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Lawrence, MA 01841

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FAQ's
Contract
School System
General

MEMORANDUM


September 2, 2010


To: All BBE’s and LTS’
From: Frank McLaughlin, President, Lawrence Teachers’ Union
RE: BBE/LTS Health Insurance Update


Background:

As you may or may not know, as a result of being “legislatively” forced into the Group Insurance Commission (GIC), our BBE’s and LTS’ are in jeopardy of not being covered for health insurance benefits. The GIC has ruled that because BBE’s and LTS’ contribute to a deferred compensation system for both seasonal and short term employment and not a defined pension system like for example, the Mass Teachers Retirement System (MTRS) or the City of Lawrence Municipal Retirement System that you are deemed ineligible to receive health insurance through the GIC plan offerings.

The Lawrence Public Schools, the City of Lawrence, and the Lawrence Teachers Union fully understand the levity of this situation and would like to find a way to resolve this matter swiftly and fairly. We all understand that under state statute, you are employees working more than twenty hours a week that you should be eligible for health insurance benefits, we further understand that you have received health insurance benefits in the past and that most of you are reliant of those benefits, for without them, the job itself becomes much less attractive to hold.

What we are doing about this right now:

Our lawyer from AFT Massachusetts, our state union organization, will be submitting a letter to the Lawrence Retirement Board asking for them to reconsider having both the BBE’s and LTS’ become a part of the City of Lawrence Retirement system, similar to Paraprofessionals, clerical workers, nurses etc. and thus, be eligible to join the GIC. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 27th at 8:30am at City Hall where the Retirement Board will take up this issue. There seems to be universal support from the Superintendent’s office, the School Committee, as well as from City Hall to support the proposal.

What lies ahead:

We will not know anything until September 27th. We have advised all BBE’s and LTS’ to enroll in the GIC now in the hopes that by November 1, 2010, the matter is resolved in our favor and your health insurance is smoothly transitioned and your coverage is intact.



Thank you all for your patience as we continue to navigate through this important issue as it unfolds.

Laboy urged to resign by Nov. 20
Unanimous vote urges his departure by Nov.20

Eagle Tribune

10.16.09

 

Editorial: Lawrence must end Laboy limbo

 

Eagle Tribune

11.23.09

Lawrence School Committee preparing for Laboy deadline


Eagle Tribune

11.6.09

Lawrence schools chief accused


Campaign laws allegedly violated

Boston Globe
10.1.09

Hurting the teachers won’t help the students


Boston Globe
By
Ed Doherty
August 22, 2009

Lawrence teachers union president calls for Laboy's firing



Eagle Tribune

October 9, 2009

Eagle Tribune Editorial:
Public needs information on school scandals


Residents of Lawrence are poorly served by a state agency and the attorney general's office, which have been slow to release information on the investigation surrounding the political use of the school system's printing press.

10.1.09

Lawrence School Committee member says criminal probe of Laboy taking too long


Eagle Tribune

9.11.09

 

State watchdog agency finds Laboy, Reyes, Rivera used press to benefit candidates


Eagle Tribune


9.30.09

Don't Print That!
Catching up with Laboy


EAGLE TRIBUNE

Sunday July 5, 2009

 

 

Laboy's pizza shop ownership raises 'conflict' questions

 

Eagle Tribune

6.25.09

Lawyer: School district required to pay Laboy


Eagle Tribune

9.12.09

DON'T PRINT THAT
Laboy's booze
EAGLE TRIBUNE
SUNDAY JUNE 28, 2009

Along with the files and computers, police who raided Lawrence School Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy's office a week ago found something they didn't expect: 16 bottles of alcohol kept in an "unlocked armoire."
Police seized the wine, rum and cognac, even though liquor wasn't on the list of items on their search warrant."You cannot have alcohol on school property. It had to be removed," said police Chief John Romero.
Included in Laboy's mini bar was a $148 bottle of Dom Perginon, a bottle of a rare Dominican rum called Macorix 8 Anos, several bottles of cheapish wine (like two 1.5-liter bottles of Sutter Home white zinfandel) and three bottles of cognac. One bottle of Remy Martin VSOP cognac was half-empty, according to the police report, but the rest were apparently unopened, despite the suspended superintendent's rough week.


