Greetings!

Good Day. The school year is winding to a close, and it's time to go over a few items and reminders.

Those of you who get paid thorough the summer continue to get paid every other Friday. Your health insurance deductions will continue to come out, and your health coverage (for those who are leaving the system) will be in place through September 30.

Those of you who get paid through the end of June also have health coverage through September 30th, but, as you do not get paid over the summer, extra premium deductions have to come out of your paychecks through 6/27/08 in order that your health premium deductions are paid over the summer.

All of the above applies to teachers and paraprofessionals. Paraprofessionals currently cannot get paid over the summer. That will change as of 9/1/08, as has been negotiated by the BTU. A notice will be out shortly, and summertime pay for paras will be in place for the 08/09 school year.

(N.B. Please keep in mind that we complete our work year by June 30. Although some of us get paid over the summer, you are not getting paid for not working.  The money you receive in the summer is deferred compensation for the work you have completed through June 30. Why is this important?)

Provisionals who are not renewed for the upcoming school year are generally eligible to collect unemployment benefits as of June 30 REGARDLESS OF THEIR GETTING PAID THOUGH AUGUST 31. More information on how to sign up will be sent out from the union office at the appropriate time. Collecting unemployment does NOT affect one's chances of coming back to work.

A few misc. items:

1. Pilot School applications are due by May 31.
2. Notice to all K2 to grade 3 teachers: In June you must be provided with one day, or the equivalent in time thereof, of substitute coverage so that you may administer individualized benchmark testing
3. Reminder: All permanent teachers not yet receiving their first career award and all paraprofessionals with five or more years of seniority are eligible to receive $500 in tuition reimbursement during each school year or eligibility. See here .
4. Speaking of career awards, last week a teacher called about a missing career award. Check your paystubs. Career awards are not necessarily automatic, although the first one is. The first career award comes into play the beginning of the first year after you reach the maximum step. This is supposed to be automatic, and it is, 99.9% of the time. But check anyway. The first career award is $1250 divided by either 22 or 26.  There is also an additional career award(s) after 14 years of Boston service, 19, 24, 29, 34, 39, 44, and so on. All of the latter career awards are NOT automatic. See here , and CALL THE UNION OFFICE IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT. If you believe your pay does not accurately reflect your appropriate career award, please inquire ASAP. DO not procrastinate, as career awards are retroactive, generally, for only three years. The below chart provides a listing of teacher career awards.

700 Retired BTU Members and Friends to Seek Fair COLA at State House

Close to 700 BTU Retirees and Friends are expected to visit the State House this Tuesday, 5/13, to ask the legislature to pass a bill that would establish a fair and equitable Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) on their entire pension.  Currently the law grants a yearly maximum COLA increase of 3% on the first $12,000 of pension only. That's $360 per year--hardly enough to keep up with the increase in gasoline prices, let alone other goods and services.

The House two weeks ago passed an amendment that would raise the $12,000 to $16,000. This still is not law, as it has a long way to go before passage. It's also a very, very small step--but it's in the right direction.

All are encouraged to join the retirees. If you have signed up for BTU bus already, great. If not, meet us at the State House Gardner Auditorium at 9:30 AM. Thank you.

BTU Co-Sponsors Teen Empowerment's Peace Conference and Unity Rally for Education

The Boston Teachers Union is working with Teen Empowerment, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Citizens for Public Schools, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts to organize the largest number of students, teachers, and parents possible to come to the Grand Staircase at the State House on Wednesday, May 21, at 3:30 to participate in a Unity Rally for Children Left Behind: Speak Out for Education.
 
We are doing this because education reform in our state has been a manifest failure for many thousands of children, particularly children in poor urban communities, special needs children, and immigrant children, as evidenced by the increasing dropout rates in recent years. The emphasis on standardized testing both in No Child Left Behind and in Massachusetts education reform has driven out other approaches to closing the educational achievement gap. As a result of the pressures on school systems to raise test scores every year, thousands of students have been marginalized or lost, and practices that could help these children to succeed have been ignored or reversed.

