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Boston Teachers Union
e-Bulletin
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#03
(2009-10), 09/14/09 |
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Greetings!
(Attn: New Teachers) The Boston Teachers Union has added your email address to our list serve today for purposes of sending out this e-Bulletin. We will use this email address ONLY for the purpose of sending out this weekly bulletin. The email list is protected and is not used for any other purpose. The list will not be given or sold to anyone for any purpose. Joining this 8300+ member list serve allows you to obtain important information from the BTU. Prior e-Bulletins can be found here. See the section below that announces our party for new members. If you wish to unsubscribe, you may do so at the bottom of this email.)
We hope you have had a nice beginning of school. This week much is going on at the state house. On Thursday, 9/17, at 1, in Gardner Auditorium at Beacon Hill, there is a legislative hearing on the governor's Readiness Bill. The mayor's bill was heard in mid July. Regarding the two bills, we have what qualifies as a Hobson's choice. The governor's bill takes away collective bargaining rights at the call of the state commissioner of education. The commissioner would have the right to declare a school under performing, take it over, and insert a puppet regime (the governor uses the term 'external receiver'). The mayor's bill does the same, but it gives control to his appointed school committee. Both proposals take away collective bargaining rights from those who work in those schools. Both proposals dress up their language to suggest that the removal of what we have bargained over the last 40 years would somehow be innovative and would, in turn, lead to better schools. The governor's plan suggests that this proposal would usher in the 'next chapter of Ed Reform,' and the mayor's suggests that, by starting schools afresh, (and that includes no guarantee of current salary levels or benefits), we can somehow scare schools and intimidate staff into better performance. Neither proposal attaches supporting evidence that the key to school turnaround lies in punishing teachers and paraprofessionals. The AFT-Massachusetts, our parent organization, is heading up the lobbying efforts on Beacon Hill, and we will join them on Beacon Hill on the 17th.
ELL Training- -We have received some calls that certain schools are requiring members to work additional time to receive ELL training. This cannot be mandated. We are meeting with the school department shortly to discuss this. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please call the BTU office.
403b Case --The school department and the BTU attended one more day of hearings this week before an arbitrator is assigned to determine whether the school department and/or the city violated our rights by unilaterally changing the 403b plan offered to our members. As part of our case, we will be seeking a possible remedy for those who may have been harmed. Please see the following announcement from our attorney:
"The Union is currently involved in arbitration with the School Committee over the changes that were made to the City's Section 403(b) Plan structure during late 2008. At the next hearing date, the Union will have an opportunity to present testimony from bargaining unit members who have been harmed in some way by the changes that the City made. If you fit each of the following criteria, please immediately contact Mark Esposito, Esq. :
- You were enrolled in a Section 403(b) plan on November 17, 2008
- You experienced an interruption in contributions to your chosen service provider, or were forced to change service providers; and
- You have experienced harm because of the above."
If and when writing to our attorney, please be very specific. Define very clearly item #3.
Note to B Reps: Please get in your B Rep rosters for this year ASAP, and no later than September 18th. Elected Reps...please sign up for the annual building Rep Conference weekend October 23-25 at the Hyatt in Quincy. The deadline for doing so is September 30. If your school cannot send one of your elected representatives, please try to send another staff member to represent the school. Thank you.
Too Much of a Good Thing :
Last week we announced a house party for BTU-endorsed city council candidate Felix G. Arroyo. Many people responded. Too many--if that's possible. We would like to  keep the house party to those who live in Charlestown, as that's where the party sponsor lives. Also, for planning purposes, please RSVP to Donna O'Brien if you can attend the event, which will be held this Wednesday, 9/16, at 6:30, at 31 Monument Ave. Arroyo, by the way, has been an outspoken critic of the let's-expand-charter-schools-quickly-without-thinking movement. We wish others would be more careful before jumping on the charter school bandwagon. In a piece in the JP Gazette, Arroyo takes a critical look at charter schools, in words similar to what we hear all the time: charter schools "(have) ways of encouraging children with lower test scores to leave."
The Opening of the BTU School drew favorable media attention ( report and editorial ), and we thank those who have chosen to work there as well as those have done the planning for this great project. The BTU has made a few points in describing this project:
- There is nothing mutually exclusive about having a good school and honoring the rights of our members. This school will accomplish both.
- We have many, many great teachers and paraprofessionals in our school system, and we take pride that all of the staff at the new BTU school come from within the system. We didn't have to recruit 'outside' in order to obtain a terrific, enthusiastic staff.
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- Listing of All Endorsed City Council Candidates
- Preliminary Election , September 22
- Felix G. Arroyo House Party on September 16th.
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We are proud to announce our support of Mr. Felix G. Arroyo , who has stood tall, alongside the BTU, in opposition to the proposals to take off the cap on charter school expansion. Mr. Arroyo is running  for one of the two open seats on City Council.
We have also endorsed incumbent Councilors, Steven J. Murphy and John R. Connolly, for the other two slots.
We have not endorsed anyone yet for the 4th opening.
In addition we have endorsed all of the other incumbent district city councilors:
- District 1. Salvatore LaMattina
- District 2. Bill Linehan
- District 3. Maureen E. Feeney
- District 4. Charles C. Yancey
- District 5. Rob Consalvo
- District 6. John M. Tobin, Jr.
- District 7: Chuck Turner
- District 8: Michael P. Ross (President)
- District 9: Mark S. Ciommo
BTU member Donna O'Brien is holding a house party for endorsed Citywide City council candidate Felix G. Arroyo at her house at 31 Monument Ave. in Charlestown, Mass . on Wednesday, 9/16, at 6:30 PM. Because the responses have been so numerous and it is a house party, we ask that BTU staff who live in Charlestown ONLY attend this function. Please RSVP to Donna O'Brien if you are attending. Thank you.
