Greetings!

Good Morning, 

We hope you had a nice St. Patrick's Day and we wish you all a Happy Easter. Let's start out the week with something different, a fun-but-sad-but-true Tom Chapin song, Not on the Test. We think you'll enjoy it. The song should be required listening for all of our federal and state legislators.

The TeLLs Survey deadline in Suffolk County has been extended to 3/20. A very small number of our schools have had NO responses yet to this survey. In some cases, it may be that no one knows, though it has been well advertised. In other cases, it may be that the chemistry between principals and teachers is so bad, that teachers are afraid that the survey may not be anonymous. The survey is anonymous . Please participate.

The ETF meeting that was to be held the 19th is OFF, as the widespread excessings that were rumored did not happen. Instead we will have a Coaches meeting at the BTU on March 19th, at 4:00 PM. Those excessings DID happen.


Two hundred BTU members saw the Celtics Friday night and had fun even though the Celtics had their winning streak snapped. No one could top our seats. In other words, if our seats were any higher, we would have been on the roof. But everybody had fun.

****

The largest excess pools in many years are coming up and there is a concurrent shortage of jobs in a variety of subject areas. That's bad news. In fact, positions are so tight in certain subject areas that the HR Dept. has prohibited some subject areas (art, music, computer, elementary, ELA, ESL, physical education, and social studies) from being "open posted." To open post positions in these fields would exacerbate the shortage of positions, as open posted positions are exempt from being filled via the excess process. This would leave fewer available jobs for our members in those subject areas. Despite this action by the HR Dept., positions will be tighter and choice will be less.

Open Postings have been 'legal' for a good 15 years or so, and offer administrators an ability to skirt the transfer and excess processes by exempting certain open positions from being filled through those processes. Many administrators have abused this process. (Open posted positions are not exempt from layoffs or in-school excessing.) As the number of open posted positions has increased fewer positions have  been available for excessed teachers. Apropos of that trend, you may remember in this space two weeks ago, we talked about the potential for increase in the number of pilot schools. Pilot schools, too, remove positions from the pool of vacancies.

We mentioned that the BTU would take a close, hard look at the approval of new pilot schools in light of the system's needs and our teachers' needs. We believe that these needs are consistent and work in concert with each other.  One of the main needs for our teachers is the easier availability of vacant positions to bid on, whether in the excess pool or on the transfer list. Both the increase in open postings and a possible increase in Pilots translate into a reduction of available positions available for excessed teachers and would-be transferees. Why should teachers have their choice of movement restricted?

The BTU's approval of Pilots will be made in this light: How will the creation of more Pilots impact the availability of positions for our members? We will uphold our end of the collective bargaining agreement, but we will be most mindful of the needs of our entire membership.

Discovery School RFP to be Released; Meeting Scheduled on 3/31

    The BTU and the superintendent have reached agreement on an RFP (Request for proposal) on schools wishing to become a Discovery School. A Discovery School will be granted autonomies in curriculum, assessment and certain budgetary areas, but unlike a pilot school will have no relaxation of collective bargaining rights. The RFP will be released imminently. A meeting to explore this option will be held on Monday, March 31, 2008, at 4:00 PM, at the BTU. Present will be union staff and the superintendent.  Schools that have applied for Pilot status are, too, welcome to attend and to apply for Discovery status. This is an exciting development, and we look forward to working with the superintendent to develop this model.

Health Insurance Seminars Scheduled

Health Insurance Seminars are scheduled on April 7, 10, and 14, at 4:00, and April 9, at 10, all at the BTU. The Open Enrollment Period runs this year for the month of April. The BTU is hosting its annual sign-up meeting, too, on April 16 at 4:00 pm, on which date you will be able, at the BTU office, to sign up for health plans, change health plans, add dependents, and so on.

At the seminars, BTU consultant John Brouder will be speaking and will explain the ins and outs of the various health plans as well as Medicare, and so on. Mr. Brouder did the same last year, and the meetings were both well-attended and informative. Medicare expert,  Kurt Czarnowski from the Social Security Administration, will be joining John on April 9th only.

