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Boston Teachers Union
e-Bulletin
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#16
(2009-10), 12/05/09 |
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Greetings, we're sending this out on Saturday (the weather's lousy anyway, so you may be in the house) because we wanted to notice the membership that endorsed candidate for U.S. Senator, Cong. Mike Capuano, will be hosting an event at the BTU office on Sunday, 12/6, from 3-5. Sorry for the late notice, but the event was scheduled only this past week after the last e-bulletin was sent out. The Primary Election is this Tuesday, 12/8.
East Boston High School and Brighton High School both played in Championship Playoff football games today. East Boston lost 14-12 to Whittier, and Brighton lost 22-12 to Northeast. Although both teams lost close games, we take great pride when our teams make it to a championship playoff round. Congratulations to the players and coaches of both squads. These folks have worked hard since August under difficult circumstances with less-than-adequate equipment and resources. Our teams do a great job with comparably little. Congratulations.
On the Ed Reform bill and how it might affect our members...The bill will affect everyone represented by the BTU, not just our students and members in the 14 schools. We all have to participate in turning back some of the changes that have been proposed. The phone calls and the emails we have asked all to do--that responsibility belongs to all of us. The BTU staff has now gone out to the Emerson, Tobin, Odyssey, English, Blackstone, Guild, and the Holland. We have visits scheduled for a few more schools, and we are working on visiting all schools before the break. Our message has been clear: The Ed Reform legislation doesn't work well for our students, our schools and our members. Many members at the schools we have visited have asked us to make clear to all members in schools throughout the city that this is everybody's fight. We agree. We all need to help, and we appreciate the support we have gathered from all over. One member of the House of Representatives told a BTU member that he had received about 'a hundred calls' on this topic. That's great. Let's keep it up. See more information below about how to make these calls.
In the meantime, members have repeatedly asked what we can do to turn around the public sentiment that appears to be very hostile to unions and those they represent, even while supportive of individual teachers and individual schools. This is a major problem to be sure. The public sentiment is fed by a variety of forces. This is a problem that public sector unions, not only teacher unions, have been wrestling with for many years. If there were quick answers to this problem, we would have already turned this around. We know our schools are good, we know we work hard and effectively, and we also know that--despite these 'victories--we are continually lambasted. Consider today's Globe editorial on the sales tax.
The editorial was about some people who had told the Globe in a recent piece that they had gone to New Hampshire to avoid the Mass. sales tax. The Globe weighed in on their journey to New Hampshire and then opined that "taxpayers are justifiably frustrated when lawmakers balk at trimming unnecessary expenses, such as outsized benefits for public employees." There was no explanation of what is 'outsized.' (We didn't know that health insurance is a too-rich benefit.) But make no mistake about it: The Globe cares very much that our benefits are 'outsized.' And that colors their view on Ed Reform. Put another way, the Globe's passionate support of charter schools and constant attacks on the BTU isn't only about our schools. It's about our benefits. Simply, charter school employees do not have 'outsized' benefits. And that makes them attractive to the Globe and other policy makers and influence peddlers. And that's why it is so difficult to shake the perceived public perception about our schools, a perception that has been fueled over the years by countless other Globe editorials.
On the Ed Reform bill, we ask that BTU members to take a few steps in anticipation of the final bill to help maintain collective bargaining rights.
- Please take the time to call your state represetntaive.Here's your state rep's phone number If you want to find out whom to call, see here.
- See Talking Points in below section for help when you make your telephone call. For a more detailed analysis which will help in understanding the proposed legislation, see the AFT-Mass analysis here .
You can also send an email to your state representative. The process is very easy and will take you no more than one minute. Type in your name and address and an email goes out automatically to your state rep. and to the Speaker of the House. Thank you for participating in this campaign.
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The adult Holiday Party is on 12/18 from 3-8:30 This is a great time, and we hope you can attend. We take up a collection of new toys for the Home for Little Wanderers. Please try to bring an unwrapped toy to the BTU on the 18th for our donation to this most worthy organization. You will make a child very happy.