Lawrence mayor says it's time to suspend Laboy


School Committee set to vote tonight on leave

Eagle Tribune

6.25.09

Unanimous vote suspends Laboy
Lawrence School Committee suspends superintendent on unanimous vote

Eagle Tribune
6.26.09

Police raid home of Lawrence School Superintendent Laboy


METHUEN — State police and officers from the Lawrence Police Department raided the Methuen home of Lawrence School Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy tonight.

Eagle Tribune

6.24.09

Police raid Methuen home of Lawrence school superintendent


Search is part of probe into alleged financial improprieties

 


Eagle Tribune

6.24.09

One more vote is needed to suspend Laboy


Board set to meet in closed door session tomorrow night

 

 

Eagle Tribune

6.24.09

Reyes:
Laboy's politicking caused his troubles


Committee member rebuffs superintendent's apology

 


Eagle Tribune

6.22.09

Laboy suspension vote must wait
Superintendent's future to be discussed this week

 

 

 

Eagle Tribune 6.23.09

Eagle Tribune Editorial :
Lawrence Superintendent Laboy must resign or be fired


With his office now the subject of a criminal probe, Lawrence Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy has lost the ability to lead the city's schools.

June 21, 2009

School Office Searched In Probe


Officials Preparing To Seize 'Computers, Other Materials'

WCVB TV

6.19.09

 

 

School Supt. Laboy hopes to return to work part-time next week

 

Eagle Tribune

6.19.09

Lawrence superintendent office searched


Boston Herald

6.20.09

Police Raid Lawrence Superintendent's Office


WBZ TV Video

6.19.09

Office of Lawrence School Superintendent searched in probe

WHDH TV Video

6.19.09

Police raid school superintendent's office

Computers, other items confiscated after allegations of 'financial improprieties'

 


Eagle Tribune

6.20.09

 

Police raid Lawrence school superintendent's office

 

 


Boston Globe

6.20.09

Police seek to search superintendent's office in criminal probe


A School Committee member who made the accusations calls for the superintendent's immediate suspension

Eagle Tribune

6.20.09


In the wake of the Lawrence school system's snooping scandal, the School Committee has adopted new policies and is considering others aimed at preventing such abuse from happening again.

6.10.09

Authorization cards are currently being circulated.
If you have not been contacted, an authorization card can be downloaded.
"CLICK HERE".

Please bring completed card to the meeting or mail to:
Steve Asadoorian, Field Representative, Organizer
AFT Massachusetts Headquarters:
38 Chauncy Street
Suite 402
Boston, MA 02111
Questions can be answered by Email: mftaza@hotmail.com


Unions negotiate sick days and just cause discipline. Union members earn better wages and benefits than workers who aren’t union members. Unions help employers create a more stable, productive workforce—where workers have a say in improving their jobs.
Health Insurance Update:

We are currently working with our consultants and attorney. Attached is an EMail we sent to the LPS attorney Naomi Stonberg today.

Demand to Bargain
Health Insurance

Letter

June 4, 2009

School officials seek to rectify problems of "snoop list"

Eagle Tribune

6.7.09

Request for Information
Health Insurance

Letter

June 4, 2009

Recent grad wrote the book on how to improve Lawrence High

 


Eagle Tribune

5.31.09

 

Dream trip becomes a nightmare for Lawrence student
Lawrence student travels alone to catch up with school group in Italy

Eagle Tribune

5.31.09

Eagle Tribune Editorial:

Scandals distract from schools' mission


There is yet another scandal brewing involving the Lawrence public schools. This one has the potential to be the most serious of all.

5.27.09

 

School Committee members complain they were kept out of Laboy leave




Eagle Tribune

5.29.09

State investigates possible campaign finance violations


State investigates possible misuse of district's printing press

Eagle Tribune

5.24.09

Troubled Lawrence ed chief faces new problems


Boston Herald

 

5.24.09

Reyes says Ethics Commission also looking into candidate use of school printing press




Eagle Tribune

5.24.09

Eagle Tribune Editorial

Snoop victims still waiting for answers


The "Snoop-gate" scandal in the Lawrence public schools isn't over, despite the fact that the official investigation has ended.