We want to shift the focus of activity in education from how to raise test scores to:

• how to provide adequate resources for all students,
• how to create an environment of respect for teachers, students, and parents within all our schools,
• how to ensure that our schools' curricula are focused on stimulating intellectual curiosity rather than on logging higher test scores,
• how to evaluate students' achievement based on multiple forms of assessment, as called for in the Education Reform Act of 1993, and
• how to implement common-sense solutions that will meet the needs of students and help them to gain the skills they need to be successful in life.

To accomplish this shift in focus, we need a massive turnout of concerned people at the State House on May 21. I urge you to attend the rally and encourage other teachers, your students, and their parents to participate. With the unified efforts of our partner sponsors, we will be able to make clear to the Governor, the Board of Education, and our legislators that we want an education policy in this state that first and foremost reflects caring for our children.

Professional Leadership Project Showcase

The Boston School Department and Boston Teachers Union are in its second year of a collaborative effort to provide professional leadership projects for members of the Boston Teachers Union.  The goal is to create avenues of professional growth for educators and school support staff by enabling them to take on additional leadership responsibilities and develop new skills that will advance school improvement efforts.  In addition to providing professional growth opportunities for BTU members, the work performed by these individuals will positively impact student achievement in our schools.  

The Project Leaders from over 80 projects will showcase their yearlong work to promote student growth in achieving success in their education. The projects represent elementary, middle and high schools from across the city.

Join them Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 4-6 at the BTU Hall to view this exciting exposition of leadership work by teachers in the Boston Public Schools. Please contact George Cox at gcox@boston.k12.ma.us or call 617-635-8881.

BTU Health and Welfare Fun Run--June 6

The Boston Teachers Fun Run, sponsored by the B.T.U. Health and Welfare Fund will be held on Friday, June 6, 2007.  It will be the 28th running.  The race will again be held on a Friday this year.  As usual, there will be a choice of two distances:  a 2.8 mile course and a 5.8 mile course.  Both races start and end at the Boston Teachers Union building.  Applications are available at the B.T.U. Health and Welfare Fund Office.  T-shirts will be distributed to all registered runners.

Sheltering Severance Pay Mtg. on June 19

There will be a meeting on June 19th at the BTU to learn about how to shelter severance pay. A relatively new IRS ruling makes it easy to shelter some of your severance pay, saving you an unnecessary tax expenditure. The meeting is at 4:00 at the BTU. Members who are retiring this school year are welcomed to attend.

$15,000 for Nat'l Certification in Selected Fields

Under a new provision in our contract, educators in the following fields (OT, PT, SLP, School Psych, Adaptive PE, Nursing, Vision and Social Work) share in an overall stipend of $15,000 for attainment of National Board Certification. It isn't a lot of money, but it's a start. A committee has been formed to award the funds, and a letter from the committee will be out shortly to all members in the above fields. The letter will go into greater detail and deadline for submission will be June 15, 2008.

Grover Cleveland Gone but Not Forgotten!!!!!

Grover Cleveland End of an Era Celebration
 
As many of you know, the Grover Cleveland will close its doors for the final time this June.  We are organizing a celebration of the school's years of service and the hard work and dedication of all the staff who have passed through its doors.  The party will be held at Adams Inn in Quincy - June 13th at 7pm.  The cost is $65 and includes a champagne toast, a huge barbeque and seafood buffet, a DJ and dancing, and a good time guaranteed for all!!  If you know the Cleveland, you know we always have a great time.  So far almost 100 people have responded and we would really like as many as possible. Checks can be made out to the Grover Cleveland and can be mailed to the school's address: 11 Charles St. Dorchester, MA 02122 Attn: Ms. Lucia.  Please email Ms. Lucia at fin802@comcast.net for more information or questions.  Thanks and hope to see you all there.

Black Caucus Hosts NY Trip to Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

The Black Caucus is hosting a trip to New York City to see the acclaimed Broadway play, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof".  There are 100 tickets available and the cost for each is $87.00.

• Date: Friday, May 30th, show begins at 8:00 PM.
• Where: The Broadhurst Theatre 235 West 44th Street New York, NY
• How: We have secured 2 coach busses (each equipped with WiFi) for travel.  We will depart from the BTU at 10:00 AM and depart from NY at 12:00AM.
• Cost: The total price for ticket and transportation is $125.00 per person.
• Payment: I will be available at the Union hall on Wednesday, May 14th
• from 2:30 till 4:30 to collect money.  Cash or Tremont credit union money orders only, no personal checks will be accepted.  If you need to meet with me separately, please email me immediately to make arrangements.