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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 w alk. Last year the BTU helped contribute toward the over $3,000,000 raised. This year our goal is to raise at least $20,000.
At the membership meeting on Wednesday, September 9, 2009, we had a brief presentation. Plus we had a table outside the hall where you could pick up your walking papers or where you could drop off a donation.
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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| RTC Alerts |
- Fall Membership Meeting 10-15-09
- Watch your mail for Fall Luncheon notices date 11-5-09. Reservations should be returned in a timely fashion.
- RTC/AARP Driver Refresher Course will be offered October 6, 2009. Call RTC office for information and to sign up. The cost is $14. for non members and 12 for AARP members. The class is limited to 25 people
- Crafters Fair for RTC Members - October call or e-mail Sandy Baler-Segal for information and sign up. Phone 781-843-6657
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Para Work Day is 6:10, with Limited Exceptions
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Attention Paras:
The BTU contract calls for all paras to work and get compensated for 6:10 each day. There are a very small handful of exceptions. For example, paras in Extended Day Schools may work extra AND they will get paid for their time. Or paras in pilot schools may work extra. In pilots, the hours are variable. But these are limited exceptions. UNLESS he or she has been told otherwise, a para will get paid for only 6:10 per day. Paras, therefore, should only work 6:10 per day. If you are required to work more than 6:10 you should call (or feel free to email Jenna Fitzgerald ) the office immediately and we will file a grievance for you seeking overtime pay. Long story short...some 'crafty' administrators may attempt to get a paraprofessional to work an additional 10 or 20 minutes without pay. Get the request in writing and call Jenna. Thank you.
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| Dates--Parties, Hearings, Election |
- Governor's Hearing-September 17
- B Rep. Roster due-Sept 18
- Preliminary Election-September 22
- Welcome Back Party-Sept 25- all BTU members welcome. Adults only - food, music, cash bar
- B Rep. Conference Notification Deadline-Sept 30
- Jobs with Justice Rally -October 1
- Blarney Stone Party for New Hires-October 2
- Making Strides Walk-October 4
- School Site Council Elections are to be held by October 15. Questions, email Caren Carew
- Retirement Seminar with Michael McLaughlin on October 20
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Class-Size Maxima--And What to do if Exceeded
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In the past several school years, the school department has been far too lax in promptly addressing complaints of class-size violations. In some cases, it seems the school department believes it can simply purchase a way to exceed the limit but do nothing to actually reduce the size of a given class to bring it into compliance with the clear limits set by our contract.
The contract states: In the event the maximum class-size is exceeded, the building administrator and the classroom teacher will discuss in good faith appropriate educational solutions. These might include the assignment of a Para-professional to assist the teacher, a reduction in the teacher's non-teaching duties, insuring the teacher an overall average class-size that is no more than 85% of the maximum, and similar measures. Ultimately, the classroom teacher may insist that the class-size maximum be enforced.
This means that every teacher has a right, after considering the proposed alternatives in good faith, to insist on adherence to the class-size limits. Intimidation, coercion or retaliation against any teacher for insisting on adherence to the contract is unlawful. Therefore, we want to remind everyone whose class size is over the limit in the 2009 - 2010 school year to take the following steps:
1. Notify BTU immediately by going to the BTU website and file your class size violation , i.e. the particular class and the number of students that report to your class.
2. Record the duration for which your number of assigned class size exceeds the limit and keep the record in your possession.
3. Retain class lists and enrollment data that will assist us if we need to resolve disputes with Court Street over the actual number assigned to you.
4. Update BTU of any pertinent changes in your class size as the year progresses.
5. Write in the "Comment" section whether you prefer to enforce the contract, receive a stipend/Para or wait for financial compensation.
It is important that we hear from you as early as possible of any class size violation. Compensation is based on the day that the grievance is filed. |
| Party for New members! |
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 will go out shortly. |
| Retirement Seminar |
Retirement seminar hosted by Michael McLaughlin, along with other related and important agencies, will be held on October 20, 2009, and March 25, 2010. Attend one or both. Look for the registration flier in your school soon.
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Benchmark Testing
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Individualized Benchmark Testing--All K2 - 3 teachers will be provided with the equivalent of two days of substitute coverage while administering individualized benchmark testing. One day's equivalency will be given in September, the other in June. This is a contractual mandate; make sure, if eligible, you take advantage of the coverage.
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| MassArt Program for Students--Great Program |
Grades 4-12, October 17-December 12, 2009, Saturday mornings
Saturday S tudios brings together youth from around the Commonwealth with emerging Art Educators enrolled in MassArt's Art Education degree programs. Studio offerings provide elementary through high school students access to a variety of media. Young artists explore their creativity, strengthen their expressive skills and have fun in a unique and diverse community. Scholarships are available through a generous support from the Linde Family Foundation and the Civil Society Institute.
To learn more about Saturday Studios and to register |
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| Celtics Tickets |
The BTU has again scheduled two nights at the Celtics. Tickets are $45, Celtics vs . the Sacramento Kings on 3/26, and against the Wizards on 4/9. Both are Friday nights. Seats are in sections 310, 311. These tickets go quickly. First come, first served, email or call Pat O'Donnell. Sorry, we cannot reserve tickets. You will have to move quickly, like Rajon Rondo, to get these tickets. |
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Sincerely,
Richard Stutman
BTU President
richardstutman@comcast.net (home)
rstutman@btu.org (work)
617-288-2000
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