Our colleagues in the MFT 59 teacher and ESP units are in the third week of their strike for safe and stable schools and livable wages for ESPs in Minneapolis. Although MFT's leadership says there have been the smallest signs of progress at the table, the strike continues and MFT members are holding the line. They'll need even more support from their union and community family as each day goes by. Their issues are all of our issues, and we stand in solidarity with them!

Please continue to find ways to support MFT members during this time. See the resources at https://www.safeandstableschools.org/. This microsite includes information on the issues surrounding MFT’s bargaining and much more.

In addition, these direct links can be used to show support for MFT:

• Share the MFT Bargaining Demands.
• Individual volunteer sign-up form.
• Organizational sign-up form.
• Sign up for MFT's Family Email List.
• Send a letter to Superintendent Ed Graff.
• Sign and share MFT's petition.
• Pledge to support MFT's strike fund.
• Support MFT's bargaining team in mediation by providing food, coffee, support, etc.

The BFT is helping the MFT hold the line. The BFT is donating $1000 towards the MFT Strike Fund AND will match the first $1000 donated by BFT members.

Donate via Venmo @ Wendy-Marczak or give cash or check (made out to the Bloomington Federation of Teachers) to your Building Steward and the BFT will match up to $1000.

The MFT59 Strike Fund is managed by Working Memberships and will offer financial assistance to members who may face additional financial hardships due to a strike. Funds will help with living expenses of teachers and Education Support Professionals.

REGISTER NOW for a members-only Degrees, Not Debt webinar on the latest student loan forgiveness options!

• Webinar Date: Wednesday, March 30 from 4:30-6:00 p.m.
• https://edmn.me/3qdUFYP
• Recent changes are making more educators eligible for loan forgiveness and a review of a past application that's been denied. Find out if you qualify!

#DegreesNotDebt

BFT officers are elected for a term of 2 years. All members in good standing may run for a BFT officer position. If interested, check out some of the main responsibilities of each officer.

Jackie Kuhns is our 2022 officer election coordinator. She can be contacted at jmkuhns@isd271.org if you have any questions.

Some important dates to note:

• Send Nominations by 3:00pm on April 7 to Jackie Kuhns. You can nominate yourself or you can nominate someone else.
• A forum will be held for all members running for office during the week of April 18.
• BFT officer election is April 28.

Jackie will be communicating details through the BFT_Group on district email.

Here is a look at various sections of the contract and provide information and interpretations of the language used.

• UPDATED Section 10, 403b: The District 403(B) Plan, also known as tax-sheltered annuities (TSA), is self-administered.

• NEW Section 8.1: Sick Leave

ACTION ALERT: Tell lawmakers to improve educator retirement benefits!
Minnesota's school staffing shortage was already a growing problem before COVID-19 hit, but now it's at crisis levels.

We need competitive compensation packages that attract the best educators to the profession and keep them in our schools. There are three bills that make teaching more attractive by enhancing retirement benefits to recognize educators’ hard work on behalf of students.

Write your legislators and Gov. Tim Walz and tell them to improve retirement benefits to recruit and retain the best educators for our students!

We also have scheduled a pensions Issue Lobby Day on April 19. Register for that here.

Register now for our Student Mental Health Lobby Day
Student mental health was a growing concern even before the pandemic. Share your story with legislators and advocate for the mental health resources your students need at our next virtual Issue Lobby Day on Tuesday, March 29.

Issue Lobby Day: Student Mental Health on Tuesday, March 29 5-6:30 p.m.
Register online

Legislators need to hear from you about how the pandemic has increased the need for more school counselors, social workers, psychologists and support staff.


Student support bill moves forward in House
HF1742 would give Minnesota schools about $225 million to hire more counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses and chemical dependency counselors. Districts would receive $235 per pupil to address the shortage of student support service personnel.

Michael Erickson, our 403B contact through Education Minnesota, will be offering two meeting times on June 16 to meet with him to discuss 403B general information. We will post more information in April and May.