Good Day. A very important week is ahead.

On June 3rd, the BTU and the school department head to arbitration to decide what changes in working conditions will occur in Turnaround Schools. Both parties have proposed changes. There is a three person tribunal that will hear the case. Failing agreement, the commissioner of education, Mitchell Chester, will decide.  The process is mandated under the new state Ed Reform law. Boston is the first district in the Commonwealth to undergo this procedure. The state has made it very difficult for the BTU to present its case.

First, the school department asked the state to expedite the negotiation process. The state agreed. Then the school department needed more time to prepare its case, so it requested a delay. The state granted a delay. The aforementioned was all in the pre-hearing stage.  After participating in these back-room shenanigans the state now has ordered all parties to complete this process by the end of this upcoming week, a time frame that is completely arbitrary. The BTU and its attorneys put everything else on the back burner and worked feverishly last week to prepare its case. Long story short: The case will be heard this week, we are prepared, and we ought to have a decision by the beginning of next week. We're not happy, obviously, with the state's manipulation of the process, but we will make the best of this on what is an uneven playing field. "Manipulation" may seem a strong word, but we can assure you the characterization, if anything, understates the state's role in this process.

At the arbitration itself, the school department will propose extending the work day and the work year for no additional compensation. The union doesn't object to the extended time provided adequate compensation is provided.  The school department wants, too, to increase class size in Bilingual/SEI classes, eliminate seniority protections, and reduce teacher-directed P&D time, among other items.

We will ask the school department how increasing the school day and year up to 230 hours without compensation will "rapidly accelerate student achievement" while the same time extension with compensation will not.

We will also ask the department how increasing class size, eliminating one or two P&D periods, and eliminating seniority protections will enhance student learning. If we learn anything earth shattering, we will inform you right away.

The union will propose bringing in a team of people to work on developing social/emotional/academic support for children at each Turnaround School. The team would be composed of a social worker, an academic coach chosen by staff, a CFC parent liaison to do outreach, a part-time school attendance officer, and a part-time behavioral specialist. The team would provide needed (and often neglected) services to our schools. In addition, we proposed that each turnaround schools develop a reading intervention program and provide either physical education or a movement class to all children three times per week.

Why is physical education or movement important? The Globe on Monday reported the US Center for Disease Control (p.8, G Section) reported that our ninth and tenth graders have a lot less physical education than their counterparts throughout the country. In Mass 18.2% of our students have phys ed on a daily basis; in the nation, it's 30.3%.

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Health insurance Update -- The State Senate has passed a bill that would remove some conditions of our health coverage (co-pays, deductibles) from Collective Bargaining. This translates into potentially bad news for our members, active and retired, and just happened late last week. Here's a report from the Mass Municipal Association which sponsored the legislation. We will keep you posted as the bill winds its way through the legislative process. The AFTMA will let us know when to make our phone calls.

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AP Exam Compensation Issue: You may remember a while back the BTU won an arbitration that precluded Exxon-Mobil, the largest oil company in the world, from interfering with our collective bargaining rights when it sought to give selected teachers $100 for their student test performance. The BTU had argued that the compensation ought to be evenly distributed among all staff in the building, as all contribute to a student's success. The School Department appealed the arbitrator's decision to Superior Court, and the BTU has prevailed again. The Court has ruled that "the arbitrator's decision was thorough and carefully reasoned." The school department has 30 days to appeal once more. Instead of spending more of our money on an appeal, the school department would be properly advised to reach out to Exxon-Mobil to prevail upon them to launch a program that would work, that would be seen as fair and educationally sound--that is, one that would provide a school-wide incentive for success. School improvement is, after all, a group effort. We'll see.

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Teacher excess pools to be held 6/1, 2, and 3. Any questions, call Caren or Michael at 617-288-2000.

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We had a transformer replaced last week at the BTU, which accounted for our going off line for a few hours. We did the repair work at night, but some problems lingered into the morning on and off during work hours. This was a big operation and ought to fix some of the electrical problems we've been having. We are sorry for any inconvenience. The work had to be done.

