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Boston Teachers Union
e-Bulletin
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#05
(2009-10), 09/28/09 |
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Greetings.
The BTU met last week with the school department regarding the issue of ELL training. This issue of ELL training for the four (4)categories is NOT new. The problem with Boston's compliance did not appear overnight. The problem has been around for five years (since the UNZ initiative petition), and the school department has had, since that time to work on a solution. Many teachers (it is not known how many) are already proficient in the appropriate categories; some are not. We have proposed that the training, to the extent training is necessary, be conducted within the scope of the PD time (18 hours plus six hours (for January 4) for a total of 24) that is already part of our contract. The 48 hours already negotiated (this year and next) are more than enough to give every teacher in Boston training to satisfy the requirements of the first two ELL levels, which require a minimum of 40 hours and a maximum of 45 hours. We will keep you posted as to developments. In the meantime... The department cannot mandate that anyone attend any ELL workshop that is not part of the 24 PD hours that are already negotiated. To be very clear: attendance at any (after school and/or Saturday) ELL workshop is voluntary UNLESS those workshops are part of the 24 hours you are already obligated to work.
Flu Shots--The city is giving every employee two hours to get flu shots, and the BTU is hosting a session (free shots for seasonal NOT Swine Flu ) at the BTU headquarters on October 7. See below announcement. See here for an entire list or call 617-0534-5050. Bring your employee ID.
Hyatt--By now the story of the Hyatt housekeepers is well known. Hyatt terminated $15 per hour housekeepers and replaced them with $8 per hour contracted employees. Adding insult to injury, the Hyatt had  the about-to-be-terminated housekeepers train their replacements. There is a rally this Thursday at 4:00 co-sponsored by the Mass AFL-CIO and Jobs with Justice. Many BTU members will be in attendance. It is expected, but not confirmed,that ralliers will march by the Hyatt to protest these unfair terminations. The rally will begin at the State House near the Boston Common.
The press reported last week that Secretary of Education, Paul Reville, lobbied the Mass DOE to approve a charter school in Gloucester. It seems that the Secretary felt the need to pressure the State Board to approve at least one charter school to keep the governor's allies happy. To not approve any charter (at the the time the Board had three charters under consideration) would "cripple us with a number of key moderate allies like the Globe and the Boston Foundation'' said Reville in his email to the commissioner. One of the two other competing charter applications, which Reville opposed, was in Reville's home town of Worcester. It seems that what is good for the goose is not good for the gander.
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B Rep Deadline for Conference Now Sept. 30
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Note to B Reps: Elected Reps...please sign up for the annual building Rep Conference weekend October 23-25 at the Marriott in Quincy. The deadline for doing so is September 30 (NEW DATE). If your school cannot send one of your elected representatives, please try to send another staff member to represent the school. Thank you. |
| B Rep Conference Seeks Non-Reps to Attend Weekend Activity |
We are looking for newer members who are interested in becoming more involved in the BTU to attend the Building Reps Weekend, being held this year at the Quincy Marriott on the weekend beginning October 23. There will be opportunities to attend specialized training sessions, general meetings, as well as the chance to socialize and network with other active members. Members may nominate someone or you can apply yourself. Please write a brief note describing why you are interested or why you think the person you are nominating is a good choice. Nominations and questions may be emailed to Michael Crain . |
| Party for New Members This Friday |
All new BTU members --teachers, paraprofessionals, and substitute teachers--are invited to a reception for new employees at the Blarney Stone in the Fields Corner section of Dorchester on Friday, 10/2, from 3 PM onward. The BTU membership began hosting this event five years ago, and it's a great time to meet new friends. Invitations have gone out.
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Free Flu Clinic 10/7 at BTU. Time Allotted for City Employees. Many Other Sites and Dates Listed.
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From the city: All City of Boston employees are strongly encouraged to receive vaccinations against seasonal flu and H1N1 influenza, and will therefore be entitled to up to two (2) hours of paid time off to obtain a flu vaccination(s) for themselves and/or their children, effective September 12, 2009 for Fiscal Year 2010. This leave will not be charged to any accrued leave time. For those reporting time of employees that have received vaccinations through this policy, please use the Time Reporting Code of S1202. The shots are free. Bring an ID. The shots available now are seasonal, NOT H1N1 or swine.
The B TU Hall will be open from 9-5 on Wednesday, October 7. All employees are welcome. See complete list here .
Employees who are eligible to receive a shot through their primary care physician are encouraged to do so. However, seasonal flu vaccination clinics will be offered across the City beginning in September for City employees who are not able to receive a vaccine from their physician.
If you are seeking to use the two (2) hours of paid time to receive a flu shot, you must request the time off in advance from your supervisor consistent with requests for use of personal time. We also ask that you do your best to schedule vaccinations to minimize disruption to teaching and learning. This two (2) hour benefit may be split into no more than two (2) increments of one (1) hour each. An attached certification form must be completed by the health care provider administering the shot and the completed certification form should be submitted to the Office of Human Resources. The fax # is (617) 635-7957.
