Greetings,

High school teachers, please let your students know that January 16th is the final day to register to vote in the Mass Presidential Primary or to change party enrollment.

Speaking of presidential politics, the AFT and the AFT Mass., parent organizations of the BTU,  have both endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. The BTU will be taking up the issue of endorsement at its COPE meeting in early January. The outcome of the process could be any of the following:

1. no endorsement of any candidate
2. endorsement of a particular candidate, who could or could not be Hillary Clinton.

Here's the process for BTU endorsement as outlined in the BTU bylaws (Orange Book,  PP. B 31 to B 33). In order to receive an endorsement , the candidate must receive a 2/3rds vote of the COPE Committee (scheduled to be held 1/7), the Executive Board (on 1/9, prior to the membership meeting), and the BTU Membership, 4:00 PM on 1/9). Given the wide-spread interest in the election and the nomination process, we want to make sure the process is well-advertised.

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Two significant meetings are coming up after the first of the year.

January 4--4-5:30 PM, at the BTU, a meeting will be held for those interested in getting information about the Pilot School RFP . The RFP was sent out by the school department last week. Refreshments will be served.

A Discovery School RFP will, too, be sent out shortly, probably in January. A Discovery School is a school that opts for autonomy in two areas only--(some) budgetary and academic--and allows no relaxation of collectively-bargained working conditions.

The BTU ardently supports both school models.  What's more, we believe, and the record shows, that collectively-bargained working conditions and good schools are not mutually exclusive, no matter what some casual school observers might say. Some of our critics decry the notion that there can be school models--other than pilots--that work. Pilot schools and pilot schools alone, some of them argue, provide the only 'reform roadmap' for school improvement. Some of these critics are undoubtedly well-intended; many are not. Those in the latter category are not really interested in school improvement. To them, school reform is no more than a transparent ploy to eat away at the union contract. What they really want is to abolish collective bargaining in our schools.

There is ample room in our system for many different school improvement models: Pilot, Discovery, and traditional. To deny this, as some do, is to denigrate the terrific and effective work that goes on daily in our 124 non-pilot schools. That's why we have bargained for a variety of school reform models.

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January 3, from 11-2, a meeting will be held at the BTU for Middle School and K-8 guidance personnel to learn about the variety of program offerings that are found in our high schools. Representatives from high schools, traditional and pilot, will be present to explain their school's offerings. The meeting is a joint undertaking by the BTU and the School Department and is designed to provide guidance counselors with information on the scope and particulars of the system's multitude of school offerings.

Why are we doing this? Simply, the school system loses students to charter schools each year, and many of those students and their parents are simply  unaware of the system's wide variety of terrific programs. This meeting is an attempt to help bridge the information gap.   A  memo has gone out from the superintendent's office, with the full support of the BTU, seeking that appropriate representatives from all middle, K-8, and high schools, pilot and traditional, attend this meeting. Lunch will be served.

Salary Increase, 2007-2008

22 payment-teachers will receive the increase in pay cycle  01/19/08 to 02/01/08, on the paycheck issued on 02/08/08. 26 payment-teachers will receive the increase in pay cycle 02/16/08 to 02/29/08, on the paycheck issued on 03/07/08.

Paras will receive the increase effective 02/01/08.

Teachers will receive a pro-rated $600 salary increase per year on their base, and paras will receive a pro-rated $300 salary increase per year on their base on the paycheck dates cited above. Both raises are in addition to the 3% base increase that appeared on 9/1/07.

Winter Holiday BTU Office Hours 

The BTU office will be close on Monday, 12/24, and Monday, 12/31, in addition to Tuesday, 12/25, and Tuesday, 1/1. Otherwise, the BTU office will be open. Staff can be reached, as always, by email or by phone.

Reminder: Elementary Specialists and Class Size Violations

Reminder: Elementary Specialist teachers, such as Science or Computers, must file a separate class size grievance. The fact that the grade 3 or 4 teacher has filed a grievance does not constitute filing a grievance on your behalf.

Upcoming Holiday Parties and Events

Evaluation Logs

Teachers should keep a notebook or log of any visitors that may come to their classroom. Note the date and time, length of visit and document what was occurring at the time. Write a brief comment as to how you thought the class went. This will assist you in case of evaluation issues down the road.

