Bulletin_09_30

Teachers in the following programs (Early Childhood, Multi-Handicapped, Autistic, Developmental Day Care (DDC), Physically Handicapped) will no longer have to spend their own funds for essential supplies and equipment. We have just worked out the following (excerpted) contract language as part of the side letter of agreement previously agreed to last March.

"...Unified Student Services will order a sufficient quantity of: medical-grade gloves, wipes, changing pads, disinfectant, disinfectant wipes, sanitary pads, and anti-bacterial soap for special education teachers at... designated schools... These supplies will be distributed annually at the beginning of each school year directly to the designated schools to be used exclusively by those teachers assigned to severe low-incidence substantially separate classrooms (Early Childhood, Multi-Handicapped, Autistic, DDC, Physically Handicapped). A sufficient amount of changing tables for students shall be available throughout the School District..."

While some details on distribution, the ordering process, and so on, need to be worked out, the language above is contractually binding. The long and the short if it is, if you work in any of the above capacities, you will no longer have to spend your on money on essential supplies and equipment. More information will be forthcoming. We have been told that the materials are already available, and have been delivered to some schools. Part of the agreement, please note, is that the materials will be delivered to each school. In other words there's no reason to have to go to Campbell to pick them up.

We worked long and hard to get this language, which is significant to many teachers. We thank those individuals (The Blackstone's Michael Crain, in particular) who took the time in the summer of 2006 and beyond to attend negotiations to help move this process along.

BTU Membership Meeting is on Wednesday, 10/10 at 4:00.
Dr. Carol Johnson, superintendent of schools, will speak promptly at 4:10. All members are welcome to attend, as they are always welcome to attend our monthly meetings, which take place the second Wednesday of every month, at 4:00 PM. At this meeting, too, we expect to have the contract booklets to hand out. (The printer has promised that the books will be delivered.) For both of these reasons, we ask that you arrive at the meeting as early as possible. Please designate one Building Rep. from each building to take responsibility for the pickup of the contracts.

Welcome Back Party for all on 10/12/07 at 3:00 PM at the BTU, with food, music, and cash bar.

BTU Conference Weekend. Registration deadline this Friday, 10/5. The conference weekend runs from 10/19 through 10/21. New superintendent, Dr. Carol Johnson, will be present for Sunday's session to speak with members. This year's weekend will provide a new format, with three interactive workshops, one on the role of the building representative given by our field representatives, Mike, Caren, and Jenna; one on a detailed look at the grievance process, given by BTU Vice-President Patrick Connolly, and another broadly based look at the entirety of what the BTU is and what it does, given by a number of BTU Executiove Board members. The topics on workshop number 3 will include a look at:

MA. Hearing to Expand Charter Schools Collides with Release of NAEP Scores Showing Ma. Schools Topping Nation

Tuesday was a day of twisted irony for those whose support of charter schools is tied to their lack of faith in our public schools. In Boston the Mass Legislative Committee on Education was holding a hearing for charter school supporters to rip our public schools in a plea to expand charter school enrollment, while in Washington, D.C., the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) was releasing its annual Nation's Report Card showing that Mass schools topped the nation once again in Reading and Math in 2007. Mass students led the nation in math in grades 4 and 8, and in reading in grade 4. In math, Mass students were tied for first with three other states. Mass students also topped the country in 2005. Our outstanding NAEP results didn't matter, however, at the State House hearing where Charter School supporters made their annual pilgrimage seeking relief from the current legislative caps that limit charter school enrollment.

Charter schools are quasi-private schools that operate with public dollars but without much public scrutiny. There are 14 charters schools that operate in Boston. The schools service just short of 5000 students using approximately $45 Million in school department funds, causing a loss in resources of approximately $800 per Boston Public school student. Though charters operate on a statutory-based entrance lottery, their student demographics are far different from those found in the Boston Public Schools. Notwithstanding their claim to equal access, charters, as the following chart shows, educate relatively few special needs children, few students whose first language is not English, and almost no students with limited English proficiency. The data below is current 92006-2007) and comes from the Mass DOE at http://search.doe.mass.edu/default.asp?q=charter .

