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BFT Action - March 5th, 2019

In this issue: March 13th School Board Mobilization, March 7th Membership Meeting, BFT Activism, and more...
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BFT Action--March 2019
 
March 13th School Board Mass Mobilization of BFT Members and Parents/Guardians
 
All BFT Members should plan to attend the March 13th School Board Meeting to support our contract negotiations that begin March 15th. We need to show the District we can mobilize large numbers of teachers and community members. We will be urging our Board members to prioritize negotiations to address the Sustainability Crisis impacting both certificated and classified staff. 

We must stand together as we bargain for an increase in compensation, an increase in case managers to implement our Full Inclusion model of education for all and for an improved academic calendar that will better support our students.

There will be pizza at 6:45 pm and a short rally at 7 pm. The Board Meeting starts at 7:15 pm. Bring your family and friends.

 
Membership Meeting on the Superintendent Search and Negotiations Priorities Thursday March 7th!

Please attend our March Membership Meeting on March 7th. This meeting will be at 4:00 in the Multipurpose Room at Berkeley Adult School 1701 San Pablo Avenue, with snacks provided. 

The Superintendent search firm Leadership Associates will be present to solicit feedback on what is important to teachers for our new Superintendent.

The Negotiations Team will be presenting proposed negotiation priorities for this year's negotiations.

 
Berkeley Teachers, Classified, Parents and Students Walked-In to Support Oakland Teachers on February 26th. Read about the event here.
 
Interested in Running For BFT Office?
 

Nominations for BFT President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary open on March 7th and close at the May 2nd Membership Meeting. 

You will receive a nomination form in your mailbox or find it here. 

 
CFT Lobby Day 2019!
BFT members traveled to Sacramento with CFT to lobby for more state education funding, expanding preschool, a charter school moratorium, paid maternity leave and many other important bills.
 
Berkeley School Board Passes School Funding Resolution
The Berkeley Unified School Board passed a resolution on February 6th endorsing the Schools and Community First Ballot Initiative for 2020 which reforms commercial property tax law in California and calls on the State Legislature to fully fund public education. Thank you Board Members!
 
Berkeley Teachers Join the OEA Picket Lines!
 
Superintendent Search Survey
The School Board is asking for your help in selecting the next Superintendent of schools for Berkeley Unified. The Board has requested that the consultants from Leadership Associates, who are assisting the Board with the search, conduct an online survey to solicit input from students, staff, parents, and community.  

The survey also seeks your perspectives on District strengths, challenges, and our community. The consultants will compile a report summarizing survey results and share it with the Board.  The survey will be open through 5 pm March 11.

 

Recent BFT Successes

  • Successfully blocked proposed budget cuts to sites including cuts to the Parent Liasons and the International Baccalaureate  Coordinator at Berkeley High

  • 10 BFT members attended CFT's Lobby Day in Sacramento

  • Site Reps presented to PTAs throughout the District

  • Strong representation and assistance to REALM teachers

  • Advocacy for BUSD Workforce housing

  • Great public comment by BFT members supporting our contract campaign

 
This year's CFT convention delegates for BFT will be:
- Cathy Campbell
- Angela Reed
- Josh Austin
- Janine Waddell
- Yvette Felarca

Thank you to these members for this service to your union, and thank you to everyone who nominated themselves!

 

The Silver White Reading Recovery® Scholarship has been awarded to Berkeley Unified School District Kindergarten Teacher Kesha Jenkins and Fifth Grade Teacher LaChelle McDaniels. Congrats!

 

 
 
College Scholarships Available - Deadline to Apply is March 31st 2019!
Are you planning on continuing your education? Do you have a dependent that is a senior in high school and planning to attend college? AFT can help! As part of the Robert G. Porter Scholars Program, the AFT offers four $8,000 scholarships to high-achieving high school seniors who are dependents of AFT members. They also offer ten $1,000 grants to AFT members seeking to continue education in their field of work. 

For more information, check out the AFT Scholarships page!

 
Are You Interested in a Job Share Next Year?
If you are a K-5 teacher interested in a job share for the 2019-2020 please contact BFT so that we can connect you with other teachers seeking job shares.
 
Calendar of Coming Events
3/7/19 Membership meeting about Superintendent Search and Negotiations--BAS MPR at 4:00PM
3/13/19 School Board Mobilization
3/22/19-3/24/19 California Federation of Teachers Convention
3/29/19 Last Day of 3rd Quarter
3/30/19 - 4/7/19 Spring Break
 
Berkeley Federation of Teachers, CFT/AFT, AFL-CIO

Our mailing address is:
1432 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 549-2307 
fax (510 549-2308
www.berkeleyteachers.org

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