Principals and Headmasters are encouraged to share this information with all staff in your building. Thank you in advance for your efforts to stay healthy and well.
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ESL, SPED Pathways!
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Human Resources will be conducting the fall cohort of the ESL Pathway Program beginning in November. BPS staff interested in preparing for ESL teaching are invited to participate in one of the following required informational sessions for complete details.
Monday, Oct 5 2:30-3:30
Wednesday, Oct 7 2:30-3:30 or 4:00-5:00
Thursday, Oct 8 4:00-5:00
The program is targeted especially toward teachers in schools that enroll significant numbers Limited English Proficient students.
Sessions will be held at the Center for Leadership Development on the Madison Park Campus. Reservations are required. RSVP .
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Human Resources will be conducting the fall cohort of the Moderate Disabilities Pathway Program beginning in November. BPS staff interested in preparing for Moderate Disabilities teaching are invited to participate in one of the following required informational sessions for complete details.
Monday, Sept 28 2:30-3:30
Tuesday, Oct 6 2:30-3:30 or 4:00-5:00
Thursday, Oct 8 2:30-3:30
The program particularly invites the participation of teachers in inclusion schools seeking to become dually licensed; teachers who plan to transition into Special Education; and accomplished teachers who want to expand their repertoire of professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions relative to students with special needs.
Sessions will be held at the Center for Leadership Development on the Madison Park Campus. Reservations are required RSVP.
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| BEAM--Black Educational Alliance Hosts Social Event |
Beam-- Black Educators Alliance of Mass. is hosting an event at Biff's Lounge at Prince Hall, 24 Washington St., Dorchester, 4-8 PM, on Friday, 10/2.
- Greet New Friends
- Make Professional Contacts
- Meet members
- $15.
- Hors d'oeuvres
- contact 617-445-2088 or 617-510-2281
Proceeds to benefit scholarship fund
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| Easy Trac: Is it for Everyone? |
As of 9.22.09 itinerants were told to begin using this system 'live' to maintain attendance on students serviced. This requires using a computer and the internet, as well as, having participated in the training provided by the SPED department. Soon staff will be provided with training on how to complete SEIMS paperwork online. Many concerns ranged from not having a computer, to not having internet access, to having problems with the system itself. Any problems that related service providers are having with the system are handled by their respective department heads. Problems will continue to surface and the SPED Faculty Senate is interested in learning about member's concerns in completing this new requirement for taking attendance.
Please email the SPED Faculty Senate with any issues.
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Umana School Seeks Staff for After-School Program
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The Mario Umana Middle School Academy in East Boston is seeking current and retired BTU teachers and paraprofessionals to teach classes and work with students during the afternoon hours of the school day. We are especially interested in individuals who are willing and able to teach Math, English Language Arts, English as a Second Language, Science, and academic and enrichment classes for students with special needs. There may also be opportunities to "design you own class" if they are aligned to the school's vision and priorities. The school day at the Umana ends at 4PM, Monday though Thursday, and we are looking highly-qualified teachers and experienced paraprofessionals to work in our classrooms between the hours of 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. A commitment of at least two days per week (Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays) is required with opportunities to work all four days if needed. All current BTU staff are compensated at the BTU contractual overtime rate and income earned working at the Umana is retirement worthy. For more information please contact Corbett Coutts , Assistant Principal, or at 617.635.8481.
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Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
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Once again the BTU is making strides to combat breast cancer. On Sunday morning, October 4, 2009, we invite you to join us on the Charles River Esplanade to raise money for cancer research. Starting at 8:00 a.m., this walk is the nation's oldest and most successful one-day  walk. Last year the BTU helped contribute toward the over $3,000,000 raised. This year our goal is to raise at least $20,000.
You can either join the BTU team or form your own team at your worksite. Either way, we can all raise money for cancer research and we can all enjoy a nice walk around the Charles River. The walk has a rolling start from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Be sure to stop by the BTU's tent near the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge before you walk.
Click here to join the BTU's team or to make a donation. Volunteers are needed at the BTU tent. If you wish to volunteer please email either Brenda Chaney or Michael Maguire . Lastly, the BTU is giving away T-shirts to those individuals who raise $100 or more for the walk. The T-shirts are Carolina blue with the MSABC logo on the front, and the BTU logo on the back. To obtain a T-shirt, make sure you bring your BTU card and your pledge sheet to the BTU tent prior to your walk. Supplies are limited and will be given out on a first- come, first-served basis.
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Sincerely,
Richard Stutman
BTU President
richardstutman@comcast.net (home)
rstutman@btu.org (work)
617-288-2000
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