The student demographics in the BPS, when ranked alongside those in found in charters, show that the BPS far and away ranks #1 in the relative numbers of students served whose first language is not English and who have limited English proficiency. Looking at SPED involvement, the BPS ranks third highest. However, charter schools typically have no ".4-prototype" students, so their SPED percentages, as weak as they are, are inflated. The bottom line is that city schools welcome and accommodate students the charters seek to avoid.

Percentage of Students	First Lang. not English	Limited Eng. Prof.	SPED
Boston Public Schools	38.90%	18.30%	19.70%
Academy of the Pacific Rim	1.30%	1.30%	12.60%
M.A.T.C.H. Charter	11.10%	0%	10.60%
Collegiate Charter	4.30%	0%	15.50%
Uphams' Corner Charter	12.10%	1.50%	26.60%
Smith Leadership Academy	3.10%	0.50%	11.90%
Roxbury Prep. Charter School	23.00%	1.00%	9.45%
Boston Renaissance Charter	17.90%	3.40%	9.70%
Boston Prep	9.00%	0.00%	19.00%
City on a Hill	24.60%	0.00%	9.70%
Codman Academy	6.30%	0.00%	20.50%
Neighborhood House	6.00%	2.10%	13.80%
Ed Brooke	13.70%	2.90%	9.90%
Conservatory Lab Charter	34%	13.6%	8.3%

This year's State House hearing to expand charter schools proved not much different from years' past. The charter school lobbyists were backed by a newly-formed business group, called The Massachusetts Business Leaders for Charter Public Schools, led by officials from Akamai Technology, the Boston Foundation, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care(!), and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. And the group spun the same arguments they always do: Charter schools are free to operate without constraint, therefore they educate better. They're open to all on a lottery basis, therefore they're public schools. Why are they needed? Paul Sagan, head of Akamai Technology told the Boston Herald : "Particularly in urban areas, we're cheating kids because they don't get the education they need."

Charters do a reasonably good job with the students they choose to educate. But they don't educate all children, unlike the BPS, which both welcomes all and educates all. By the way, research on who does a better job-charters or public schools-is at best mixed, with publics generally getting the nod. The AFT has done research on the quality of education found in charters and it has found that public surpass charters. Also helpful is a book, The Charter School Dust-Up: Examining the Evidence on Enrollment and Achievement by Martin Carnoy, Rebecca Jacobsen, Lawrence Mishel, and Richard Rothstein ( Paperback - April 30, 2005). To the extent that charters have been shown to show good test results, much of that success can be explained by the 'creaming' effects of their lopsided student demographics.

Mr. Sagan also could have told the Herald that charters have a very high dropout rate, which explains how frequently they ‘counsel out' students they choose not to educate. Consider the MATCH school for example. MATCH, billed as an intensive, high-level charter has long been cited for its high 'attrition' rate. The MATCH schools enrolls a typical 65-70 students in its Freshman Class. By senior year, fewer that 1/3 of those students remain. See the chart below. At charters, when a student leaves, it is called an attrition rate. In the public schools, it is called a drop-out rate. (Data again courtesy of the Mass DOE ). The BPS unfortunately does have a fairly high drop-out rate, subject of much discussion . It is a problem we all have to tackle, and we look forward to working with the new superintendent in doing so. But, the truth is, we are held accountable for our drop out rate, while charters are not held to the same standard for their attrition rate.

Counseling out weaker students allows a charter school to have misguided bragging rights for those who remain. " For three years in a row, 100% of the senior class has been accepted into college..." says the Boston Collegiate Charter School . Little wonder: Take a look at how many students leave before senior year (below)-the ninth grade class, typically 50 in number, turns into a graduating class of 15-who all get accepted to a four-year college. What happened to the 35 students who didn't matriculate?

Enrolled Students	Grade 9	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
Boston Public	5518	4623	4401	4043
MATCH	72	61	54	20
Academy of the Pacific Rim	53	41	41	20
Collegiate Charter	50	30	19	15
Codman Charter	40	38	15	19
City on a Hill	115	76	55	22

The long and the short of it is, the BPS and MA. schools are making progress, with all students. There is no better national yardstick than the NAEP exam, which is the only national yardstick. Other tests (MCAS et al) are individual state tests, not comparable to each other. The NAEP shows a few things: One, our public schools must be doing something right. Two) Those who use our so-called 'failing' schools to promote the cause of expanded charters are being disingenuous. And lastly, while we are never satisfied with our schools' performance, we should not be defensive about it. Public schools welcome and educate all students. Rather than giving charter schools more resources, let's place those resources first in our schools, public schools that invite all and educate all regardless of their particular needs.