• Date:  Monday, June 07, 2010 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (ET)
• Location:  TBD
• To register for this free event and/or for more details, please visit
  

• ABOARD THE MAJESTY, 1 Long Wharf Boston, MA
• Saturday, June 26, 2010
• Boat Boards at 8:30 p.m., Sails 9:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.
• Advance tickets:  $55.00, At the door :  $60.00
• Hors' d'oeuvres, Cash Bar, Dancing
• For ticket information please call (617)510-2281 or (617)445-2088
• Proceeds benefit the Scholarship Fund

Approved by the DESE this online graduate level program is specially designed for secondary teachers in practice who have preliminary license and are seeking to earn initial licensure.   Made up of four courses (16 quarter hours) including a practicum, Teaching in Context is an fully online and can be completed in ten months.  Cost/Credit:  16 qh of credit.  $6688.  Scholarships are available to groups of five ($1000/student) or more ($1500/student) coming from the same district. For more information call Carol Doherty at 617-373-2283

Please link into our webinar at any time. 

30th annual fun run.. choose either a 5.8mile course or a 2.8 mile course. Open to all teachers and paraprofessionals covered by the fund.

• ENTRY FEE:    $3.00
• T-shirts to all official runners and walkers who complete the course in each race.
• Drop in or call the Fund Office (617-288-0500) Monday through Friday before 4:00 P.M. and request an entry application.  Complete the application and submit it with your entry fee.

• When: June 19, 2010
• Where: Boston Teachers Union
• Time:  9:00 A M - 3:00 P M
• Items needed: (backpacks, pencils, pens, notebooks, 1" binders, loose leaf paper, pocket folders, rulers, pencil sharpeners, erasers, colored pencils, crayons, markers, construction paper, protractors, compass, glue, math manipulative, alphabet/phonics/math flashcards etc.)

• BTU RTC  is sponsoring a 4 hour AARP/AAA Driver Safety Program for drivers 50+
• Tuesday, June 8th 9 to 1pm
• $12.00 or AARP members
• $14.00 for non-members
• Payable in advance by check to AARP
• Please call RTC 617-288-2000 to reserve a place.

• 21st Century Leadership Cadre Showcase: The day will kick-off in the morning with the 21st Century Leadership Cadre Showcase from 8:30-11:00 in Beatty Hall, Lower Level. The showcase will serve as an opportunity for schools to share their learning and how technology training has impacted their work. If attending the Cadre Showcase, please RSVP .  
•  Technology Goes Home (TGH) Graduation:  The annual TGH Graduation Ceremony will occur from 1:00 to 2:00 in Watson Auditorium.
• Robotics Olympics:  TechBoston's Robotics Olympics will also take place in Beatty Hall, Upper Level, from 12:00 to 4:00, as more than 150 BPS students compete.
  

• Celeste B. Janey and Margaret Mills from Chittick School
  Contact person: Claire McCarrick, 617-635-8652
  Doyle's Cafe Cost $45 (dinner & gift)
  Date: June 11, 2010; 4-7 PM

• Retirement Party for Judy McKenna, Jackson Mann K-8 Wednesday, June 16th (17th is Bunker Hill Day) 6pm Filipo's in the North End,
  $60 includes buffet dinner, dancing, and gift
  Make checks payable to Ellen Gallivan
  rsvp by May 31st to  617-875-7297

• Craig Lankhorst, Principal, Emily A. Fifield Elementary - Friday, June 11th 6pm
  Venezia, $65 per person (includes dinner and gift). Make checks payable to Fifield sunshine fund, 25 Dunbar ave, Dorchester, MA 02124. RSVP Jessica at 617-756-3270

• Janice Kenneally, Haley School
  Wednesday, June 23, 2010
  West on Centre, 5:00 -8:00 pm
  Haley Sunshine Fund  $45, includes gift
  RSVP to Mary Turner 617-635-8169
  

• Ann Grassa - Todd, Barbara Mingle, and Mable Benton-Morris of Dorchester Academy
  June 16, 2010 @ 2:30 at Venezia in Dorchester. Cocktails 2:30-3:00 PM,  Luncheon 3:00 PM, $50.00 per person (includes gift) please contact Mary Connor or Maribel Pomales-Bunch
  9 Peacevale Rd, Dorchester MA 02124
  

• O'Bryant's John Buckley and Mitch Debose
  June 22 at the Common Market in Quincy, 6PM-10PM
  $50.00 includes dinner buffet and gift
  Email Susan Bell or call 857 526-1614
  

• Blackstone's GISSETTE WALL; MILAGROS BERMUDEZ; DOROTHY THOMPSON; And GILBERTO AYALA.
  June 4th @ 7:00 PM up to 12:00 pm@ LOMBARDOS $55 dollars.
  

• Libby Scimemi (Cafeteria Worker) and Raymond Mortlock (3rd grade teacher), both at the P.J.Kennedy, will be retiring at the end of the current ('09-'10) school year.

