Words from Grace
During our daily sync calls, Chief Martinez reminds us that Covid-19 will be with us for the time being, and that we need to figure out how we will continue essential services/our work under these very challenging, very real, very scary circumstances. As leaders, we have the challenge of managing our own personal circumstances as well as the needs of our school communities - staff, students, families. There are no cut/dried rules to follow, and even when we think we have a handle on things, the rules change.... This is incredibly challenging - and this is our reality. There is no right/wrong. There is only: Today I will do the best I can, and tomorrow I will do better based on what I learned yesterday. This means you need to focus on what you can control for short periods of time, while also keeping your sights on the needs of your community. I strongly suggest you empower your ILT/staff to solve problems as they arise - there is NO WAY any one of us can do this work alone - and if we are, we will get it wrong and only have ourselves to blame.As you make decisions, the answer to the following two questions has to be yes:
We are excited to relaunch our PLCs.
September 30 – School Committee Meeting @ 5p
October 1 – Enrollment snapshot for reporting students to DESE
October 1 – In-person Priority students report to school building
October 12 – Columbus Day – no school
October 22 – All School Leader Meeting
November 11 – Veterans Day – no school
The classroom presentations/zoom presentation engage students in understanding how simple changes can help the environment. The resources we offer are fun ways to bring school and community groups together to learn how they can help fight pollution in their neighborhood. For more information please visit our website www.bwsc.org, go to Public Outreach and Education. Please contact Adriama Cillo, Educational Programs Coordinator, if you have any questions or want to set up an appointment for a zoom presentation. Here is a copy of the BWSC brochure.
Seesaw is live and available for students K0-6th grade in BPS! For up-to-date BPS resources, visit the BPS Technology's "How to access Seesaw" page. Resources for families are available on this page as well."
The Office of Data and Accountability has created a data guide for school leaders, which includes how to access critical data points such as daily attendance and online learning usage at the student and school levels. This document will grow over time to include assessment and other data guidance. Please contact Stephanie Marek (smarek@bostonpublicschools.org) with questions.
MAP Administration Office Hours for Assessment Coordinators
ODA is hosting Office Hours next week for Assessment Coordinators to support with preparing for remote MAP testing.
Office Hours Zoom Link (Meeting ID: 269 714 2573; Passcode: BPS2020)
Transformation Instructional Coaches Update
The team supporting Transformation Coaches, comprised of members of the Divisions of Accountability and Academics, have collaborated to develop a series of CPT agendas for a Data-Driven Inquiry Cycle. These agendas have been introduced to Transformation Coaches and are intended to serve as resources for them as they collaborate with leaders and other district staff to ensure standards-aligned, data-driven and culturally responsive instruction in schools.
The agendas are purposefully sequenced and are built with three priorities in mind:
Panorama Student Support Notes
We appreciate the staff who have completed and continue to log Tech & Wellness Checks, one specific type of support notes. By Wednesday, September 30th, we aim to have BPS School-based staff successfully engage in and log as many “Tech & Wellness Checks” in the Support Notes of the Panorama Student Success Platform. Please see this table that clarifies questions about use of platforms:
Coordination Sync Meetings Resources
The “Coordination Sync Materials” folder can be found on the ‘Reopening Resources” page on the School Leader Communication Hub. In this folder, you will find:
The Universal Expectations for our transformation work for SY20-21 have been updated. The universal expectations and corresponding core actions are meant to highlight BPS priority practices that we will track and support toward our goal of achieving growth aligned to our state-required transformation outcomes.
The role of the Office of School Transformation is to coordinate support and accountability for implementation. The document summarizes the key expectations and core actions for effective practice.
Division of Student, Family, and Community Engagement
Division of Human Capital
Reminder: The Operations Links for School Leaders lives on the communications hub and contains links to items in the COVID materials folder.
Athletics
School Leaders are encouraged to refer students to get involved in the Scholar-Athlete- Student Ambassador Program
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dMgvnqGC3wLlyd1HscQSuPdKNrLYRRRo/view?usp=sharing
Facilities
Floor Stickers have been arriving this week, final deliveries will occur 9/22-9/24. Please look for a package from trend Innovation.
Restroom Sanitation checklists should be up in bathrooms, please connect with your custodian and/or your senior custodian to confirm.
Asbestos Notification
Please read the Mandatory Asbestos Notification for Contractors. All AHERA binders must be available in your Main Office. Website: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14WsJ6wW02ipoSKw11kuv_9G4Z2HsiZbX/view?usp=sharing
Classroom Usage – Hybrid Phases
Please update your custodian at the beginning of each Phase of students returning for in-person instruction on which rooms will be used for in-person learning. The first update should happen before Thursday, October 1 when in-person priority students begin.