Rosie's Place/Pine St. Inn Fundraiser

• prizes
• raffles
• dancing
• food cash bar
• $10 donation. See BTU Building Reps. for tickets or purchase at the door

Dates--Blood Drive, Group Ins., Paras, etc.

• March 28, Rosie's Place & Pine St. Inn Fundraiser
• April 5, Para Conference
• April 7 Health Insurance Seminar with Consultant, 4:00 PM
• April 9 Health Insurance Seminar with Consultant, 10 AM, with medicrae expert Kurt Czarnowski from the Social Security Administration.
• April 10 Health Insurance Seminar with Consultant, 4:00 PM
• April 14 Health Insurance Seminar with Consultant, 4:00 PM
• April 16 at 4:00 pm, Group Insurance Meeting. Save the Date.At this meeting you can change plans, add dependents, and so on.
• May 13, BTU Retirees Day on the Hill
• May 29, BTU Annual Blood Drive--mail to blooddrive@btu.org
• When emailing, please remember to give your name and phone number.
• June 17--Golf Tournament

Provisional Teachers w/o an RA Letter

Provisionals without a Reasonable Assurance letter are urged to apply for any and all suitable positions that are available, including the Open Posting list and any and all pilot school positions that are posted.  Provisionals, too, are urged to network with friends and colleagues in other buildings in the event other new positions open up in their buildings, as positions necessarily will.  As ominous as current budget predictions are, new positions ALWAYS open up over the spring and summer, and it is important to pay attention to the HUB webpage to remain aware of all new vacancies.  More information will be coming out to provisionals under separate cover later. Again, anyone with a question should contact either Caren Carew or Mike McLaughlin, listed above.

Call your state rep. and state senator and urge passage of the Mass Municipal Partnership Act, a piece of legislation that would allow Mass municipalities to raise local revenue by, among other items, adding 2% to the local meals tax.

NEW!! Para Statewide Conference on April 5

The annual statewide paraprofessional conference will be held on April 5. This year's theme is "Celebrating Paraprofessionals." Registration deadline is Tuesday, March 25. Contact Pat O'Donnell at 617-288-2000. Hope to see you there.

NEW!! Kindergarten Faculty Senate

NEW!! Guidance Faculty Senate to Hold Meeting on April 15.

Guidance Faculty Senate Meeting on April 15th  from 3:30pm-5pm at the BTU Hall.

We welcome all new members and look forward to seeing all. Let's discuss how to use our professional development money allocated to guidance, discuss the possibility of new opportunities as the system hires a new director of guidance, and discuss our own visions and needs in our particular schools. Please come and share your ideas, energy and experience. For more info contact Susan Trotz, strotz@boston.k12.ma.us

BTU Golf Tournament, June 17-Save the Date

Details will be announced shortly. There will assuredly be prizes and fun galore for this fundraising effort for a host of worthy charities.

NEW!! National Social Work Month

March is here.  Let us acknowledge the hard work that all of the social workers in the BPS system do to ensure that our students are ready to learn to the best of their abilities and our dedication to their families to foster the best for their children.

Our membership is proud to have among our ranks the number of dedicated social workers in the BPS system helping to make our schools a better place for learning.  Their efforts as social workers is to work with our all areas of education to ensure the greatest possible success.  Our social workers are proud and dedicated to their work and families of our students.  We hope that Boston Public Schools will continue to see the importance of social workers in our schools and will increase our numbers in the years to come.

NCLB 'Rules' vs. SPED Rights--Who's Winning, Who's  Being Sacrfiiced?

Is No Child Left Behind (NCLB) being used as a hammer to limit instructional options?  The SPED Faculty Senate is very interested in hearing from the rank and file about their experiences with NCLB.

Johnny is a 5 th grade student with academic skills three years below his grade level enrolled in a LD classroom.  The principal has insisted that Johnny receive all instruction at the 5 th grade level using 5 th grade materials as the regular education students.  Every week he fails the math test.  He is demoralized and angry and his teacher is devastated.  When this is discussed with the principal, s/he states, "This is the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law and I have high expectations for all students."
 

