BLOOMINGTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

In a couple of weeks, we will be finishing one of the most challenging years in public education. Summer break will be vital to all of us as we try to recoup and gain pieces of our lives back. In your union, another difficult negotiations season is upon us. Our contract expires June 30, 2021 and usually we would be at the bargaining table. There are a few things that are holding us back. One is the unknown of education funding in Minnesota. Second, having a new superintendent starting July 1 brings a small unknown. Dr. Eric Melbye has included labor in most of his decision-making in the past. We are hopeful this will continue. Third, we are looking for a few more negotiators in training. (Let me know if you are interested.). Last, our paraprofessionals have not settled the 2019-2021 contract. We hope a settlement comes soon so we can move forward with the new cycle. In the meantime, we are working on language items.

We are currently preparing for negotiations, by updating contract language for:

• Distance learning

• Online & eLearning days/snow days

• Pandemics

• Online teacher preparation time
  

• Teaching asynchronous vs synchronous

Please check your email a few times this summer. We will be collecting data and ideas for the 2021-2023 contract.

Take care of yourself and those around you.

Wendy

Attend our end-of-session rally at the state Capitol May 15

Education Minnesota is a co-sponsor of an End-of-Session rally at the state Capitol on Saturday, May 15 at 2 p.m. This will be an outdoor rally, in line with state guidelines for COVID-safe events.

This is a critical event in our efforts to pressure the governor, House and Senate to pass an adequate education budget and raise taxes on the richest Minnesotans. We know from Gov. Tim Walz that our Capitol rally in 2019 was key in defeating the GOP's school vouchers proposal. Unfortunately, we are fighting a similar privatization scheme this session, as well as a devastating education budget proposal from the Senate.

This event will be an opportunity for our members to make their voices heard in front of key decision makers. The governor and House Speaker Melissa Hortman are expected to attend.

Register for the rally here. The We Make MN coalition also has a Facebook event page with details. Here is a postcard that is being shared at targeted worksites this week. It includes a QR code for easy sign-up to RSVP for the rally.

We Make Minnesota: Fund Our Futures Rally
Saturday, May 15, 2 p.m. at Leif Erikson Park

(Minnesota Capitol grounds, on the north side of the State Office Building, at the intersection of University Ave. and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.)

As was the case for past rallies, mileage and meal reimbursement will be available for members. Reimbursement forms will be available at the rally.

Petition update: Let's get more signatures!
SIGN OUR PETITION TODAY to call on Gov. Tim Walz and state legislators to stave off cuts to school funding, address the disruptions to education caused by COVID-19 and start making strategic investments to fully funding welcoming schools that work for everyone.

We are in the last two weeks of the legislative session. We need to let lawmakers know we expect a strong down payment toward full funding of our schools. Please sign the petition and share with colleagues, neighbors and friends.

Our goal of 50,000 and we have a ways to go. Please keep the petition going in your local communities, and let's show lawmakers that the time to fully fund our schools is now!

Fill out a form for a one-time, lump sum contribution for June 20th to deposit into your Health Savings Account (HSA). This will allow you to collect the full Q-comp amount and not lose out on any tax money. You can have any stipend added to your HSA, tax free, by completing a form each time.

• For a copy of the form, please contact Yoojin Woodward (ywoodward@isd271.org) in HR

Now Available:

When Can I Afford to Retire seminar for locals serviced out of the SW Metro field office on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM. This session will focus on those with a TRA pension.

When thinking about or planning for retirement, we encourage members to do the following:
1) Attend an ESI seminar, topics to be discussed are listed below.
2) Schedule a meeting with a TRA and/or PERA counselor to provide you with individualized options.
3) Schedule a meeting with a financial advisor to help you in making the decisions that are the best for you. If you don’t have one, check out our sponsored partner, EFS Advisors. You can find your local advisor here.
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Register today

Jeremy Kersten, teacher at Jefferson High School, is our BFT contact regarding retirement questions. He is not a financial planner but he can help connect you to resources and answer questions.

The university has relaunched a spring version of the Safe Learning Survey. I ask that you take this survey as an educator, and also a second time as a parent if you are one, so that the survey reflects points of view from both angles. We'll share results of this survey when they are released.

Here are the results of the University of Minnesota’s Safe Learning Survey that gathered information regarding the educational experiences of educators, students (grades 6-12) and families from the first half of this academic year.

PDF has the funds to offer summer writing time this summer! Here are the parameters:

up to 8 hours per person

1 application per person

Must be 2 people and no more than 5 on application

Must be a current BFT member to apply

PDF Committee will prioritize innovation and those that are going through a job/position change.

Applications are due on May 23rd.

Application can be found HERE or on the BPS Staff Professional Development Page.

We are in need of members to join various teams within the BFT. Some of our bargaining team members have decided to step down from this round of negotiations. We would like to build our team for the future. If you would like more information on the role or would like to NOMINATE a colleague, please contact me @bftpresident@gmail.com or 952-356-5971. Positions are appointed by the president.

We have an elementary opening for the PDF committee. Co-chairs are Jennie Berglund and Evan Ziegler. If you would like more information, please contact the co-chairs or bftpresident@gmail.com. This is an appointed position.

During the spring, buildings are to hold elections for building stewards. This has been a difficult year for all and some building stewards are wanting a break. If this is something you are considering, feel free to contact your building stewards or send me an email. We do have teachers that share the responsibility.