Food and Nutritional Services
Please ensure you have confirmed your meal plan with your site coordinator.
Safety Services
This is a friendly reminder that your safety plans were due for submission by August 26, 2020. Your plans are in a google doc that you should have. If you need your plans shared with you please reach out to Rick Deraney, Director of Safety Services, at rderaney@bostonpublicschools.org or 617-212-2397. Please submit your plans to allow for proper review and support by Director Deraney. All plans were to be reviewed by Safety Services prior to the DESE district submission deadline of September 1, 2020.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
When you are completing your plan, please DO NOT COPY AND MAKE THE CHANGES. Make all changes in the original document so Rick can see changes in the file. Please make sure you update section 4 student enrollment. After all your updates are complete, please change the school year in the title section from SY19/20 to SY20/21.
- Does it meet health/safety guidelines?
- Are students receiving the best possible experience in-person or remotely?
The plans we make are mental models to help us ensure smooth operations - however, in our current reality, our plans can change in a moment's notice due to being in a pandemic - so, let's continue to offer each other patience, flexibility, and grace.
I look forward to connecting tomorrow morning as a region at 10:00 a.m.
Principal PLC Information - Sign up to participate/lead
- Please see the PLC Overview SY 2020-2021.
- Please identify your choices for PLCs by Thursday, October 1st: PLC Survey
- If interested, please see the application here: PLC Leader Application
Important Dates
September 30 – School-based staff complete Tech & Wellness Check entries in PanoramaSeptember 30 – School Committee Meeting @ 5p
October 1 – Enrollment snapshot for reporting students to DESE
October 1 – In-person Priority students report to school building
October 12 – Columbus Day – no school
October 22 – All School Leader Meeting
November 11 – Veterans Day – no school
Office of the Superintendent
The Boston Water and Sewer Commission has various environmental awareness projects that may support your classroom lessons. These school activities range from school presentations, stormwater games and building the stormwater system. The presentation and other programs are to educate school children on ways we can help to reduce environmental water pollution indoor and outdoor. The presentation focuses on where our drinking water comes from, history of our water, where water goes once it’s down the drain, what is stormwater and how it gets polluted and where it goes. School presentations are designed for classroom setting for grades K-12. Schools are not charged for this service.The classroom presentations/zoom presentation engage students in understanding how simple changes can help the environment. The resources we offer are fun ways to bring school and community groups together to learn how they can help fight pollution in their neighborhood. For more information please visit our website www.bwsc.org, go to Public Outreach and Education. Please contact Adriama Cillo, Educational Programs Coordinator, if you have any questions or want to set up an appointment for a zoom presentation. Here is a copy of the BWSC brochure.
Division of Academics
Seesaw UpdateSeesaw is live and available for students K0-6th grade in BPS! For up-to-date BPS resources, visit the BPS Technology's "How to access Seesaw" page. Resources for families are available on this page as well."
Division of Accountability
Data Guide for School LeadersThe Office of Data and Accountability has created a data guide for school leaders, which includes how to access critical data points such as daily attendance and online learning usage at the student and school levels. This document will grow over time to include assessment and other data guidance. Please contact Stephanie Marek (smarek@bostonpublicschools.org) with questions.
MAP Administration Office Hours for Assessment Coordinators
ODA is hosting Office Hours next week for Assessment Coordinators to support with preparing for remote MAP testing.
Office Hours Zoom Link (Meeting ID: 269 714 2573; Passcode: BPS2020)
- Tuesday, 9/29: 12-1 pm
- Wednesday, 9/30: 11-12 pm
- Thursday, 10/1: 10-11 am
Transformation Instructional Coaches Update
The team supporting Transformation Coaches, comprised of members of the Divisions of Accountability and Academics, have collaborated to develop a series of CPT agendas for a Data-Driven Inquiry Cycle. These agendas have been introduced to Transformation Coaches and are intended to serve as resources for them as they collaborate with leaders and other district staff to ensure standards-aligned, data-driven and culturally responsive instruction in schools.
The agendas are purposefully sequenced and are built with three priorities in mind:
- Teachers and students must be critical consumers of curriculum;
- Teachers must work together to provide access and support for all students to reach high standards;
- Teachers must work together to consistently analyze student work, understand student strengths, identify unfinished teaching and learning, and make a plan to respond.