Good bye and best of health to one person who reads these bulletins religiously - Superintendent Mike Contompasis , who left the BPS on Friday, 9/28, after 42+ years in the BPS. Mike finished his career as superintendent and served the BPS in a variety of functions over his long career. Mike was a teacher, then headmaster at Boston Latin School, then a Cluster Leader, and who remembers what(?) over the last decade. Early in his career, Mike was active in the BTU, as a building representative and later as a co-strike captain for a lengthy and illegal BTU strike in the 1970's. Mike will now be working for City Hall on special, school-related projects. Mike, the BTU membership and this bulletin wish you good health and good luck in your retirement(?).

The BPS Office of Human Resources is sponsoring preparation workshops for BPS staff who are taking the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure. The catalogue of workshops may be obtained online at MyBPS-> Central Admin ->HR->Educator Licensure and in school offices. Page 1 of the catalogue provides directions for online registration. The next MTELs will be given on October 27 (Communication and Literacy Skills Test only) and on November 17, 2007. The late registration deadline for the Communications and Literacy Skills Test on October 27 is October 5. The regular registration deadline for the MTELs to be given on November 17 is October 5. For additional information, write nbalasalle@ boston.k12.ma.us.”

The BTU is forming an interest group for school environmental issues . The interest group's mission will be to help school based environmental committees in being heard and to focus energy to get results. We know that some schools have environmental committees and would like to help you in your efforts to make schools healthier for our students and our members. The dates of the meetings here at the BTU are Monday, October 22nd Monday, December 10th Tuesday, February 12th Tuesday, April 8th and Monday, June 9th. If you would like to be a part of our school environment interest group, email Michael McLaughlin at mmclaughlin@btu.org .

All teachers and paras are reminder to check their pay stubs for the correct pay, career award. And so on. If you are working in a superintendent's school, too, you are reminded to check to make sure your alary differential is correct. If you have any questions, please call the appropriate field representative,, Michael, Caren, or Jenna, at the BTU.

Governor Patrick signed the "Majority Authorization Bill" last week at the state AFL-CIO convention before a live audience that included 25 BTU members. The bill requires union recognition once 50% plus of a work force signs off on a union card-check. Previously, an election was required. This will make it easier for the BTU parent organization, the AFTMA to organize charter school staff.

Class size: BTU members can now file a class size grievance on-line . The form is easy and efficient. Grievances at both superintendent's schools and traditional schools can be grieved electronically. File any violations here . And check out the class size limits here. Remember: Class size in all regular education classes at superintendents' schools have decreased by two students in every grade level . All class size enforcement powers are intact in superintendent's schools. You may still complete the traditional form, though we would appreciate that you do this on-line, and submit it to Pat Connolly, BTU Vice President by mail or fax(617) 288-0024.

(Note to those who submit items: We welcome announcements of general interest to our membership. Please submit in word format in paragraph form without unnecessary spacing. We will continue to print announcements of value to the membership. All submissions are subject to editing, but we would prefer that you do your own. Thank you.)

Massachusetts Department of Education Category IV, Making the Connection: English Language Learners and Subject Matter Texts . This professional development training provides opportunities for reflection and application, and explores the implications for classroom instruction.

