Friday Flyer

October 8, 2021

Sept. 15 - October 15 - Hispanic Heritage Month

October - College Month                                    

October 11 - Indigenous Peoples’ Day - No School

October 12 - School Leader Call, 11:00 am

October 14 - All Leader PD
October 21 - Principal PLC

November 2 - Region 6 Meeting, 11:00 am

November 4 - Diwali (Festival of Lights)

November 9 - School Leader Call, 11:00 am        

November 11 - Veterans Day

School & Community Events - If your school is hosting a weekend outdoor event, please let

Dr. Cassellius know!

• Take 2 minutes to complete the google form here
• Questions: Patti Feeney pfeeney@bostonpublicschools.org

Apply for the Wellness Champion Program

Champions receive PD, technical assistance, and resources to implement wellness initiatives for staff wellness, physical activity, or SEL. A school can have 2 stipended champions. Apply by Oct 22nd. Details on flyer. If you have questions, contact Michelle Grohe, mgrohe@bostonpublicschools.org.

Introduction to the Boston UPK/BPS Connector  

Learn about the expansion of Universal Pre-K and the Boston UPK/BPS Connector which ensures the continuity of the kindergarten experience for students transitioning from UPK in CBOs to K2 in BPS. Contact tdias@bostonpublicschools.org with questions.  Please register here to receive the Zoom link.  More information on the Connector System can be found here.

Early Educator Mentoring

School leaders, teachers in their 2nd or 3rd year of teaching, New Teacher Development is pleased to announce a NEW Early Educator Mentoring Program. PLC educators in yr 2 or 3 of their careers will meet bi-weekly with their Early Educator Mentor.  Click here for registration and information. Questions contact Kaitlin Torossian ntdprogram@bostonpublicschools.org

Sexual Health Education: HS Curriculum PD: October 21-22

Participants will gain the knowledge and resources needed to deliver the high school Rights, Respect, Responsibility SHE curriculum to support students in making healthy choices. Review this flyer.  Register on TeachPoint. Any questions contact Cheryl Todisco, ctodisco@bostonpublicschools.org.

School Based MAP Data PDs

We are excited to offer schools virtual MAP data dive sessions later this month, on 10/25, 10/26, 10/27 and 10/28! An Office of Accountability NWEA trainer can come to your CPT/PLC/ILT or whole school PD. Complete this form to indicate interest. Assessment Help Site and Resources Page. If you have questions, contact Dana Pulda-Acone dpuldaacone@bostonpublicschools.org

How to Monitor MTSS Progress in Panorama

Monitoring MTSS progress means fulfilling BPS policies, measuring the implementation of plans, and ensuring that all students meet their goals. This new training resource walks through key details. Direct any questions to David Fisher, mtssdata@bostonpublicschools.org

MCAS Parent/Guardian Reports Delivery

ODA will electronically distribute the MCAS Parent/Guardian Report to families in November for students who tested in Spring 2021. A paper report will be mailed to families without an email address.  Any questions contact Ileana Gruia, igruia@bostonpublicschools.org

MAP Make-up Testing Due October 15th!

The Fall MAP testing window closes Friday, October 8th. Make-up tests may continue through next week and must be completed by this Friday, October 15th. ODA Assessment Help Site.  Direct any questions to Dana Pulda-Acone dpuldaacone@bostonpublicschools.org

Office of Recruitment, Cultivation and Diversity Programs (RCD)

Click on links below for specific program area updates and resources

• Recruitment & Cultivation Team Updates & Events
• Early Hiring Pool for SY22-23 will be opening soon, spread the word!
• BPS Teacher Pipeline Programs
• BPS Pathway Programs
• Retention Services Updates
• BPS MTEL Prep Support Programming

Maintenance Budget Requests Due 10/14

FY23 budget development has begun! We are requesting that departments assist us by submitting all Maintenance Change Form or here (please make your own copy of the form to complete) by 10/14.  Please contact your Financial Analyst with questions.

PAR School Leader Panelist Nominations

The Educator Supports Program (Formerly Peer Assistance & PAR) is a BTU-BPS Panel seeking a School Leader Panel Member (stipend). See the description here and submit nominations here. Nominations will be accepted until the position is filled. If you have questions, contact jdoherty7@bostonpublicschools.org

Evaluations SY21-22

Please go to https://www.bostonpublicschools.org/evalnews for beginning-of-year information about evaluations. If you have questions, email eval@bostonpublicschools.org.

*REQUIRED In-Person Central Office Supervisor Training*

Please see the linked memo about the new, *Required* Central Office Supervisor Training. This in-person training will provide professional learning and best practices for all Central Office managers.  Contact eval@bostonpublicschools.org or jdoherty7@bostonpublicschools.org

Managing Staff Stipends

Definition of Stipend Work

• Stipend work consists of activities that are distinct and separate from an individual’s job and not an extension of it.
• For example, staff training beyond the contractual PD and Saturday or evening schools are some examples of stipend work for teachers.
• Stipend work is not to be performed during the period of time that constitutes the normal work day.
• Managerial employees in schools are only eligible to receive stipends for work done beyond the school year if they are also exceeding the length of their Managerial work year. These stipend opportunities for Managerial employees in schools must be posted in the school.