5.19.09

Reassigned LHS teacher to return to her class


Transfer called a 'mistake'


Eagle Tribune

5.18.09
Your view:
(Eagle Tribune)
Letters to the editor


Questions remain on snoop scandal

Eagle Tribune

5.17.09

Police:
Laboy was told of snooping


Security consultant says he warned superintendent


Eagle Tribune

5.4.09

Sergeant demands answers on 'snoop list'


Dad of autistic child believes advocacy led to check

 

Eagle Tribune

5.17.09

Eagle Tribune Editorial:

Laboy must provide answers, not threats

It was rather presumptuous of Lawrence school Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy to have his lawyer send a threatening letter warning the School Committee that it had better lay off the criticism ... or else.



Eagle Tribune

5.14.09

Lawrence School Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy needs a 'little bit of medical leave'

"He should get away," Sullivan said. "The system will run. We have good assistants who are capable of leading the system in his absence."

 


Eagle Tribune

5.16.09

Lawrence School Superintendent hospitalized

Laboy in stable condition at Lawrence General

A beleaguered School Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy, who was reportedly suffering from work-related stress, was admitted to Lawrence General Hospital last night.


Eagle Tribune

5.15.09

Eagle Tribune Editorial:

Questions remain in wake of snoop investigation.

A police investigation of the Lawrence schools "snooping" scandal has ended. As investigations go, this one didn't answer many questions.

5.7.09

The entire Lawrence school community will miss you...

Coach Larry Reusch

Laboy's lawyer
warns

Lawrence School Committee

 

Eagle Tribune

5.13.09

 

 

AFT MA scholarship winners from Lawrence

LHS safety officers arraigned on obstruction of justice charges

Eagle Tribune

5.9.09

Judge Brennan released the three men without bail and ordered them to return to court June 17.

AFT MA
Scholarship winner Jessica Fothergill

Annual
Lawrence Teachers Union

Scholarship Application

Demand to Bargain

Health Insurance Options Letter to the Mayor

Lawrence Teachers' Union postpones 'no confidence' vote on Oliver School
principal

Eagle Tribune

5.7.09

Steamy novel lands principal in hot water


Lawrence educator is placed on leave

Boston Globe

4.29.09

Frank McLaughlin
Re-elected President

McLaughlin: 214= 80%

O'Neil:........ 58= .20%

Principal’s erotic tale steams union

 

 

Boston Herald

4.29.09

Principal who penned steamy novel on leave

Superintendent calls her 'emotionally fragile'

 

Eagle Tribune

4.29.09

Principal under fire for writing racy novel

 

 


Boston Herald

4.29.09

Lawrence High safety officers charged with obstructing justice

Three allegedly impeded police probe of underage drinking in school; lied about surveillance tape

Eagle Tribune

4.29.09

Teachers' union pans principal's racy book


Some officials outraged she's selling it at school


Eagle Tribune

4.28.09

School Committee reviews procedure to discipline schools superintendent

Discussions must begin in closed session

Eagle Tribune

4.29.09

Most of school panel wants teacher returned to class

 



Eagle Tribune

4.28.09

Dissension over pension: Mayoral hopeful thinks school chief's plan to hang on until vested is a disservice to students, taxpayers

Eagle Tribune

4.27.09

Another day,
another school crisis for Wilfredo Laboy




Eagle Tribune

4.12.09

Letter to the Editor:

Laboy needs a plan to improve city schools

 

Eagle Tribune

4.27.09

Eagle Tribune Editorial:

Free credit checks won't cure 'Snoopgate' problems

 


Eagle Tribune

4.17.09

Leadership vacuum in Lawrence

 

 

Boston Globe

4.14.09

Eagle Tribune Editorial:

Laboy needs to do more than talk about leadership

Wilfredo Laboy likes to talk about leadership. What he ought to do is display more of it.

4.22.09

'Given that Wilfredo Laboy is still employed, one could reasonably wonder what it takes to get fired in Lawrence.'