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| Talking Points When Calling Your Rep. About Pending Ed Reform Legislation |
Before the legislature next month will be a bill that will change educational policy for the foreseeable future. The bill was approved by the Senate in late November and will be taken up by the House of Representatives in early January. We would like you to make a call to your state representative and ask that he or she support a few changes in the Senate's bill. Here are just a few talking points. The Senate bill as it stands now:
1. Allows the superintendent to require all staff in any 'underperforming' school to reapply for their own positions in the schools. The superintendent can dismiss any teacher or fail to rehire any teacher for good cause. 'Good Cause'-as opposed to 'just cause'-is a step backwards and significantly diminishes our due process protections. There are essentially three levels of 'cause': just cause, good cause, and cause, in order of protection granted, with 'just' being the highest level. Good cause is an inadequate substitute for just cause. The original senate version would have allowed teachers to be fired at will. This is a slight improvement on that, but it is still quite inadequate. Anything less than a just cause provision in this section will be a significant loss. According to the AFT-Mass's interpretation of the bill's language, it appears that other staff, (e.g., paraprofessionals, school secretaries, custodians, and others) have no protection and can be dismissed at will.
2. Allows school committees throughout the state to establish new in-district charter schools (called Horace Mann Schools). Staff remain part of the local teachers' union and get seniority, salary and benefits (undefined)-but that's all. These schools are otherwise exempt from collective bargaining agreements, according to the AFT-Mass. There is no limit on these creations. Worst case scenario: The school committee targets a school, closes it, then reopens it as a Horace Mann Charter. And so on-without limitation. This number of Horace Manns needs a cap and these schools need to have collective bargaining protections.
3. Doubles charter school spending in Boston over a seven-year period, thereby draining an additional $49.5 million from our already-strapped school budget. This will bring the net annual loss in the BPS to $99 million. Looked at another way, the loss of $99 million amounts to almost $1800 per pupil currently enrolled in our schools.
Please pick up the telephone and call your state representative. If you don't know whom to call, see here . Let him or her know that you reside in the district, you vote, you work in our schools, and that you care about fixing our underperforming schools. But taking away collective bargaining protections will hurt--not help--these efforts to improve our schools. The best way to do this is to get together a group of people in your building and make the calls as a group effort. You will feel good about it, and each call made is easier than the last. Thank you.
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| GLSEN Massachusetts Educator Retreat |
On the weekend of January 29-31, GLSEN Massachusetts will hold its annual retreat in Provincetown, MA, to support educators who wish to be open, out, and supportive in their school communities. The retreat is open to LGBT and straight ally adults working in any school system (pre-K through college). It is intended to provide networking opportunities, information about policies and rights, and strategies for building personal and professional support networks. Register by December 23 and the price for the 2010 Educator Retreat will be the same as last year! For more information, please contact or visit.
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| BTU Adult Party |
- Friday December 18, 2009
- 3:00 - 8:30
- BTU Hall
Begin your holiday season by celebrating with friends and colleagues at the BTU Holiday Party. Food, Music, and Cash Bar
Big Wishes for Little Wanderers . Please help The Home for Little Wanderers provide children with a gift this holiday season. Please bring an unwrapped gift to the holiday party. For more information or to view a child's specific wish list please visit.
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| BEAM Holiday Party |
BEAM Annual Holiday Affair will be held at the Hotel Marlowe 25 Edwin H Land Blvd., Cambridge, MA Thursday, December 17, 2009 6:00-11:00p.m. Tickets are $45 in advance, $50 at door. Hors d'oeuvres, Cash Bar, Jazz, Dancing. For more information call 617-445-2088 or 617-510-2210. |
| Meeting on State Deferred Comp Plan--Tax Advantaged Savings Plan |
On 12/16 the BTU will host a meeting with Mr. Nick Baseel, a representative from the state's MASS SMART plan. MASS SMART is the state Deferred Compensation Plan, also knows as a 457 plan. The plan works similarly to other 403b plan except it offers low cost mutual funds only to participants. Tax advantages et al are essentially the same. You can learn more here or can attend the meeting with Mr. Baseel.
