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| Greetings! Great News Our legal action seeking an injunction against the city's unilateral imposition of 403(b) plan changes was upheld last week. The status quo has been restored. All plans in place prior to the city's dismantling of the 403(b) plan remain in place subject to the below summary offered by BTU Atty. Matthew Dwyer: "On December 11th BTU intervened as a Party Plaintiff in the Superior Court litigation brought by AXA Equitable challenging the City's attempt to change the current §403(b) deferred compensation plan. BTU has filed its own amended verified complaint alleging that the City's November 17, 2008 letter violates state law and unlawfully restricts employee choice to a closed array of providers. On Friday, December 12, 2008 the Superior Court entered a preliminary injunction in favor of the Plaintiffs prohibiting the City from proceeding with its proposed 2009 Section 403(b) Plan. The Court's order states that the Plaintiffs established a likelihood of demonstrating that the proposed 2009 Plan was unlawful and would cause irreparable harm if it were not enjoined. Accordingly, the Court declared the proposed 2009 Plan null and void and ordered the City to notify ALL affected BPS employees of the following: a. The City is withdrawing its November 17, 2008 letter directing employees to select from among a closed array of providers; and b. Any salary reduction agreement signed in response to the City's November 17, 2008 letter is NULL AND VOID. The court has ordered all parties to cooperate with one another and provide each other with any information that may reasonably be necessary to ensure that the City's Plan and everyone's participation complies with §403(b) so as to achieve tax advantaged status for Plan participants. Here is what we expect will happen next: 1. There are currently 33 different service providers furnishing §403(b) plans to City employees. The court's order gives every one of them an opportunity to certify to the City by December 17, 2008 that they are or will be §403(b) compliant. A new list of §403(b) compliant service providers will then be established. We call this the "open array." 2. BPS employees will receive notice giving them an opportunity to select from this open array. IF YOUR CURRENT SERVICE PROVIDER CERTIFIES THAT THEY ARE §403(b) COMPLIANT THEY WILL BE PLACED ON THE LIST AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. 3. If your service provider fails to certify their compliance by December 17, 2008 they will not be placed on the open array and you will be given a reasonable opportunity to select another provider from that array. We will do all we can to keep you updated. Because the City will be communicating with you both electronically and in writing, it is important that you pay careful attention to both electronic and paper mediums of communication." We will be in touch, and this is a fluid situation. This 403(b) saga is far from over, and there will necessarily be a shake-out of plan offerings. It is hoped, as the dust settles, that this crisis has forced people to take a good, hard look at their plans, to see whether their plans are appropriate and sound. The main item that separates one plan from another is the cost of participation in the plan. Each plan fund costs the participant money in fees, money that comes 'off the top' of your account balance. Plans assess yearly fees that can vary from .21% for a mutual fund index fund to 2.5% for a variable stock annuity fund, depending on the company and the product it is selling. Month after month, year after year these fees add up, eating away into your earnings and account growth. Everything else being equal, the difference in fees between plan offerings--mutual funds vs. variable annuities--is typically 1.3% per year. How much does the difference in fees hurt your fund balance over time? Consider two people who purchase identical investments, at $100 per month. One purchases a mutual fund that pays 6.3% on average over 20 years. The other purchases the same fund, but as a variable annuity with a 1.3% insurance 'wrapper' whose 1.3% yearly fee comes off the top. The latter person, in effect, earns only 5% (6.3% minus 1.3%) per year. The difference after 20 years? The person with the mutual fund has accumulated around $48,000; the person who bought the variable annuity, $41,000. The difference: $7,000. Long story short: know the ins and outs of what you are purchasing. There are many different investment options available, and over the next few weeks and months, we will review some of them. |
| $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. |
| Meeting with BPS Head of High Schools on 12/16 |
A few months ago we met with Dr. Irvin Scott, head of the system's high schools. The meeting was productive, and we decided to reconvene. We will reconvene on Tuesday, 12/16, at 4:00 PM. RSVP if you are high school building representative and would like to attend this meeting. Thank you. |
| BTU/BPS 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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| 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. |
| Read Alfie Kohn: Beware of School Reformers |