- While the agendas were created with Transformation Schools in mind, all schools are encouraged to use them to develop strong data-driven inquiry practices.
We appreciate the staff who have completed and continue to log Tech & Wellness Checks, one specific type of support notes. By Wednesday, September 30th, we aim to have BPS School-based staff successfully engage in and log as many “Tech & Wellness Checks” in the Support Notes of the Panorama Student Success Platform. Please see this table that clarifies questions about use of platforms:
Coordination Sync Meetings Resources
The “Coordination Sync Materials” folder can be found on the ‘Reopening Resources” page on the School Leader Communication Hub. In this folder, you will find:
- Decks from each meeting
- Action items (updated daily): “Daily BPS Coordination Sync Calls Meeting Notes & Action Items”
- Coordination Sync Calls Q&A updated document
- Any documents linked during the meetings and updated documents related to reopening
The Universal Expectations for our transformation work for SY20-21 have been updated. The universal expectations and corresponding core actions are meant to highlight BPS priority practices that we will track and support toward our goal of achieving growth aligned to our state-required transformation outcomes.
The role of the Office of School Transformation is to coordinate support and accountability for implementation. The document summarizes the key expectations and core actions for effective practice.
- Please note, the core actions do not represent an exhaustive list of all possible effective practices.
- It is important to consider how new efforts can be integrated with any existing strong efforts in the school and to limit the total number of new practices to only those your team can effectively complete in the time frame allotted.
- Most schools will only deeply implement one to three practices in a given year, based on their action plan and needs.
Division of Student, Family, and Community Engagement
Partnerships
The District Office has decided to NOT re-negotiate contracts with partners, as they have brought on staff and trained them for the coming school year. School Leaders should plan out partnerships for the year, based upon current cost estimates. If School Leaders have questions, or need guidance on choosing partners, they should contact the Partnerships Office at mfarmer2@bostonpublicschools.org
DEPARTMENT OF OPPORTUNITY YOUTH
Attendance
Temporary Protocol for Attendance During SY20-21: This document outlines the student attendance protocol that will temporarily stand in place of the attendance circular during the COVID-19 district reopening.
The District Office has decided to NOT re-negotiate contracts with partners, as they have brought on staff and trained them for the coming school year. School Leaders should plan out partnerships for the year, based upon current cost estimates. If School Leaders have questions, or need guidance on choosing partners, they should contact the Partnerships Office at mfarmer2@bostonpublicschools.org
DEPARTMENT OF OPPORTUNITY YOUTH
Attendance
Temporary Protocol for Attendance During SY20-21: This document outlines the student attendance protocol that will temporarily stand in place of the attendance circular during the COVID-19 district reopening.
- All staff should watch this training video to become familiar with the attendance procedures for SY20-21.
- School Supervisor of Attendance (SOA) Assignments: Found here is the listing of which SOA will be supporting each school.
- School Truancy Prevention Plan: Schools should submit their Truancy Prevention Plan annually, which outlines the prevention and intervention steps they will follow to support students who miss instructional time. The SY20-21 form prompts schools to consider strategies they will use to support students in a remote and hybrid learning model. Please submit this form by October 16.
- I'm In: Virtual BPS Attendance Symposium: Please join us on October 27 as we explore best practices, frameworks and insights to better support student and family learning participation during these challenging times. A primary focus of the virtual Symposium will be the introduction of the new Tiered Attendance System (TAS), which is designed to help schools identify gaps in their attendance best practices, and then provide specific tools and resources to close those gaps. Click here to register.
- Homeless Investment Plan: As a requirement of the homeless investment funds allocated to school budgets annually, schools must submit their homeless support project plan describing their planned use of funds. Please submit this form by October 31.
- Housing Vouchers for Families: In partnership with the Boston Housing Authority (BHA), BPS families experiencing homelessness, as defined by McKinney-Vento, are eligible to apply for a Section 8 housing voucher. Please contact Kedan Harris (kharris@bostonpublicschools.org) for information about referrals.
- Reopening Best Practices for Students Experiencing Homelessness: Follow this guide to ensure equitable access for our precariously housed students.
Division of Human Capital
Recruitment
In an effort to support school leaders who find themselves in sudden need of teachers, the Recruitment team would like to remind you we are available to help source candidates. Feel free to contact us as soon as you know of a vacancy, even if a position is in the process of being posted. To minimize the time of your search process, please fill out this form to let us know of your needs and we will search applicants in Talent Ed and share them with you.
