bulletin_03_23

Boston Teachers Union

Boston Teachers Union
e-Bulletin

#31
(2007-08), 03/23/08

Greetings!

Good Morning,

The Discovery School Request For Proposals was sent out last Friday to all schools. The Discovery RFP is a joint initiative from both the BTU and the Boston School Department. What is a Discovery School? Here's an excerpt from the letter co-signed by Richard Stutman and Dr. Carol Johnson announcing the RFP:

"...Simply, a Discovery School is intended to operate as a blend between the flexibility and autonomy available in Pilot Schools and the traditional BPS school. It is our hope that this new hybrid will allow a school to reach its potential of improving student performance for all students.

"A Discovery School will emphasize two of the best practices learned from Pilots - budgetary and curriculum/assessment autonomies. Discovery Schools will not seek any other exemptions from either the BPS or the BTU. In other words, Discovery Schools will still operate under the BTU contract, and the negotiated work rules will remain intact in Discovery Schools."

The letter defines what a Discovery School can and cannot do, the timeframe for application, and the consensus needed for school adoption. A FAQ is included. A flyer attached to the letter announces an invitation to an informational meeting to be held at the BTU on Monday, March 31, from 4-6. Refreshments will be served. School Superintendent Carol Johnson will be in attendance, along with BTU staff.

Staff and Administrators in all schools, including those schools that have received the $20,000 grant to explore Pilot Status, are welcomed to attend this meeting. We believe that there is ample room in our school system for different types of school reform models, Discovery as well as Pilot, to flourish. Until now, the only model available has been the option to become a Pilot School.

We look forward to working on this initiative and welcome the chance to work with the superintendent to explore a variety of options to improve our schools while providing contractual safeguards for our members.

Retirees Day on Beacon Hill to Fight for a Fair and Just C.O.L.A.

Save on your calendar May 13, the Retirees Day on Beacon Hill to Fight for a Fair and Just C.O.L.A. We will be meeting with legislators on bills that would give Retirees a fair and just cost of living adjustment. We'll also be there to fight for a minimum pension for all retirees. Buses leave from the BTU, after breakfast. There'll also be lunch. A good time, a worthwhile time. we hope to see you there. Please call the retirees office at 617-288-2000 and reserve a seat!

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, 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
	Rosie's Place/Pine St. Inn Fundraiser\Benefit to Aid the homeless Friday, 3/28, 3-8, at the BTU.
raffles prizes dancing food cash bar $10 donation. See BTU Building Reps. for tickets or purchase at the door

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.

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

March 28, Rosie's Place & Pine St. Inn Fundraiser
March 31, 4 PM, at the BTU, meeting for all those interested in discussing Discovery School status.
April 5, Para Conference
April 7 Health Insurance Seminar with Consultant, 4:00 PM
April 9 Health Insurance Seminar with Consultant, 10 AM, with medicare 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, 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

BTU E-Bulletin Policy on Announcements

We will print (almost) anything for the good of our members and schools, subject to space limitations, including charitable events and so on. Our policy is to run the announcement two or three times, and then take it out of the bulletin. If you wish an item reinstated closer to the day of the event, just let us know, preferably with advance notice, and we will be glad to try to accommodate. One limitation: We do shy away from any and all commercial announcements, so as to avoid any potential conflicts.

On obituaries...we try to run what we know about. We are not perfect in this department, and oftentimes, someone assumes we know about a death although we have not been informed. It is best to notify us even if you assume we know.

Thank you.

BTU Health and Welfare Softball Season
	Softball Season begins in April. The Boston Teachers' Softball League will begin its 2008 season of play in April. Building Representatives have been sent information and applications from the Boston Teachers Union Health and Welfare Fund.
Teachers interested in forming a team for their school should let their Building Representative know and start to recruit players for their team. Teachers may play on another school's team. Once again, there will be an early division (games starting around 3:00) and a late division (games starting around 4:00) with games being played weekdays after school during the weeks between the April vacation and early June. New teams and new players are welcome to this "recreational" league fostering friendly and enjoyable competition. Call the B.T.U. Health and Welfare Fund Office at 617-288-0500 and leave your name and phone number if you are a player looking for a team or if your team is looking for players. * The Season will tentatively start the week of April 28th.

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.

Educator of the Year Awards.

On June 23, the city, school department, the school committee, and the union will publicly honor a select group of Boston's exceptional educators -- teachers, paraprofessionals, nurses, therapists, and others who have made a unique contribution to their students, their classrooms, and their schools. A letter from the all parties went out March 5 to all schools seeking nominees. All of the information is in your school office and should be posted for all to see. Applications are due April 15. Letters of support may be e-mailed to: BostonEducators@cityofboston.gov. Questions, please call Martha at 617-635-4476

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
	June 17 th holiday-golf tournament-Putterham (Brookline) with extraordinary duffers, Dave Donovan and Mike McLaughlin, heading up the event planning.
Details will be announced shortly. There will assuredly be prizes and fun galore for this fundraising effort for a host of worthy charities.

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

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.

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.

Mass College of Art Offers Weaving Classes

Mass College of Art offers weaving classes in the fall, winter, spring. These are intensive weekend or 4 week courses. Teachers can get 15 PDPs and is very suitable for history, math, social studies, etc.

The workshops are basic tapestry, intro to Navajo (Dine) weaving, intro to African Kente weaving, and intro to French tapestry (millefleurs, flowers). They are taught by Theresa-India Young, fiber artist/educator.

Contact regarding the PDP is Liz Rudnick liz.rudnick@massart.edu Contact for registration is Susan Mendez-Diez 617-879-7169. The next workshop is intro to French tapestry Thurs. 6-9 p.m. Apr 11-May 9.

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.

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!! O'Hearn School Fundraiser

The Patrick O'Hearn School is selling raffle tickets for a chance to win one of the following 4 "Monster Baskets":

2 Green Monster Baskets will include 2 tickets to the Red Sox Green Monster Seats along with 2 Red Sox shirts/hats and gift certificates to be used at Fenway Park (Game TBD)
1 Seaport Hotel Basket will include a night stay at the Seaport Hotel and other gift certificates for the seaport area
1 Dorchester Basket will include many (many) gift certificates to area restaurants and Dorchester apparel

Proceeds to benefit:

Instructional Materials & Enrichment programs
RAFFLE TICKETS ARE $10 EACH
For Raffle Tickets, Please contact the school at 617-635-8725

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."

Charitable Event--Marathons for Research
	Retired teacher Barbara Grandberg is running the boston marathon as part of the american liver foundation's run for research team. See here for information on donating.
We wish all good luck, and we thank both for participating in these charitable event.