Do you see this in your school?  Is Johnny's case unique?  Please share your experiences, both same and different at spedfacultysenate@btu.org .

2008 Annual GLSEN Boston Conference

Teaching Respect:
Embracing Your Voice as a Force for Change

March 29th, 2008  at The English High School, Jamaica Plain

Visit here to register and get more information or download the registration brochure PDF.

GLSEN Boston's Annual Conference is a tradition of learning and sharing nearly two decades in the making. Every year,GLSEN seeks to bring together teachers of all grade levels from early childhood through college, students, administrators, parents, counselors, school staff, and community members to create schools and communities that are truly inclusive and safe for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth and adults. Many of their workshops this year will focus on helping participants find the words, the curriculum, the ideas, and the means to create meaningful changes. Their goal is to provide participants with information and tools that they can bring back to their schools to ensure that each member of their school community feels valued, respected, and free from fears as they pursue their educational goals.

Keynote Speaker: Gunner Scott

Gunner Scott is the Director of The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition where he is currently involved in the campaign to pass the Massachusetts House Bill 1722, "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes" for gender identity and gender expression protections. He is a nationally recognized activist, educator, and community organizer on transgender rights, LGBT health issues, LGBT partner abuse, and addressing access issues for the transgender community. He has provided trainings for the last eight years to wide variety of community organizations, colleges/high schools, criminal justice, health, and social service professionals. He is also the creator of the eight year old Gender Crash Open Mic, designed for queer and transgender performers.

Special performances by Kit Yan and Melissa Li: Slam poet Kit Yan and folkrocker Melissa Li have teamed up and put the 2008 GLSEN Boston Conference on their Good Asian Drivers Tour. This dynamic pair will deliver honest and fun personal stories through their music and poetry about being queer Asian Americans.

A special discount rate and scholarships are also available for Boston teachers and students thanks to a special grant from the Harvard Pilgrim Foundation.

ROLLINS GRIFFITH TEACHER CENTER OF BOSTON

SPRING CONFERENCE: TAKING CARE OF YOU! SELF-RENEWAL & SURVIVAL STRATEGIES FOR EDUCATORS

The Rollins Griffith Teacher Center of Boston is a nonprofit organization run by and for educators. Since opening its doors in 1980, it has continuously served teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators in all of Boston's schools, including private schools and day-care centers.

Workshops & Luncheon 
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Charles H. Taylor Elementary School, 1060 Morton Street
        Mattapan, MA  02126, (617-635-8731)

Conference is free and open to all B.P.S. Educators on a first-come, first served basis.

Workshops

• Classroom Management  Workshop
• Introduction to Natural Healing ( two sessions)
• Remember to Breathe Deeply:  
• Balancing the Stress of Teaching & Learning
• Feng Shui For Teachers
• Stress Buster:  Stretch. Relax. Renew
• Laugh Your Way To Better Health

Register by email to mjelloe@comcast.net OR mail registration to Mr. Elie Jean-Louis, Principal, Taylor School.  To register after 4/17/or for more information, call Claire Radly at 617-635-6385. Please be sure to include your top 3 choices for workshops!

NEW!! Simmons College Lecture Series: 2008 Race, Education and Democracy Lectures

Lectures from Dr. Priscilla Collins, Distinguished University Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland/College Park and the 100th President of the American Sociological Association.  In her lectures, Professor Collins will examine the notion that even as the media is its own kind of public education, it challenges teachers, college faculty and community and civic leaders to provide a different kind of public education.

• April 16:  Another Kind of Public Education 4:00 p.m.
• April 17:  New Racial Realities:  Honorary Whiteness, Social Blackness, and All Points in Between
• May 28:  Somebody's Watching You: Black Youth and Popular Culture 4:00 p.m.
• May 29:  Critical Education and Democratic Possibilities 4:00 p.m.

All lectures take place at Simmons College at the Linda K. Paresky Conference Center, 300 The Fenway.  For more information and to register, go to www.raceandeducation.com or call 617-521-2257.   I look forward to your attendance at the 2008 Race, Education and Democracy Lectures.

