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A Message from WTU President
Good Morning WTU Members!
Happy Chinese New Year! Sending happiness and good fortune to you in the year of the Dragon. I also want to thank our school counselors for their hard work and dedication. They continue to build brighter futures for our District of Columbia Public School students. Last week marked another exciting series of actions by our WTU team. Over the next few months, we plan to increase the number of school visits weekly to talk with building representatives and school leaders directly about the status of contract negotiations and ways your school can help. We want school leaders to see the ridiculous counterproposals DCPS made to WTU’s 10 proposals, and three memorandums of agreement initially submitted in June. In sum, all of what we submitted was dismissed and DCPS counter-offered proposals that will take away our current rights as teachers. They justified their counterproposals by claiming them as ‘managerial rights.’ We know you will be outraged when you learn more about what they sent. However, we also recognize each school may feel comfortable protesting DCPS’ failure to negotiate in good faith differently. That is why we need to talk to all building representatives and school leaders.
In other important news, last week, WTU’s Contract Negotiating Team met with DC Councilmember McDuffie. We shared our disappointment in DCPS’ disrespectful proposal of meeting the contract negotiating team to bargain at 5AM rather than the 5PM time frame we proposed. Counter-offering to come to the table at 5 or 6AM in the morning before a busy school day shows that DCPS is not negotiating in good faith. Please watch the WTU’s Contract Negotiating Team’s video update here.
The WTU looks forward to visiting your school and I hope you have a productive and peaceful week. Thank you, as always, for your support!
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
Weekly Update - WTU’s Contract Action Team (CAT)
Watch WTU’s Contract Negotiating Team’s weekly update here: https://youtu.be/lOl3wv5Chfg?si=Rj-AGuf9Kg6jJXvyOur or click on the photo below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOl3wv5Chfg
We still need your photos wearing red on Fridays and signatures on our petition. Please encourage all to sign!
Let the DC City Council hear your teacher voice!
HVAC broken, leaky roof, mold, doors not working? Register to testify at DGS’ Performance Oversight Hearing on Monday February 26 @9:30AM https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings/hearings/254
Share your insights on the availability and effectiveness on mental health services for students
Jason Cherkis is working with The Office of the D.C. Auditor on the availability and effectiveness of mental health services to students in DC Schools as it relates to suicide awareness and prevention. Jason has surveyed social workers at The DC Department of Behavioral Health and is now seeking your insights. Please contact Jason at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Teachers: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DCPS_Teachers
Social Workers: Suicide Awareness and Prevention in D.C. Schools Survey (surveymonkey.com)
Counselors: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DCPSCounselors
Do you have a Special Education and RSP Grievance?
Complete this form is you would like to sign onto a Special Education and RSP grievance. Contact Field Rep Janice Brown Parker at [email protected] if you have any questions.
FY 2025 Initial Budgets to be released soon!
The FY25 initial budgets will be released soon. Review the LSAT newsletter to prepare the budget priorities for your school. Use the FY24 Budget Guide until the new budget is released. Budget webinar recording. Contact [email protected] if you need support.
Upcoming Events, Activities & Meetings
- February 13th @ 4:30PM, Representative Assembly Meeting, Building Reps and delegates will receive a link to join as a panelist. WTU members can observe the meeting online. INFORMATION
- February 13th @7PM via Zoom, A Conversation with DC City Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, Registration in advance to get a Zoom link. INFORMATION
- February 20th @7PM W6PSPO, Registration Required for the Link. INFORMATION
- February 28th @9:30AM, DCPS/OSSE Performance Oversight Hearing, email for INFORMATION
- February 28th @6:15PM AFT PRAXIS BOOTCAMP, Registration Required. INFORMATION
In the News
- 02/04/2024 – The Washington Post – Some Jewish Parents Angry and Fearful When Teachers Back Palestinians
- 02/04/2024 – The Chicago Tribune – Teachers, Parents and Activists Rally for Investment in Green Schools and Climate Resiliency
- 02/06/2024 – The Washington City Paper – DC is Revising its Public School Report Cards. But Proposed Changes won’t Eliminate the Biased Score
- 02/05/2024 – Daily Caller – School Districts, Teachers Unions Kick Off Black Lives Matter Week of Action
- 02/06/2024 – DC Fiscal Policy Institute – How DC Funds Its Public Schools
Professional Development and Other Opportunities
AFT PRAXIS BOOTCAMP
The American Federation of Teachers remains dedicated to serving our members throughout their careers. In response to a significant decline in the educator workforce, particularly post-pandemic, the AFT is collaborating with ETS to support AFT teacher members in their certification journeys. Join the AFT and ETS for a test preparation online seminar with a preview of an upcoming Praxis support boot camp, a strategic program aimed at equipping AFT members with the tools needed to confidently prepare for Praxis exams. Register now.
When? Feb 28, 2024 | 6:15 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. EST
Who should attend? All AFT teacher members who need to pass Praxis exams.
Can’t attend the live event? Register anyway to receive access to the session recording.
Questions? Contact Nadia Torney at [email protected]
LEA Look Forward for Feb. 9, 2024: School Health Profiles, LETRS for Administrators and More!
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/DCWASH/bulletins/388c3b7
Membership Update
Make sure you are eligible to vote & receive WTU Communications!
The AM Brew is distributed as a benefit to members of the WTU. In the coming weeks, we’ll be updating our database removing non-members from the distribution for the AM Brew. To ensure that you’re not inadvertently removed from the distribution list, please confirm your personal email address by emailing [email protected].
Your ability to vote in WTU elections and receive WTU Communications depends on our ability to reach you. We must have your personal email address for all communications.
AM Brew News and Notices are archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.