NOTE: some candidates may not yet be applicants in your job pool if the position is not yet posted, or they are not aware of your position. As we share candidates with you, we will encourage them to also apply for your position if it is posted. If an applicant is not yet in your pool, but you are interested in them, you may need to email them and ask them to apply for your position when posted so you can see their full application.
Please reach out to us at recruitment@bostonpublicschools.org if you have any questions. Thank you!
First-Year Provisional Teacher and Newly Hired Paraprofessional Probationary Period Terminations
In order to seek the dismissal of a first-year provisional teacher (within 90 day workday period) or newly hired paraprofessional (within the 60 day school day period), the Office of Labor Relations (OLR) requires that the principal or heads 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 heads 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.
Reminder for new employees: Health Benefits!
Most new staff members started in late August or early September, so the window to enroll in health benefits is closing soon.
Please refer to the following effective dates:
As a new hire, you must enroll or waive coverage within the first 30 days of hire (for most new staff this was between 8/28 - 9/8). If you do not complete your enrollment within 30 days of your hire, you must wait until the next Annual Enrollment period to enroll. The only time you can make change is if you experience a Qualifying Event (loss of coverage, birth, marriage, etc.) If you wish to enroll in health insurance, you must also enroll in basic life insurance. Your coverage will be effective the first of the month following your hire date. For example, if you were hired on June 20th, your coverage would be effective July 1st.
Please go to this webpage to learn more about your benefits. If you choose to complete your enrollment on paper, all enrollment forms and eligibility documentation must be submitted directly to the Health Benefits & Insurance Division. Incomplete applications or enrollment forms with missing eligibility documents for dependents cannot be accepted, so please be sure to only submit complete applications:
Mail: Health Benefits & Insurance
Boston City Hall, Room 807
Boston, MA 02201
Fax: (617) 635-3932
Contact: Health Benefits & Insurance Division: (617) 635-4570
Candidates on Waivers & DESE Emergency Licenses
If you have a teacher who is teaching on a waiver or obtained an emergency license through DESE this year, it is helpful to remind them early and often, that BPS' Initial Position Reviews happen in January, and that teachers who have not completed the necessary steps to receive their license may not be eligible to retain their position. Teachers are urged to contact mtelprepsupport@bostonpublicschools.org to ask further questions about a variety of MTEL study supports that BPS staff can take advantage of.
OHC Performance Management Updates
School-based and Central Office-based evaluators should plan to conduct performance evaluations as they normally would. There have been no changes to deadlines for any employee group. Please reach out to your PMT liaison if you have any specific questions. An announcement will be forthcoming in early October regarding Central Office Managerial evaluations. Central Office support questions may be directed to Jerome Doherty at jdoherty7@bostonpublicschools.org.
Resuming Educator Directed Growth Plans and Improvement Plans: The Office of Human Capital recommends extending end dates for these two types of plans by 4-6 weeks (retroactive to September 8th) to provide a grace period before restarting these plans. Please reach out to your PMT liaison (or Jerome Doherty for Central Office) if you have any specific questions.
The Educator Supports Program (Formerly PAR and Peer Assistance) is seeking a principal/head of school Panel member for the 2020-2021 school year! Please see this information sheet for more details! Deadline to submit an application/nomination is 5pm October 9th. This position carries a stipend.
Division of Operations
In an effort to support school leaders who find themselves in sudden need of teachers, the Recruitment team would like to remind you we are available to help source candidates. Feel free to contact us as soon as you know of a vacancy, even if a position is in the process of being posted. To minimize the time of your search process, please fill out this form to let us know of your needs and we will search applicants in Talent Ed and share them with you.
NOTE: some candidates may not yet be applicants in your job pool if the position is not yet posted, or they are not aware of your position. As we share candidates with you, we will encourage them to also apply for your position if it is posted. If an applicant is not yet in your pool, but you are interested in them, you may need to email them and ask them to apply for your position when posted so you can see their full application.
Please reach out to us at recruitment@bostonpublicschools.org if you have any questions. Thank you!
First-Year Provisional Teacher and Newly Hired Paraprofessional Probationary Period Terminations
In order to seek the dismissal of a first-year provisional teacher (within 90 day workday period) or newly hired paraprofessional (within the 60 day school day period), the Office of Labor Relations (OLR) requires that the principal or heads 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 heads 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.
Reminder for new employees: Health Benefits!
Most new staff members started in late August or early September, so the window to enroll in health benefits is closing soon.