Boston Globe

4.10.09

Proposal to suspend Laboy kept off agenda

Mayor keeps suspension talks off School Committee agenda

Eagle Tribune

4.17.09

Residents lay concerns about schools at mayor's feet

VIDEO

Eagle Tribune

4.12.09

City to pay for credit reports for snoop list victims





Eagle Tribune

4.10.09

DA:
School background checks 'outrageous'

 


Eagle Tribune

4.14.09

Calls for Laboy's resignation intensify

March on City Hall planned today


Eagle Tribune

4.09.09

Amid police probe, Rivera resigns as Laboy's special assistant

LAWRENCE — As a police probe widens, a school employee accused of running hundreds of background checks on politicians, celebrities, pro athletes and others has resigned.

Eagle Tribune
4.7.09

Laboy protest brings complaints about everything from paper towels to intimidation


Eagle Tribune

4.10.09

Laboy overruled on controversial play.

Controversial show to be performed at school

 

Eagle Tribune

4.13.09

3 School Committee members call for Laboy suspension

"If Wilfredo Laboy does not know what is going on in his office, maybe he should resign,"

Eagle Tribune 4.5.09

Police: School system employee hacks into private records




WHDH TV


4.08.09

Mayor stands by Laboy despite 'snoop list' scandal


Eagle Tribune

4.08.09

School Department 'snoop list' triggers fear, calls to police

 

Eagle Tribune 4.08.09

Lawrence Teachers Union votes "no confidence" in Principal Terika Smith

 

Eagle Tribune 4.2.09

Letter to the Editor:

Principals' charge cannot be believed.


Eagle Tribune
4.09.09

Eagle Tribune Editorial: Background check scandal raises questions


The revelation that two people working for the Lawrence School Department conducted extensive background checks on 400 people is shocking.


Eagle Tribune
4.8.09

Eagle Tribune Editorial:
Laboy must pull school staff back together

Lawrence Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy needs to exert leadership over the school system before a rift between teachers and administrators gets any worse.

But instead of providing that leadership, Laboy too often makes matters worse.

Eagle Tribune
4.5.09

Eagle Tribune Editorial:
Background checks misuse of school property


We're trying to think of a good reason why the special assistant to Lawrence School Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy might be running criminal and financial background checks on people with nothing to do with the school system. We can't come up with one.


Eagle Tribune 4.3.09

Former cop loses school job for helping catch cybersnoop

Consultant who helped nab him let go by Laboy




Eagle Tribune

4.4.09

 

Laboy 'apologizes' for background checks by assistant.

"lowest point in his career here,"

"What control do I have about this?"

Eagle Tribune 4.3.09

Candidate says he warned Laboy a week ago about background checks.

Laboy said he is aware Maali attends School Committee meetings, but he did not recall receiving an e-mail from him recently.

Eagle Tribune
4.3.09

Lawrence school employee under investigation for running background checks on candidates

ET
4.1.09
This is not another April Fools joke!

Lawrence middle-schooler arrested, allegedly threatened teacher with scissors

 

ET
4.1.09

This is not an April Fools Day joke

 

Police: Lawrence High safety officers attempted to impede underage drinking probe.

ET 3.27.09

Pregnant teacher ill on first day; School Committee suggests change

ET 3.27.09

Our view: Adults failed students in drinking incident.

" What's different, and wrong, is the way the adults involved handled the incident."

 

ET 3.23.09

Our view:
Bottle ban targets all for misdeeds of few

ET 3.24.09

DA investigating underage drinking at Lawrence High

ET 3.24.09

 

"This is a staged event,"
School administrators show 'solidarity' for high school principal.
ET 3.13.09

 

 

Principal faces possible discipline for student drinking incident.

Hearing scheduled on her delay in reporting drinking

"We dropped the ball," said Laboy

ET 3.20.09

 

 

Lawrence High School principal delays reporting student drinking to police.

'I' dropped the ball"
ET 3.19.09


 

Lawrence teachers to fight new beverage policy ET 3.24.09

Not so fast on
teacher layoffs

Globe Editorial
2.20.09

Until further notice, all Union meetings will be held at the:

Knights of Columbus
1 Market Street
Lawrence, MA


All monthly meetings of the Lawrence Teachers' Union will be held the first Wednesday of each month at 3:30 PM. Our next meeting is Wednesday, February 4.