• Therese Connors - Clap School
  # 224 Boston Street Restaurant, Thursday June 24th, 2010, Tickets: $60.00 (includes dinner, dessert and gift). Please RSVP   no later than May 26th, 2010. Checks to Mary Hamilton C/O Therese's retirement. Send to Clap School, 35 Harvest Street, Dorchester, MA 02125. Payment must arrive No later than June 4, 2010.

• South Boston High School Retirement Party
  Denise Henderson, Judy Kelleher, and David White at the Common Market Restaurant, Quincy MA on June 16, 2010 @ 2:30
  Tickets 40:00 per person, Checks payable to Odyssey High School c/o Mary Linehan SBHS.

• HOLLAND SCHOOL
  Diane Roe, Jane Holleman, Lindsay Trementozzi, Chan Phan, Theresa Price Frank, Sunday Kalu, Juliana Williams
  6th Annual, END OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION
  Time: 6:00pm - 11:00pm
  Location: Lombardo's
  Date: June 4, 2010, Cost: $55.00 per person. (This will cover the gift, dinner & DJ) Cash Bar. Please make check payable to: J.P. Holland F.S. For more information email csamuel@boston.k12.ma.us or  call (617) 635-8832

• Project Strive Mike Rusinak at the BTU, 6/10, 2;30 PM. RSVP to Diane Campbell.
  Mike will be hosting the party; in lieu of a gift, feel free to make a donation to Strive Kids c/o Brenda Jackson, 23 Chipman St. Dorchester, Mass 02124

• English High School
• Jerry Gallagher, Dr. Michael Rozas, Pat Thaxton, and Keith "PK" Parker
  X&O Restaurant and Lounge. 217 Washington Street, Stoughton, MA 02072
  Friday June 11, 2010, 6:00pm - 11:00pm. $45.00 (includes dinner and gift). Cash Bar. Contacts: Sue Alborghetti (salborghetti@boston.k12.ma.us), Tia Lawrence (ms.lawrenceehs@gmail.com) or Georgette Travis (gtravis@boston.k12.ma.us), Phone: 617-635-8979. Payment for the tickets in the form of cash, check, or money order. Make checks and money orders out to The English High School.

• Richard J. Murphy School
  Honoring: Paula Clarke, Eva Ehrenspeck, Barbara Needle at the Common Market Restaurant Quincy MA on June 16, 2 010, Cocktails 5:30-6:30, Dinner 6:30-9:30
  Tickets 50.00. Mail Check to the Murphy School Sunshine Fund befoire 6/8.

• John W. McLaughlin,  Attendance Officer,  Former Teacher
  Wed., June 16, 2010, 4 - 7  PM
  The Village Manor, 427 Sprague St.,  Dedham,  Ma.  02026,  781-407-9191
  Appetizers and music,  cash bar
  RSVP  Ann at  781-864-2233  or 781-331-5443 

• Ann Davis, Fran Doyle, Midge Jacobs, Jean Leahy, Dora Nocera, Marjorie Sullivan Citywide ETF'S
  June 11th, 2010,  at Common Market,  5:00-9:00 - $55.00 buffet. RSVP to Adele Chiachio Brighton High School.

• Joyce Simms-Tyson
  Lombardos, Randolph, Ma, June 16,  2010, 6 P.M. Cost is $50.00. Price includes dinner and gift. Make checks payable to the Mather School c/o Karen King by 6/4
  Questions E-mail

• Danny Green and Richie Smigielski
  June 16th, 2010, 6pm-10pm
  $65 per person, includes tasty buffet and gift
  The Venezia Waterfront
  Please send check or money order payable to Snowden to the attention of Mary Battersby or Dr. Gloria Coulter (617) 635-9989. RSVP by June 1st please.

• Marsha Hunt, Mary Jane Drinkwater
  School Psychological Services
  Neighborhood Club--June 16, cocktails 7, dinner at 7. Check of $35 to psych services before 6/1. 443 Warren Street, dot, 02121

• Sheila Burke, Carlene Chavis
  Thursday 6/24, 6-10, Venezia
  $ 55 dinner and gifts
  RSVP by 6/4, Ann Direeno c/o Tynan school
  650 east 4th St, SB 02127

• Retirement Dinner for Danette Ingram
  Sat., June 12, 2010, 6-11
  Lombardo's
  RSVP 45$ to Diane Thornton, 200 Matthew Circle  201, Braintree, Mass. 02184