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| Dates--School Site Council Training, Deferred Comp., Next Stop High School, Middle School |
- SSC Budget Basics--12/3, 12/8
- Adult Holiday party--12/18
- Kids Holiday Party--12/30
- School Site Council 101--1/11 & 1/14
- SSC Budget Basics--12/8
- SSC Shared Decision Making process--1/25 & 1/28
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| Elevator Question for the Superintendent |
 If you had 60 seconds to speak with Superintendent Carol Johnson about turning around schools most in need of improvement, what 3 constructive ideas would you suggest? Please send replies to Ted Chambers or Kathy Aldred . Please write 'elevator question' in the subject line.
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| Children's Holiday Party |
- Wednesday December 30, 2009
- 12:00 - 2:00
- BTU Hall
Bring the children, grandchildren, and foster children for a fun afternoon of food, games, and a visit from Santa Claus. Tickets available at the BTU office.
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| AFT-Mass Scholarships Announced |
The AFT-Mass announces a scholarship for dependents. See here and scroll down to the scholarship announcement. Any questions, please call the AFT- MA at 617-423-3342.
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| Team O'Bryant: Dominican Republic Hosts Fund Raiser for Great Cause |
Team 'OBryant Dominican Republic is hosting a fund raiser event at the Baseball Tavern on Friday, January 29th from 8PM to 1AM. Admission is $20 and 100% of money collected at the door goes towards the Trip to Dominican Republic and the Sun Camp D.R. For every 100 people who come they will be able to send 4 students to Dominican Republic. Admission will include some free appetizers and a raffle ticket. If you aren't able to make it, but still want to help you can send a check addressed to Paul Pitts-Dilley to John D. O'Bryant School of Math & Science, 55 Malcolm X. Blvd. Roxbury, MA 02120
Team O'Bryant: Dominican Republic is a collection of sixteen students and three teachers at the John D. O'Bryant School of Math & Science (part of the Boston Public Schools) who will spend their April break doing community service. Our project consists of working with the children and at the same time making small repairs.
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| AFL-CIO Futures Committee Hosts Holiday Party and Charitable Goods Drive |
- Thursday, December 10th
- 7:00 PM
- Boston Teachers Union Hall
- 180 Mt. Vernon St. in Boston
Please join us to celebrate the holiday season while also
helping families in need. We ask all who attend to please bring
a donation for an area charity. Friends and family are welcome.
For more information, please contact . Needed Items: Non-perishable food items (rice, pasta, canned goods), Warm clothing (child and adult), Gloves, Books for children ages 3-14, Shoes /socks, Unwrapped children's toys, Gift card to a Boston-area grocery store.
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| City of Boston Charitable Campaign |
The City of Boston Employees Charitable Campaign (COBECC) is an easy way for BPS staff to make a real difference for people and causes they care about here in Boston and around the world. The COBECC catalog lists over 900 worthy charities. New easy & secure online pledging on the HUB! For more information . To pledge login to the Hub. |
BPS Payroll Department Issues Notice
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Boston Teachers Union members are entitled to a mid- year collective bargaining increase. Sub Teachers, Cluster Subs & Sub Nurses. Listed below are anticipated payroll dates for Teachers, Sub & Cluster Teachers and Paraprofessionals:
Union Code - BT3 - Teachers with 22 Checks
Rate Increase: Payroll effective date - 01/16/10 to 01/29/10; paycheck 02/05/2010
Teachers with 26 Checks ; Payroll effective date - 02/13/10 to 02/26/10; paycheck 03/05/2010
Union Code - BT1 - Paraprofessional
21 Checks ; Payroll effective date - 02/01/10; paycheck issued on 02/19/2010
26 Checks Salary SA5, SA6, SA7; Payroll effective date - 02/27/10 to 03/12/10 paycheck 03/19/2010
Union Code BT2 - Cluster Subs, Sub Teachers & Sub Nurses
Payroll effective date - 02/01/10 paycheck issued on 02/19/2010
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| Connecting Link Course at Salem State |
Earn 3 graduate credits from Salem State College in a one-month course here in Boston through the Connecting Link being taught by Kelly Corrigan. The course id is MAF09012 titled Web Publishing: Impacting Teaching & Student Learning and is being offered from 1/5/10 1/28/10 at Kennedy Academy . Sign up by December 6th and save 70 dollars. If you have any questions you can email Kelly.
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Sincerely,
Richard Stutman
BTU President
richardstutman@comcast.net (home)
rstutman@btu.org (work)
617-288-2000
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