Scholarships: $1500 (AFTMA) for BTU Member Dependents; $1500 (Rollins Griffith) for BPS Seniors

The AFT Massachusetts, our parent state organization, has established 8 $1500 scholarship awards in honor of Albert Shanker and Sandra Feldman, former presidents of the AFT and former AFT MA staff member, Jay Porter.  Call the BTU for an application. High School seniors who are dependents of AFTMA members are eligible. Students must fill out an application form  and return it to AFTMA by 12/27.

Dependent students also must take a labor history test on 2/6/08 and must arrange the testing logistics with their high school guidance counselor.  Any questions, call Jennifer at the AFT MA 617-423-3342 or 800-279-2523. Printable study guides are accessible on the Mass AFL-CIO website at www.massaflcio.org .

OIIT PD: Much to choose from!

The following courses will continue to be available via the OIIT Online Registration Tool link :
 
1.    Computer Teacher Institute
Learn how to meet technology competencies and support curriculum objectives. Upgrade your technology skills and expand your repertoire of technologies to integrate into subject area curriculum. For a complete list of topics and dates, see the posting on the Instructional Technology Unit page of MyBPS.

2.    Intel:  Essentials Course Online @Excel
Keep your eye on the link for the rescheduled dates to this course.

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In addition to these courses, OIIT has begun to populate MyLearningPlan with new courses. Below are new courses now available for registration within MyLearningPlan :

·    TEC2001:  Learning and Teaching with Web 2.0 Tools
This six-week predominantly online course (4 hours face-to-face and 26 online hours) is for teachers working towards proficient technology skills as indicated in the TSAT. The course will teach educators how to better understand and use the "new" Internet.

·    TEC3001:  Using Excel to Support Math K-12
This 15-hour face to face course will expand participants knowledge of the power of using spreadsheets to collect, organize, display and analyze data for instruction. This course assumes prior experience using an Excel spreadsheet and is open to participants working at the Proficient or Advanced Technology skill level.

If you need assistance accessing MyLearningPlan, contact your school's Technology Support Teacher.

MTEL Prep Class

Preparation Classes for the January MTEL Communications and Literacy Skills Test

Bridgewater State College is conducting a 4-session preparation class (12 hours) for the January 12 Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL. Classes will be held January 7, 8, 10 and 11, 4-7 pm, on the Bridgewater State campus. The BPS Office of Human Resources has arranged for a special rate of $140 (regular rate $240) for Boston Public Schools staff. If interested, please email nbalasalle@bostonpublicschools.org for registration and other details.

Fund for Teachers

Grants: Fund for Teachers
FUND FOR TEACHERS/BPS GRANTS
Application Deadline: January 31, 2008

Fund for Teachers is seeking proposals for Summer 2008 grants. BPS classroom teachers who teach fulltime in Pre-K through 12th grade and have a minimum of three years fulltime teaching experience in BPS are eligible to apply for up to $5,000 as an individual or $10,000 as a team

INFORMATION SESSIONS:
1/8,  4:00-5:30 p.m., BTU
INFORMATION SESSION + GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP
1/16, 4:00-5:45 p.m., Fenway High School Library

GRANT INFORMATION available at
www.bpe.org or www.fundforteachers.org
Questions?  Contact Dottie Engler, 617-275-0709 or dengler@bpe.org

Grover Cleveland End-of-an-Era Celebration

Former Grover Cleveland Staff and Friends - We are in the early stages of planning the final Grover Cleveland End of an Era Celebration Party to be held in June.  We are trying to compile an email list of all former staff and others who would like to be notified regarding the party.  If you are interested please send an email to us at fin802@comcast.net with your name and a current email address.  Thank you and hope to see everyone in June.
 
Party Coordinators - Lael Lucia and Clare McGowan

Obituary

Joan Devine, long time paraprofessional in the Boston Public Schools, wife of the late Buddy Devine and mother of Michelle Doyle, who teaches at the  Gardner Elementary School, has passed away. Joan had worked at the Wilson Middle School for many years and served on the BTU Executive Board, as well in many other BTU capacities, for many years. Joan will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and former colleagues. The BTU sends its deepest condolences to her family.