From MTA President Merrie Najimy

and Vice President Max Page

 

 

Join us in spreading the word and taking action on an unprecedented opportunity to improve our public schools and colleges. The federal economic stimulus package to address the COVID-19 pandemic provides the largest-ever investment in public education, from preK to higher ed.

 

So now is the time for educators’ unions to organize with students, families and fellow public education advocates to ensure that these game-changing funds make it to the people and programs that will best serve the needs of our students, communities and campuses.

 

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund and the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund are part of the massive American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

 

It is important to understand that the ESSER fund and the HEERF provide money directly to school districts and campuses – and that they are separate from other ARPA funds dedicated to assisting municipalities and states.

 

The MTA has assembled resources for members on our website to help guide local unions as they advocate for the needs of their schools and colleges. You will find information about how much money is allocated to your schools and campuses, permissible uses for ARPA funds and advocacy ideas for both the bargaining table and public events.

 

Let’s begin organizing forums and information sessions to identify needs – from staffing levels to living wages to climate-friendly buildings – and to build support for these priorities. Gather as members and with community stakeholders to discuss how these ARPA funds should be spent. MTA staff members are available to assist with learning about the funds and how to use them.

 

Educators and families are the people who are closest to the needs of students, so we are the ones who must ensure that this stimulus money is put to use in ways that do the most good for our students. We cannot accept delays and deflections from local officials or college trustees.

 

We also must reject arguments about these funds being available only for “one-time expenses” or to be saved for a “rainy day.” It is pouring – and that money is intended to be used as a step toward recovery now.

 

ARPA funds also can serve as a bridge as we move toward a fully funded Student Opportunity Act and passage of the Cherish Act, both of which will benefit from the Fair Share Amendment. Once we win it on the ballot in 2022, the amendment will generate funds for public education and transportation with a small surtax on annual income above $1 million.

 

In addition to the funding that is going directly to schools and colleges, the state is receiving more than $5 billion in ARPA funds. Our priorities for education using the state funds are offering low- and moderate-income students two years of free college; improving employment benefits for educators, including incentivizing municipalities to provide paid family and medical leave to employees; improving pay and working conditions for adjunct faculty; and supporting green and healthy school and college buildings.

 

Per federal regulations, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is conducting an anonymous survey to hear from the public on how these state-level ARPA funds should be used to address public education needs. You can view the survey here.

 

We urge you to familiarize yourselves with what is available and to work with local leaders and community allies in planning advocacy events that complement your bargaining goals.

 

In solidarity,

 

Merrie and Max

 

 

Massachusetts Teachers Association
2 Heritage Drive
8th Floor
Quincy, MA 02171
United States

From MTA President Merrie Najimy

and Vice President Max Page

 

 

Act NOW to win a speedy hearing on an MTA-backed early retirement proposal – and a favorable vote out of committee.

 

The stress of the pandemic has led to renewed interest among teacher members for an early retirement bill that is affordable for the state while providing post-retirement security for members.

 

The MTA has crafted such a bill, An Act to provide a retirement enhancement opportunity for certain members of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System. This measure would allow eligible teachers who are in the MTRS to purchase years of service and age toward their retirement. It does not apply to educators enrolled in other state or local retirement systems.

 

Identical versions were filed in the House (H.2620) and Senate (S.1791) and have been assigned to the Joint Committee on Public Service. While there are many stages in the legislative process, the committee’s next step is to schedule hearings for assigned bills.

 

The MTA has already asked for an early hearing on this legislation. We need your help in building support.

 

Please contact your legislators and ask them to contact the chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Service to (a) request a hearing and (b) quickly release the legislation with a favorable report. Send a message TODAY. It is even more powerful if you personalize the message with your own story.

 

Once a hearing is scheduled, we will be asking members to submit written or oral testimony in support of this measure. Please keep an eye out for updates.

 

In solidarity,

 

Merrie and Max

 

 

Massachusetts Teachers Association
2 Heritage Drive
8th Floor
Quincy, MA 02171
United States

From MTA President Merrie Najimy

 

 

Greetings,

 

As president of the Falmouth Educators’ Association, Lori Andrade has built a strong union of rank-and-file members who have been organizing for safe pandemic learning conditions along with a robust academic experience.

 

In standing up to her superintendent and human resources director, Lori became the target of malicious retaliation, culminating in an unwarranted and unjust termination notice. The superintendent’s attempts to silence Lori are no doubt designed to intimidate the members of the Falmouth Educators’ Association.

 

These union-busting actions have to stop. Click here to demand that the Falmouth superintendent end the attempt to fire Lori Andrade and respect the FEA and the rights of its members.

 

Join the People’s Solidarity Rally on June 5

Join the MTA and our community and labor partners for a few hours of outdoor fun at The People’s Solidarity Rally to demand that federal stimulus money be invested in ways that support working people. Sponsored by the Massachusetts COVID-19 Response Alliance, the MTA and others, this family-friendly event begins at 1 p.m. in Copley Square. It is an opportunity to raise our collective voices for a more just and equitable society.

 

Tell DESE Your Education Spending Priorities

Take the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Stakeholder Survey on priorities for spending $2.5 billion of education-focused American Rescue Plan Act funds. Don’t let DESE make top-down decisions without hearing from all of us! Let officials know your vision for improving our students’ lives.

 

Conscientious Objectors Take on the MCAS

Recently, we told you about the Cambridge and Hull educators who informed their principals they are opposed to the MCAS and to playing a role in administering it this year. Hear them tell their powerful story. Last week, their actions garnered publicity. Here are a WGBH radio story and a column by Cambridge teacher Rose Levine on why they took this action. Show your support by using one of these social media images.

 

Fair Share Amendment Campaign Taking Off

While federal funds are helping us dig out of the COVID-created hole, new state funds will be needed to sustain public education into the future. That’s where the Fair Share Amendment comes in. It would increase taxes on annual income over $1 million by 4 cents on the dollar, raising an estimated $2 billion a year for public education, from prekindergarten through college, and transportation infrastructure. Go here for information about upcoming regional Fair Share events to make the case for this measure to be approved by the voters on the November 2022 ballot.

 

Nominations Open for ‘Honor Our Own’ Award

Each year, the MTA Retired Members Committee sponsors the “Honor Our Own” Award, which recognizes an MTA Retired member for making outstanding contributions to students, beginning educators and association members. Honorees are nominated by fellow educators. The award is presented at the MTA Retired Gathering, which is held in the fall. This year’s nominations will be accepted until Wednesday, June 30. Download the nomination form today.

 

Free Children’s Books Available to Educators This Summer

An organization called Roads to Reading Literacy has 5,000 to 8,000 new children’s books it would like to donate to educators in Massachusetts. Most of the books are appropriate for children ages 4 to 12 and are stored in Waltham. The program director explained that interested educators typically pick up about 150 books for use in their schools, with some titles also available to be given to students. Distributions to MTA members will take place on Saturdays in July and August between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Send a note to bookdonations@pwirtr.org to let the organization know that you are interested. Someone will get back to you with more details and a link to a Google form for scheduling pick-ups.

 

In solidarity,

 

Merrie

 

 

Massachusetts Teachers Association
2 Heritage Drive
8th Floor
Quincy, MA 02171
United States