See a new piece by Alfie Kohn Copyright © 2008 by Alfie Kohn. This piece will appear in the Nation on 12/29/08. This article may be downloaded, reproduced, and distributed without permission as long as each copy includes this notice along with citation information (i.e., name of the periodical in which it originally appeared, date of publication, and author's name). Permission must be obtained in order to reprint this article in a published work or in order to offer it for sale in any form. Please rite to the address indicated on the Contact Us page. |
| Professional Leadership Projects--New Round |
| 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. Schools that are eligible for round 2 must meet criteria below: |
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The BTU Contract has established funds to support additional professional leadership projects for members of the Boston Teachers Union. BTU members who are selected for these Professional Leadership Projects (PLP) will receive a 6 month 5% stipend for 2.5 hours of additional work per week. If the proposal is from a team of educators, then the stipend and the work will be divided among team members. The work must be performed before or after the school day. Projects will start January 1, 2009. There will be 10 hours of time during the school year for an orientation session, mid-year professional development and an end of the year Project Exposition. Voluntary networking of project leaders and workshops will also be available during the year. The BTU member's proposal must be selected and endorsed by a "School Review Team" from their school, including: 1) the Principal, 2) a member of Instructional Leadership Team, and 3) a member of Faculty Senate. The ILT and Faculty Senate representatives will be chosen by their respective groups. For More Information: please contact Casel Walker at School Leadership Institute at 617-635-6772. School Review Teams should submit their selected, typed proposal (with signatures) to Casel Walker by fax at 617-635-6331 or 635-8887. |
| Additional Resource to Help Students Choose High School |
WGBH established several years ago a High School Choice section geared to middle schoolers all about the many high school options available in Boston. The interactive site includes a school matching application, where students can get a personalized list of school options based on their academic and extra-curricular interests, as well as video testimonials from students about particular schools. Please note: WGBH has not yet updated the site for the current school choice season, but we've been assured that they will do so very soon. |
| Pathway Program for Moderate Disabilities Licensure |
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 December 15, 2:30-3:30 or 4:00-5:00; December 16, 2:30-3:30 or 4:00-5:00; or December 19, 2:30-3:30 or 4:00-5:00; |
| AFTMA Announces Scholarships |
See the announcement on the AFTMA's web page. |
| Science Social on 12/19 |
From 3-7pm, come join us as we relax, network, and enjoy the company of the dynamic BPS science community. Each month features a different neighborhood and host schools. Special thanks to UMass COSMIC for sponsoring appetizers and our HOLIDAY raffle.
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| BPS to Pilot 2 Masters' Reading Programs in 1/09 |
There will be a cohort of twenty BPS teachers and literacy coaches (priority will be given to classroom teachers) at each college. At the completion of this program, our teachers will be prepared to meet all of the prerequisites for the Consulting Teacher of Reading K-12 license. Teachers will have the opportunity to specialize in adolescent literacy (at BC) or early literacy (at Wheelock). |
| OIIT Update |
Last Week for Fall 2008 Ed Tech Professional Development . Please remember that space in these workshops is limited, and that only those certain they can attend should register. If a scheduling conflict arises after registration and you are unable to join us, please "drop" the course in MyLearningPlan to make the seat available for other participants. |
| Bone Marrow Drive for Son of Murphy Staff Member |
Donor Drive : Alexander Phan, 4 year old son of Steve (Khoi) Phan of the Murphy School. Saturday December 20 from 10-2 at St. Mark Church 1785 Dorchester Avenue Dorchester. All potential donors welcome. No fee. A simple mouth swab. Donating Bone Marrow is painless. THANK YOU. Rosemary H. Connors, RN, MPH, (617) 635-7680 ext 106, (617) 635-6491 fax. |
| Sumner Teacher Seeks Bone Marrow Donors for Cousin |
Tracy Freeman, 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. Chris "Lemon" LeMoing is a Plymouth County Corrections officer and owner of Bunker Floor Sanding. He is 36 yrs old, he is an avid softball and hockey player and has been diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. Please join us in supporting Chris at the Abington VFW ~ 30 Central Street, Abington, Jan 31st 7:00 PM ~ 12:00 Tickets are $20 on sale now or at the door Ally ~ 774 259-5145; Chrissy ~ 781 588-3161 THANK YOU |
| Retirement Party |
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Sincerely,
Richard Stutman
BTU President
rstutman@btu.org (work)
617-288-2000