Greetings!

Good Day,

Haitian relief efforts took place at the BTU on Saturday, 1/23. Clothing, supplies, and food were raised in abundance. Thank you to all who donated. Thank you all who organized this effort .

Special thanks go to Paula Sylvestre. Any other efforts we hear about will be publicized as well. This is an issue, regrettably, that will not be going away for a very long time. Below is a letter of thanks from Ray of Hope Children Services, Inc.:

        "To the staff of the following schools:  Joseph Lee, Manning, Brook Farm Academy, Boston International, Winthrop, Chittick, Channing, Tynan, Umana Barnes, Boston Latin School, Tobin, Ellis, Unified Student Services, Grew, Roosevelt, Winthrop and the following organizations: Brown Brothers Harrinman & Co., Suffolk County District Attorney's office, Boston Teachers Union, and the Twelfth Baptist Church

          "Thanks to each one of you for being a "Ray of Hope" for Haiti in its time of need.  Your donation of time, money and most needed items is appreciated and will surely help many people in Haiti."

Paula Sylvestre
President/Founder

Ed Reform Legislation passed the House and the Senate ten days ago.  See how our representatives voted; see how our senators voted. Another list of how the BTU's endorsed candidates, as well as the AFT-MA's endorsed candidates, voted will also be placed on our web page very shortly.  For an analysis of the bill, see the AFT-MA's webpage . The AFT-MA is our parent organization and is responsible for our lobbying efforts on Beacon Hill. We will have more information once the DOE promulgates its rules and regulations on implementation.

Other issues....
Swine Flu clinic was held at the BTU on Thursday, 1/21; hundreds attended. The city is offering many more clinics. Please remember that all staff receive up to 2 hours' release time to receive a flu shot. You can access a calendar of clinics here .


New School Department Ethics memo -Our atty., Matt Dwyer, has told us that we have to sign the document. There are some issues with the memo that Atty. Dwyer will address. Those issues, however, do not negate our responsibility to sign the memo.


Amount for 2009 dues - teachers: $1064.24 and paras/subs: $532.12

• 1/27 deadline for voluntary excessing for paras and teachers. Form is found here .  Scroll down to HRS-HS07-1(This is a new date this year only)
• 2/11--deadline for notification in pilot schools for excessing--both for schools to do the excessing and for those in pilot schools who wish to voluntarily excess themselves--new date this year only
• 3/2 transfer posting is announced. Also date for notice of excessing
• 3/2 to 3/16 transfer posting window period
• 4/15 para excess pool scheduled
• 4/27-4/29--teachers excess pools are scheduled. (Those excessed on 3/2 shall receive seniority lists and vacancy lists in late April, prior to running of particular excess pool.)

• Develop the necessary skills to become a leader, communicator, supervisor, and manager!
• Gain increased clarity of your leadership style and understand the strategies necessary to build and maintain effective school cultures!
• Licensure program for Assistant Principal or Principal

• When: February 6th
• Where: Simmons College
• What: Educational Leadership Program Open House
• Who: Roberta Kelly, Program Director, roberta.kelly@simmons.edu

• Date: Friday, January 29th
  Time: 3-7pm
  Location: Amrhein's
  80 West Broadway, South Boston (corner of Broadway and A Street)
  617.268.6189
  
  Host Schools: Gavin Middle School and South Boston Educational Complex