Please refer to the following effective dates:
- 8/29/20 for Teachers and 12-month paraprofessionals
- 9/1/20 for BASAS, Guild
- 7/1/20 for Managerial, HMP (unless appointed later)
- 9/08/20 for 10-month paraprofessionals
- 9/10/20 for Lunch Monitors, Substitute Teachers, Cluster Substitutes
- 7/18/20 for Teachers/Paraprofessionals at the Dever and UP Academies
As a new hire, you must enroll or waive coverage within the first 30 days of hire (for most new staff this was between 8/28 - 9/8). If you do not complete your enrollment within 30 days of your hire, you must wait until the next Annual Enrollment period to enroll. The only time you can make change is if you experience a Qualifying Event (loss of coverage, birth, marriage, etc.) If you wish to enroll in health insurance, you must also enroll in basic life insurance. Your coverage will be effective the first of the month following your hire date. For example, if you were hired on June 20th, your coverage would be effective July 1st.
Please go to this webpage to learn more about your benefits. If you choose to complete your enrollment on paper, all enrollment forms and eligibility documentation must be submitted directly to the Health Benefits & Insurance Division. Incomplete applications or enrollment forms with missing eligibility documents for dependents cannot be accepted, so please be sure to only submit complete applications:
Mail: Health Benefits & Insurance
Boston City Hall, Room 807
Boston, MA 02201
Fax: (617) 635-3932
Contact: Health Benefits & Insurance Division: (617) 635-4570
Candidates on Waivers & DESE Emergency Licenses
If you have a teacher who is teaching on a waiver or obtained an emergency license through DESE this year, it is helpful to remind them early and often, that BPS' Initial Position Reviews happen in January, and that teachers who have not completed the necessary steps to receive their license may not be eligible to retain their position. Teachers are urged to contact mtelprepsupport@bostonpublicschools.org to ask further questions about a variety of MTEL study supports that BPS staff can take advantage of.
OHC Performance Management Updates
School-based and Central Office-based evaluators should plan to conduct performance evaluations as they normally would. There have been no changes to deadlines for any employee group. Please reach out to your PMT liaison if you have any specific questions. An announcement will be forthcoming in early October regarding Central Office Managerial evaluations. Central Office support questions may be directed to Jerome Doherty at jdoherty7@bostonpublicschools.org.
Resuming Educator Directed Growth Plans and Improvement Plans: The Office of Human Capital recommends extending end dates for these two types of plans by 4-6 weeks (retroactive to September 8th) to provide a grace period before restarting these plans. Please reach out to your PMT liaison (or Jerome Doherty for Central Office) if you have any specific questions.
The Educator Supports Program (Formerly PAR and Peer Assistance) is seeking a principal/head of school Panel member for the 2020-2021 school year! Please see this information sheet for more details! Deadline to submit an application/nomination is 5pm October 9th. This position carries a stipend.
Division of Operations
Reminder: The Operations Links for School Leaders lives on the communications hub and contains links to items in the COVID materials folder.
Athletics
School Leaders are encouraged to refer students to get involved in the Scholar-Athlete- Student Ambassador Program
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dMgvnqGC3wLlyd1HscQSuPdKNrLYRRRo/view?usp=sharing
Facilities
Floor Stickers have been arriving this week, final deliveries will occur 9/22-9/24. Please look for a package from trend Innovation.
Restroom Sanitation checklists should be up in bathrooms, please connect with your custodian and/or your senior custodian to confirm.
Asbestos Notification
Please read the Mandatory Asbestos Notification for Contractors. All AHERA binders must be available in your Main Office. Website: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14WsJ6wW02ipoSKw11kuv_9G4Z2HsiZbX/view?usp=sharing
Classroom Usage – Hybrid Phases
Please update your custodian at the beginning of each Phase of students returning for in-person instruction on which rooms will be used for in-person learning. The first update should happen before Thursday, October 1 when in-person priority students begin.
Food and Nutritional Services
Please ensure you have confirmed your meal plan with your site coordinator.
Safety Services
This is a friendly reminder that your safety plans were due for submission by August 26, 2020. Your plans are in a google doc that you should have. If you need your plans shared with you please reach out to Rick Deraney, Director of Safety Services, at rderaney@bostonpublicschools.org or 617-212-2397. Please submit your plans to allow for proper review and support by Director Deraney. All plans were to be reviewed by Safety Services prior to the DESE district submission deadline of September 1, 2020.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
When you are completing your plan, please DO NOT COPY AND MAKE THE CHANGES. Make all changes in the original document so Rick can see changes in the file. Please make sure you update section 4 student enrollment. After all your updates are complete, please change the school year in the title section from SY19/20 to SY20/21.