Teacher and mom witness gang fight

ET 1.24.09


Governor Protects Education Aid


Governor Patrick

Letter: Teacher pay doesn't keep pace

Eagle Tribune
12.20.08

Demand to Bargain:
Special Education Teachers...
"Click Here"

President Francis J. McLaughlin Jr's
Happy New Year Letter and Message

Lawrence teachers overwhelmingly support new contract

School official defends use of 'driver'

Critics condemn Lawrence leader

Boston Globe:
12.19.08

 

Prop 1

We made a difference!

Our efforts helped to defeat Question1!

A Repeal of the Income Tax = A Decline in Education

New contract proposal read here

 

Our view:
Laboy should drive his own car:
ET 12.2.08

 

Tom Chapin song, Not on the Test. The song should be required listening for all of our federal and state legislators.
Tom Chapin

Contract Action # 1:

School Safety Subcommittee Minutes
Tuesday, December 9, 2008

 

Retirees Day on Beacon Hill to Fight for a Fair and Just C.O.L.A. ( May 13, 2008)
Contract Action # 2

What kind of teacher is Lawrence looking for?

 

Meet Secretary of Education Paul Reville
Paul Reville
Click Here for our LTU Proposal Now read
"The rest of the story"


The tragic reasons why
a great and wonderful teacher
decided he had to leave Lawrence!

or
"The Blaming Organization versus The Learning Organization"
Not on the Test
Motion:
"No member of the bargaining unit will perform hours, including, but not limited to, work/service/training, outside the parameters of the current binding agreement
Board of Education Names Ohio Policy Leader New Commissioner of Education
YOU ARE WORTH $30 per HOUR Secretary of Education:
Paul Reville

Ferocious fire takes out almost an entire city block

Another budget mess to untangle. Globe 1.6.08 Seeking a kinder word for failure
Schools' morale front and center
Health Insurance Trust Fund
Layoffs, cutbacks loom as city scrambles to right budget Get Arlington Middle School up to standard

Eagle Tribune Editorial 1.9.08
AFT Massachusetts 40th Annual Convention
98% of Lawrence Teachers voted
NO CONFIDENCE
in Superintendent Laboy!
Superintendent: Arlington Middle needs work, but is not failing. ET 1.8.08 Lawrence Teachers' Union..an historical prospective.

 

Arlington Middle School faces takeover; state ed board could vote this month
Eagle Tribune 1.4.08
Fire ravages Lawrence landmark
  Commissioner's Recommendations on 10 Underperforming Schools Mural_Small
  Lawrence School Committee member arrested 'His [Laboys] actions give Lawrence public schools another black eye'.
Boston Globe 12.12.07
Globe 12.12.07
  Lawrence police ask why alleged sex assault at school wasn't reported Student being given second chance for high-school mural
  Cutbacks, fee hikes to balance budget unveiled for council Student’s artwork of King, Malcolm X removed:
ET:12.10.07
  Lame Duck School Board awards Laboy raise behind closed doors. Laboy misses a teaching opportunity
  Laboy could get pay raise and contract extension;
Teachers reject contract offer
Students cool about uniforms, but can't warm up to shoe rule
ET 12.13.07
  Lawrence official has criminal past
He served time for larceny and forgery in '60s
Popular teacher gets 'pink slip,' students protest: ET 5/12/07
  Committee member's military service questioned; was denied Santa Claus role by city Teachers union head calls for more cops at Lawrence High School
  Laboy says teachers' union in crisis School addresses & Phone Numbers
  School Committee Update Police feared riot as hundreds cheered girls' fight at Lawrence High; 5 arrested
  Resistance expected on school board Teacher's nose broken as students brawl at high school
  Restructuring of the Arlington Middle School. Grievance ‘A True Gentleman’ — Remembering Jay Porter
Jay Porter
  A Crisis of Confidence
By: Frank McLaughlin
 
  Lawrence faces 'inevitable fiscal crisis'  


May Institute on Discipline
MFT Shanker
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Study 'Misses the Mark"
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Results Are In!
Underperforming Schools
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