Sarita Thomas, Chair, Black Caucus - BTU

Pathway Program for Moderate Disability Lic.

A descriptive brochure and application for the summer cohort of the Pathway Program for Moderate Disabilities licensure are now available and may be accessed here . Offered by the Office of Human Resources, the summer Pathway Program is a 5-week, intensive track to licensure by the Mass Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in the high needs area of Special Education.

Teachers who wish to pursue the Moderate Disabilities license are welcome to apply for admission to the summer cohort. The application deadline is June 2, 2008.

Under the district's articulation agreement with Northeastern University, completion of the Pathway program can earn graduate credits and be applied towards a Masters' degree at reduced tuition rates. If you have any questions, please contact Nick Balasalle at 635-9036.

Fenway HS Offers Summer Course

In Celebration of 25 Years of Teaching & Learning, Fenway HS Summer Inst.: Access and Inclusion, Strategies for Teaching Diverse Learners. 6/25-27, 9-4. Also Reception and Red Sox game: Tuesday evening, June 24                  

• Location:   Fenway High School
• Cost:  $450 (includes game ticket)
• Credits from NU: 21 Professional Development Points (PDPs) certificates, no additional charge 2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs), $150 in addition to Institute fee (separate registration required). 3 QH of graduate credit, with 3 hours of homework and completion of a small project, $300 in addition to Institute fee (separate registration required)

REGISTER .
FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact Carol Lazarus at Fenway High School 617-635-9911, ext. 208 

Volunteers Needed for The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress

The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress is looking for over 300 volunteers to work in a variety of positions during the National Down Syndrome Congress 36th Annual National Convention at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, July 11 - 13, 2008.  (Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older.)  Four and eight hour shifts are available on Friday July 11, Saturday July 12, and Sunday July 13.

 If you have any questions on volunteering for the NDSC National Convention, please contact the MDSC at 1-800-664-MDSC or  Michael McLaughlin .

Retirement Parties

Retirement Party for Richard Baldassari,
Norma Friedman, Janet Guarino, Cristina Haroian, Gilda Keefe, and Jean Rooney

The event will be held on

• Monday, June 16, 2008
• 6pm - 10pm
• Venezia's
• Cost: $70
• Please make checks payable to: James W. Hennigan School
• Contact Information: Tanya or Tamikha

Obituaries

The BTU sends its condolences to the family of Thomas P. Rowley of West Roxbury. Mr. Rowley passed away on May 1, 2008. He was the  beloved husband of Katherine (Ryan) Rowley, a school nurse at the Curley K-8 School in Jamaica Plain, and a  loving father.  Mr. Rowley formerly taught at both Hyde Park High & Boston English. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and former colleagues.


The BTU regrets to inform you of the death of Calvin Murphy, beloved husband of Charity (Cochran) Murphy. Mrs. Murphy has been a science teacher for more than 20 years in the BPS and a BTU Building Rep for more than 15 years.  She is a founding member of the Lilla G Frederick Pilot Middle School where she has taught science for five years. BTU sends our deepest sympathy to Charity and her family.

Charitable Fund

Natalie Isbitsky, ETF, is sad to announce that her friend & roommate, John Totovig, passed away on 2/2/2008. Mr. Totovig (whose nickname was "Toto") was a bass guitar player. In his lifetime, he played in several local bands including Ruff Mix, Go Jam & The Mighty Charge.
 
Ms. Isbitsky Has established a memorial fund in his name at an organization called Zumix. Contributions to the Toto Memorial Fund will benefit local children who attend Zumix. Money will be used to buy instruments and/or to pay for music lessons for children who otherwise could not afford them. If enough money is raised, we may be able to help send a student to music school.
 
Zumix does good work in the East Boston community. Anyone who wishes to find out more about Zumix can see their website: www.zumix.org . Contributions will be gratefully accepted. Make checks payable to Zumix with "Toto memorial fund" listed on the bottom left of the check in the memo section. Checks should be mailed to Madeleine Steczynski at Zumix 202 Maverick St. East Boston, MA 02128.