Boston Teachers Union e-Bulletin #28 (2009-10),  03/04/10

Good Evening,

Today the superintendent released her Turnaround Plan with the approval of the State's DESE.  12 schools were designated level 4 schools, and therefore eligible for one of four levels of intervention. Those schools are the Agassiz, Blackstone, Dever, E  Greenwood, Holland, J.F. Kennedy, Trotter, Harbor, Dearborn, Orchard,  Burke, and English.

The most severe level of intervention is the so-called Turnaround Model . The  Superintendent chose six schools of the 12 schools as Turnaround Schools. Those six schools are: Blackstone, Burke, Dever, Harbor, Orchard and Trotter. In each of these six schools, the superintendent can require staff to re-apply for their own positions, and, after the application period, she has to replace "at least 50 percent of the staff."  The superintendent could have placed all 12 schools into this category.  Why didn't she? It is believed that the superintendent did not take full advantage of this provision because many principals did not want to be forced to excess a majority of their staff.

The state also removed four schools  (Odyssey HS, the Guild, Tobin, and Emerson) from the original school department list. These schools remain regular BPS schools.
A couple of quick points to remember:

• There are a myriad of issues to work out and negotiate. We are in the process of negotiating these issues with the school department. Ditto on the legal front. We will keep you apprised.
  
• All BTU employees have assignment rights under our contract. Here's what Mass law says:  "the employee shall retain such rights as may be provided under law or any applicable collective bargaining agreement in relation to the employee's ability to fill another position in the district." That's good news. A few people have called about the situation in Rhode Island. The situation in Rhode Island at the Central Falls High School is NOT analogous. It's a different state, there are different laws, and there is only one high school in that community. For some of those folks, unfortunately, to not be a successful applicant means that that person has no other place to move to in the district. We do have many other schools to be placed at, and our members have a variety of assignment rights.
  
• Teachers and paraprofessionals may voluntarily excess themselves if they wish from one of the 12 schools through March 19. That is the deadline as of today, though it is subject to change. Also, teachers may opt, if they wish, to file a transfer application.
  

Sincerely,

Richard Stutman
BTU President

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