Boston Writing Project Summer Institute

      Boston Writing Project Summer Institute -- July 7th to July 31st, Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.   This four-week program at UMass Boston, now in its 29th year, gives teachers time to reflect on and expand their use of writing in their teaching practice.

     Applicants who are accepted receive a $600 stipend and an opportunity to receive six (6) graduate credits, tuition-free, with the payment of fees.  

   To receive an application, please contact the Boston Writing Project at 617-287-7665.  You may also receive an application through the Boston Writing Project .Completed applications are due April 15, 2008.  All applicants will be notified by May 15, 2008.              

NBPTS Workshops

Reminders:

National Board Certified Teacher "Take One" Potential Candidates 2009; In-service credit workshop to experience the NBCT process &  plan an entry, West Roxbury Ed. Complex Library, Four Mondays March 24, 31, April 7 & 14 from 4-7 PM or 3-6 PM.

NEW!! Simmons College Urban Elementary Education Program

If you are a BPS teacher seeking a flexible, supportive, collegial graduate experience, please consider the Simmons College Urban Elementary Education Program or Educational Leadership Program for your master's or CAGS.  These programs are committed to supporting BPS teachers through current curriculum, coaching, and a cohort model.  These two year, 32 credit programs offer all BPS teachers who enroll substantial scholarships.  Both are approved master's degree programs for licensure.

When: Saturday, March 29th @ 10:00am
Where: Simmons College
What: Urban Elem. Education Program and Ed. Leadership Program Open House
Who: RSVP to gsa@simmons.edu or call (617) 521-2915

Hope to see you at Simmons!  If you would like more information about Educational Leadership, contact roberta.kelly@simmons.edu   If you have questions about the Urban Elem. Ed. program, contact program graduate, Caitlin Gaffny, at the Tobin School. chegarty@boston.k12.ma.us

NEW!! Gavin MS Fundraising Event

On Thursday, March 20th, the Gavin Middle School will be hosting a fundraising dinner for its 8th grade class trip to Washington D.C. in April.  The dinner will be from 6-8 pm at Restaurante Cesaria, a fantastic Cape Verdean restaurant near Fields Corner. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. This is a great way to sample fare you may never have eaten before, to enjoy the company of your fellow educators, and to support a great cause.  Please call Deanna Webb, teacher at the Gavin, at (617) 875-8248 to RSVP and request tickets."   

North Shore Labor Council Event

The North Shore Labor Council is having an education conference March 30 to explore issues that impact labor especially during elections. 

    North Shore Labor Council, AFL-CIO invites you to attend Educational Conference: Building Labor in 2008 election year. There will be a panel discussion and workshops.

• Sunday March 30. 12:30 to 1 p.m.- light refreshments; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. -  program
• at Breed Junior High, 90  O'Callaghan Way, Lynn, MA
• $10 Registration fee, Childcare provided

For information and registration call Rosa at 781-595-2538.

New Book Describes Boston School Teachers     75-Year Struggle

 
         Boston author Joseph Marr Cronin devotes a chapter to the struggles of women teachers in Boston to achieve salary equity in the decades before collective bargaining.  Then he analyzes the two major strikes and thirteen BTU contracts negotiated since 1965, and the court fights and controversies over Boston schools.  Cronin was a teacher, principal, Harvard professor who coauthored the 1970 report on Boston schools and later became the first Massachusetts Secretary of Education.  He was President of Bentley College, Dean of Lesley University, and teaches at the Boston University School of Education. The book is entitled Reforming Boston Schools 1930-2006 and is published by Palgrave Macmillan in a new urban education series.

He will give free author talks on these dates:

• April 16 Weds.6 PM Longfellow Hall, Cambridge Mass (Harvard Ed School) 6 PM
• April 23  Weds. 6 PM Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, Copley Square
• May 4 Sunday 10 AM Trinity Church, Copley Square (downstairs)

Available at Amazon

Erin Clifton, a behavioral specialist at the Barron Center, is trying to promote an organization in Boston called Bottom Line, Inc.  by running the Boston Marathon this year for their charity. Bottom Line, Inc. provides scholarships, financial aid guidance and career counseling while helping disadvantaged urban students get to, and graduate from, college.  Most of the students served are from families living below the poverty level and/or who will be first generation college students.  The students involved in this program earn college degrees at twice the national rate for their peer group.  The idea is to better the quality of life in urban America through higher education.