Definition of Overtime Work

• Overtime work consists of activities considered part of an individual’s regular job which requires extra time above and beyond the normal work period.
• Overtime is not authorized for the tasks that we regularly expect to be completed during the work day.
• Overtime is not authorized for Managerial personnel.

To learn more about stipends and how to submit them to finance for approval, see the Superintendent’s Circular: FIN-20 Managing Stipends.

Employee Self Service

Please remind your staff members that they should be updating their personal information with BPS online at the Employee Self Service website https://ess.boston.gov by logging in with their employee ID and password.

This includes:

[edit] Home and Mailing Address                [edit] Phone Numbers

[edit] Emergency Contacts                        [edit] Name Change

[edit] Email Address                                [edit] Marital Status

[view only] Benefits Summary                        [view only] Paychecks

[edit] Direct Deposit                                [edit] W-4/M-4 forms

[view only] W-2 form

First-Year Provisional Teacher and Newly Hired Paraprofessional Probationary Period Terminations

In order to seek the dismissal of a first-year provisional teacher (within a 90-day workday period) or newly hired paraprofessional (within a 60-day school day period), the Office of Labor Relations (OLR) requires that the Principal or Head of School provide an OLR attorney with a memorandum outlining the reasons for seeking dismissal. This memorandum should be sent to OLR@bostonpublicschools.org. Upon review, if appropriate, OLR will forward a recommendation for dismissal to the Superintendent. If the Superintendent approves the dismissal, the Principal or Head of School will be provided with a dismissal letter to be given to the teacher or paraprofessional.

Please be advised that the Superintendent must approve the dismissal of any teacher. Teachers are not to be dismissed or told to leave their assignment prior to your receipt of a dismissal letter from OLR.

Principals and Heads of School can contact OLR for guidance on this process. You can reach OLR at OLR@bostonpublicschools.org.

Weather Precautions for School Buildings

As the weather is starting to change, the CDC’s recommendation is to have windows in NON-HVAC buildings open 2 inches while schools are in operation. It is not necessary to open windows more than 2 inches. It is important that windows are secured at the end of every day. Summer pests are no longer as prominent, but there are still some major security issues around not securing the windows. The weather has an easier time getting into the building when the windows remain open, not limited to rain, leaves, and eventually frost & snow. In addition, the windows are an access point to the building and as we have seen in the past, break-ins and vandalism still happen. To prevent damage and security issues, please ensure the securing of windows at the end of every school day. In addition, we want to encourage all non-school based staff that when entering buildings they need to sign in the visitor log regardless of badge access. If you have any questions, contact bforde2@bostonpublicschools.org

Child Tax Credit Resources

Share Our Strength has created some great resources/toolkit here that outlines information around a tax refund designed to help families with the expenses of raising a child. This toolkit includes ready-to-use and customizable resources that can be shared on a variety of platforms including: Social Media, Parent Letter, Robocall Script, Flyers, and a Step-By-Step Guide for Parents. Sample social media messages and other information can be used by teachers, administrators, counselors and other school leaders to share messaging around this initiative with BPS families.

Student Government Elections Deadline - October 15, 2021

Secondary schools are underway with student government elections!  Please submit your student government rosters to the Boston Student Advisory Council at BSAC@bostonpublicschools.org by Friday October 15th. Here is a link to the election resource guide. Please encourage Faculty Advisors to reach out to Dennisse Rorie at DRorie@bostonpublicschools.org for additional support or if they cannot make the October 15th deadline!

Preparing for School Choice Season (For School Staff)

Although the 2021-2022 school year has just started, we are already starting to look ahead to plan for the 2022-2023 school year. School choice season starts in November for families to start exploring their options. More information about school choice season will be coming soon, but there are 2 items we are asking for your help with at this time.

• By Friday, October 8: Please complete the following form to Schedule School Preview Sessions

• All school preview sessions will need to be held virtually this year. More information about how to host virtual sessions and how families can sign up for them will be coming soon.  
• We are asking schools to schedule at least three Virtual School Preview Sessions.

• By Friday, October 8: Please update your Discover BPS Profiles
• This information will feed into the BPS Choice and Registration guide provided to families as well as the Discover BPS website where families can view their choice lists.
• To update your profile, find the row associated with your school in the linked sheet Discover BPS Profiles
• The sheet is pre-populated with the information that was included last year.  Feel free to make any changes, updates, or deletions to this information directly in the sheet. If you do not make any changes, we will use the information currently listed there.

For more information about the upcoming school choice season, please click here. If you have any questions, please email Barry Kaufman (bkaufman@bostonpublicschools.org) or Alan Diaz-Romero, adiazromero@bostonpublicschools.org in the Office of Welcome Services.