Greetings!

Good Morning,

Much is happening.

Last week, the state released its list of so-called underperforming schools. Those schools are the the Agassiz Elementary, Blackstone Elementary, Dever Elementary, E  Greenwood Elementary, Holland elementary, J.F. Kennedy Elementary, Trotter Elementary, Harbor Pilot Middle, Dearborn Middle, Orchard Garden K-8 Pilot School,  Burke HS, and English Commonwealth Pilot HS.

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 Pilot, Orchard Gardens Pilot and Trotter. In each of these six schools, the superintendent MUST 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 was not required to make this choice.  Lesser interventions are allowed, subject to the new Education state law, at the remaining six schools. (Both the BTU and AFTMA Committees on Political Actions have voted NOT to make any more financial contributions to any elected officials who voted for the new state Education law.)

The BTU officers and staff are in the process of visiting each of the above schools. Some have already scheduled meetings, some have not. We ask that all schools schedule these meetings through their union representatives. As we cautioned in the last bulletin , our potentially displaced staff do have a variety of staffing rights to move into other buildings, unlike the situation in Central Falls, Rhode Island, where there is only one high school.

We will hold a rally at School Committee Headquarters on Wednesday, March 24, from 5 to 6:30, to protest a number of items.

1. The school committee is poised on March 24 to approve a bare bones budget that falls $32.5 Million short of where the superintendent thinks it ought to be to restore and maintain services at the current level. The discussion will undoubtedly be short, as the school committee is not known for resisting budget cutbacks.

2. The so-called underperforming schools are schools that have been under-resour ced for years. To truly 'fix' these schools requires an honest appraisal of what resources are needed to help our students.

3. The superintendent has chosen to force all BTU members in six of the most challenging schools to re-apply for their own positions. The superintendent did not have to choose six schools. She could have chosen any number, but, by choosing so many schools for such a drastic action, she plays into the notion that any failings of our schools rest primarily with our teachers. The six schools chosen have had a myriad of problems, often administrative, for many years. To focus only on replacing the teachers and paras at these schools is disingenuous and unfair.

We ask that you get to the school committee meeting promptly at 5. We will be both inside and outside the meeting as we gather on Court St. The BTU will serve as a drop-off point for those who wish to take the T and leave their cars. Coffee and refreshments will be served, beginning at 2:15. Signs, placards, and other materials will be provided.  We hope to see you there!

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On a side note, two interesting speakers have b een scheduled for events at the BTU. One, Dal Lawrence , former head of the Toledo Federation of Teachers, will speak on March 15 on their district's Peer Assistance and Review Program. The PAR program is an example of collaboration between the school department and the teachers union. And Diane Ravitch , today's pre-eminent education historian, speaks at the BTU on April 5 on the subject of her new book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education (Basic Books), which is the top education selling book on Amazon . Both speakers could not be more timely, and their message could not be more urgent. All BTU members and friends are invited.

A few other notes:

The negotiation package has been mailed out in a hard copy and electronically to all BTU Reps.

The Globe last week ran a series of articles about the high cost of our health insurance. At the conclusion of their series, the Boston Foundation released a report about the high cost of our health insurance. The well-placed coordination of these reports was no accident. This is the same Boston Foundation that lobbied for the so-called Ed Reform bill. The BF claims that the city of Boston would save $45 Million if it were allowed to send its employees to the State's GIC Plan. What the BF calls 'savings' in its Health Reform proposal is no more than cost shifting--to the employee.

According to the Globe , the recommendation from the Boston Foundation would cost the typical HMO subscriber the following in additional
out-of-pocket expenses (premium, co-pays, and so on) per year upon switching to the State's GIC. It would cost...

An Infrequent User--$681 per year
A Moderate User--$1776 per year
A Frequent User--$5191 per year

That's money the city saves by forcing us to make up for the difference. Now, if the city really wanted to save money, it could go after the non-profits, keeping in mind that Northeastern, as an example, pays $30,000 to the city each year for its 67+ acre (and growing) campus. The BF and others find the city's employees an easier target than Northeastern. Stay tuned. This issue is front and center.

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Lastly, for some Good News... .Madison Park Wins!

We congratulate the boys basketball team from Madison Park for beating Mansfield in the Garden this past Friday. (Sorry, I refuse to call the Garden by its new name, TD Banknorth Garden). Led by Senior Center David Campbell (29 points)and Senior Guard Spencer Braithwaite (19 points), MP won its first sectional title in close to 30 years. Go, MP, and congratulations to the players and coaching staff (Dennis Wilson et al) for their victory. MP plays tonight in the Garden.  

The 2010 BEAM Annual Conference features a dynamic keynote speaker and outstanding national and local workshop presenters.  The workshops focus on strategies that educators can use to access the strengths of children, in order to achieve higher performance.  The theme of this year's Conference is Unlocking the Potential: Keys to Eliminating the Achievement Gap.   The Conference will be Saturday, March 27, at the Marriott Hotel in Quincy.  The conference brochure, including the registration form, is attached.  You can register by mailing the enclosed form or by completing the on-line registration form

• BEAM, Black Educators' Alliance of Massachusetts
  An Affiliate of NABSE
  Annual Conference 2010
  Saturday, March 27, 2010
  Marriott Hotel, Quincy, MA

• March 8--job-share meeting at the BTU, 4-6
  
• March 15-=-Dal Lawrence, former president of Toledo Federation of Teachers Comes to discuss the Peer Assistance and Review Program, 4:00
• March 19, 3-8, Rosie's Place Fundraiser
  
• March 25--Retirement Seminar at 4:30, hosted by Michael McLaughlin
• April 5--Diane Ravitch speaks, 4:00

• Joanne D. Nieves at the Burke
  Retirement party on June 16th from 6-11
  Lombardo's Randolph
  $35 to Juan Nieves, c/o Linda Tate PO box, 240797
  Dorchester, Mass 02124
  surprise--don't tell her when you see her. We'll keep the secret as long as possible
  

• Val Shelley from Charlestown HS
  Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 6pm 
  
  Venezia Waterfront Banquet Facility
  20 Ericsson Street, Neponset Circle, Dorchester.)
  The cost is $65.00; RSVP by March 19, 2010
  Check payable to Charlestown High School, 240 Medford Street, Charlestown, MA 02129
  Questions: Please contact PattyAnn Woods @ 617.635.9914
  
• Retirement Party for Marva Martin, Gloria Blakeley and Emma Richardson
  On Wednesday June 16th
  
  Quincy Marriott Hotel   $50.00 (includes gift)
  5:00 Cocktails
  6:00-8:00 Dinner
  Make checks payable to Donalee Dixon.
  Contact Donalee Dixon
  3 Kovey Road,
  Hyde Park, MA 02136
  617-318-7215
  Thanks so much,