost of tuition and fees for one academic year of study at the GSE. |
| Teacher Seeks Bone Marrow Donors for Cousin |
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Tracy Kerr, a teacher at the Sumner Elementary School, is reaching out to the BTU membership for bone marrow donors. Her cousin, Chris LeMoing, 36 years old, was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia on October 11th, and is actively searching for a donor.
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Sincerely,
Richard Stutman
BTU President
rstutman@btu.org (work)
617-288-2000
BTU e-Bulletins
Back Issues
| 2008 - 09 School Year | |
| #1 | 07/18/08 |
| #2 | 08/29/08 |
| #3 | 09/08/08 |
| #4 | 09/14/08 |
| #5 | 09/22/08 |
| #6 | 09/27/08 |
| #7 | 10/01/08 |
| #8 | 10/05/09 |
| #9 | 10/06/08 |
| #10 | 10/12/08 |
| #11 | 10/20/08 |
| #12 | 10/27/08 |
| #13 | 11/02/08 |
| #14 | 11/09/08 |
| #15 | 11/16/08 |
| #16 | 11/18/08 |
| #17 | 11/24/08 |
| #18 | 12/01/08 |