Please see the following links for more information and for the opportunity to donate!  Boston Public students and staff might benefit from knowing more about this great program.  Even if you aren't ready to give at this time, please take a look.
http://www.firstgiving.com/erinclifton
http://bottomline.org . Thank you!
 

Hanna Brewer,  Spanish teacher at Another Course to College, in Brighton. is running her 3rd Boston Marathon, and her 2nd for The Accelerated Cure Project, a non profit organization that works to determine the causes of Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system affecting over 400,000 people in the US and 2 million individuals worldwide. Here's her website for fundraising.

And we repeat an announcement that Erin McManus, a second grade inclusion teacher at the O'Hearn School, is running the Boston Marathon to support the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Care for Children Center.  This will be Erin's 9th marathon, and her second time running in support of the charity.  If you would like to donate, please visit Erin's website at firstgiving.com/erinmcmanus or send checks, payable to Massachusetts General Hospital to: Erin McManus
164 King Phillips Path, Marshfield, MA  02050   

We wish all good luck, and we thank both for participating in this charitable event.

Charitable Event--AIDS Walk

AIDS Walk Boston takes place through the streets of Boston, Brookline and Cambridge. The 10K course (6.2 miles) starts and ends at the Charles River Esplanade.

AIDS Walk Boston has historically been AIDS Action Committee's biggest fundraising event, and is now in its 22nd year. Tens of thousands of people have participated in the Walk and have generously raised over 30 million dollars for the programs and services of AAC. These programs include housing/legal assistance, social support, rent and utilities assistance, and political advocacy, just to name a few. These programs and services are in need of funds, and I hope to be able to generate some through my efforts.

"I'd like to invite you to join my team, The Lifesavers, and walk with me! We could really use your help to raise funds and show your support in the fight against HIV/AIDS. You can learn more about the event and register online at www.aidswalkboston.org .

"I hope that you'll join me in this effort. Thank you in advance for your support!

We wish Tanya Santiago good luck, and we thank her for participating in this charitable event.

Nancy Strunk Memorial Fund Scholarship

THE NANCY M. STRUNK MEMORIAL FUND-SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
            
Nancy M. Strunk was an outstanding health educator, administrator and supporter of the health of students in the Boston Public Schools. Her career was dedicated to health promotion and disease prevention for children and their families.  This Scholarship Fund has been developed by colleagues and friends of Nancy Strunk in order to keep alive her memory and pass along to young people her commitment to fostering a healthy lifestyle in young people.

To be eligible, a students must have been accepted and plan to attend a post-secondary educational institution with a major interest in health.  The applicant must submit an essay of 500 to 1,000 words (3-5 pages, typed, in 12 point font and double-spaced.) . In this essay, the senior will be required to tell us: (1) about himself/herself, (b) tell us what prompted him/her to choose this area of study and (c) how completion of this course of study will fulfill his/her goals and aspirations.

The application must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation.  One letter must be from the individual who nominated the senior unless the senior nominated him/herself.  A self-nominated senior must send two letters of recommendation in addition to the essay.

Nominees must send both the original completed application form with the essay and two recommendations and a complete copy of the packet post marked April 15, 2008 or hand delivered by noon April 15, 2008 to Mr. Phillip Robinson, Grover Cleveland Middle School, 11 Charles street, Dorchester, MA  02122.  Email address:  Probinson2@Boston.k12.ma.us . Please note: Late applications will not be accepted.  

For further information, please contact Mr. Phillip Robinson at 617 635-7891 ext. 113.

Obituary

Our sincere condolences go to Nancy Myers, a teacher at the Murphy, whose husband, Dennis, passed away. Dennis also left their daughter, Lauren, a teacher at the Hurley. Dennis will be dearly missed by his family and friends. The BTU sends its condolences to Nancy, Lauren, and all other family members and friends.