Title: DOE Category IV: English Language Learners and Subject Matter Texts
Level/Audience: Grades 6-12 BPS classroom teachers
Day/Dates of Program: Thursdays: 10/25, 11/8, 11/15, 11/29
Time: 2:45 to 5:45 pm
Presenter: OLLSS Staff: Yolanda Pokaski and Chad Leith
Location: Madison Park High School
Credit: 15 pdps or 1 in-service credit
Pre-requisite: Category 1 or 2
Sponsored by: Office of Language Learning and Support Services
E-mail Registration Deadline: October 19, 2007
How: Go to MyBPS> Teaching and Learning> Language Learning. Download and fill out application. Email completed application to ollssregistration@boston.k12.ma.us .
Attendance to all sessions and completion of all the assignments are mandatory

OIIT Fall Professional Development: The Office of Instructional and Information Technology (OIIT) is pleased to begin their Fall Professional Development rollout! Below is a listing of courses currently scheduled and posted on MyBPS. Boston Public School teachers can obtain more information for each course and/or apply via the Online Registration Tool link: http://boston.k12.ma.us/teach/technology/pd/index.asp .

Additional Professional Development opportunities such as Emerging Technologies will be made available via the same link...so keep your eye on the link!

U Mass Boston ESL Masters with scholarship opportunities for BPS teachers information session at the Newcomer Assessment Center, Madison Park School, October 11, 2007 from 3:30-5:00 pm

The Center for Leadership Development is hosting a meeting to present a new bachelors degree program at Northeastern University that has been designed for paraprofessionals . The program is called Bridge to Teaching and allows paras to complete their bachelors degree if they have taken college courses or if they have earned an associates degree. A description of the Bridge program is attached. Paras who are accepted into the program and who are planning to become teachers, can apply for the Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation grant to cover their tuition. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at the Center for Leadership Development, located at 55 Malcolm X Boulevard , Roxbury. The meeting is scheduled for 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. For more information about the Bridges to Teaching, please contact Angela Irving at 617-373-2630 or at a.irving@neu.edu .

THE ROLLINS GRIFFITH TEACHER CENTER IN COOPERATION WITH THE QUINCY UPPER SCHOOL OFFERS:

On October 12th at Moakley Field, in South Boston, at Hyde Park vs. South Boston football game, there will be a 6:00 PM (this was originally listed here as 7:00 PM) dedication ceremony for Bob Lerro, former coach and teacher at South Boston High school . Bob passed away suddenly this summer.

Channing Elementary School is celebrating its 80th Year of being a part of Boston Public Schools. A celebration is being planned for May 2008 and your help is needed. We are looking for alumni of the Channing School who are interested in joining or making a donation to the Alumni/Event Planning Committee. If you know of a Channing alumnus, or would like to make a donation to the cause, please contact Mr. David R. MacDonald, Comm. Organizer/IT Teacher @ the Channing Elementary School , 617 635 8722 x 115, or via email dmacdonald@boston.k12.ma.us . All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for your assistance.

Be A Boston Public Library Literacy Volunteer: Tutor adults (two to four students) with limited English writing and reading proficiency at any Boston Public Library branch. Two hours a week compatible with your schedule. 1 year commitment. No teaching experience necessary. We will train.

Boston Public Library
Dudley Literacy Center
65 Warren Street
Roxbury , MA 02119
617-859-2446

(* Exceptional Citizen's Week is a non-sectarian, residential outdoor summer camping experience for special needs citizens sponsored by the Diocese of Manchester. It is held every year at Camp Fatima , a 150 acre, fully accredited camp on Upper Suncook Lake in Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire . E.C. Week is the highlight in the lives of 150 campers every year. It is entirely free for the campers and is funded by generous contributions, both large and small, from many different people and companies. The camp staff of volunteers is comprised of people from all walks of life - business professionals, teachers, and homemakers to name a few. All volunteer to allow these children the same camping experience as other kids. The volunteers combine their talents with the camp's ample facilities to create a diverse and memorable program.)

Michelle Gillen, niece of longtime BTU Health and Welfare employee Kay Gillen is running in her aunt's honor in this year's Boston Marathon and has chosen to raise money for ReadBoston. She will be running as part of the ReadBoston team. Checks should be made out to ReadBoston and your contribution is tax deductible. You can send your donation to her at 11 Niles Road , Newton , MA 02146 . Kay's was a friendly face to thousands of BTU members over 30 years, and we miss her very much. Our condolences, again, go out to her family.

The BTU is deeply saddened to announce that ETF, Judy Mucci, passed away on the 19 th of September. She was 50 years old. Judy had worked at the Perry and the Endicott. Judy will be sorely missed by her family, friends, and colleagues.