A member of the MTA network
Unit A or B $767 for the year. Breakdown – $204 NEA, $503 MTA, $60 WEA
Unit D is $318.50 if making over $18,000/year. Breakdown – $122.50 NEA, $151 MTA, $45 WEA
Unit D is $270.25 if making under $18,000/year. Breakdown – $122.50 NEA, $102.75 MTA, $45 WEA
This is a link to the Unit D Settlement Agreement which will be discussed at a general membership meeting on Wednesday, January 19th, with voting occurring on Friday, January 21st between 6AM and 4PM. Links for the the Meeting and Vote will come through personal email.
Here are links for the Unit A Seniority List and the Unit D Seniority List as of 10-15-21.
Here is the COVID Employee Leave Form.
Here is a message from the MTA in regards to the Early Retirement Incentive.
From MTA President Merrie Najimy and Vice President Max Page
Act NOW to push for a favorable committee recommendation for MTA-backed early retirement legislation!
With summer upon us, the MTA continues to push for quick action on our priorities in the State House. Among them is legislation that would ensure dignity in retirement for our members.
H.2620/S.1791, An Act to provide a retirement enhancement opportunity for certain members of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System, would allow eligible teachers who are in the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System to purchase years of service and age toward their retirement. This bill is still pending in the Joint Committee on Public Service and has not yet been given a hearing date.
Write an email to your legislators asking them to contact the chairs of the committee to request a hearing and a favorable report out of committee.
Record a short video explaining why this proposal is important to you!
The MTA is pushing hard, but your voice is crucial in this fight. Even after the hearing is held, committees are not required to take final action on bills until Feb. 2, 2022. Of the nearly 7,000 bills that have been filed this session, only about 25 have been passed into law so far. This is why we must work together to keep the momentum going and push for what is so vitally important to our members. We ask for your help again today and thank you as always for your tireless efforts.
Once a hearing is scheduled, we will be asking members to submit testimony in support of this measure. Please keep an eye out for updates.
In solidarity,
Merrie and Max
Here is the link to access all the Unit A and Unit B Professional Development procedures and documents for the 2021-2022 school year. Applications will be done electronically and all correspondence relating to applications and tuition reimbursements will be done through email. The PD Application Form and documents can be accessed by following the link above and clicking on the menu button and selecting the Professional Development link. It will take you to the PD Homepage with the information. (A big thank you to Erika Masciadrelli for working with us to get this ready! It looks awesome!) Unit A and Unit B Members may begin putting in PD applications and tuition reimbursement requests for the next school year using this information – but approval will be subject to the approval of the final FY22 Budget.
Here are some of the new material that the Ethnic and Minority Affairs are discussing:
How to be an antiracist by Ibram Kendi book club: We are currently reading chapter 10-12 and discussing it on Wednesday. If you are interested, let Timothy Thomas know.
Webinar: Bridging the Opportunity Gap: What Culturally Relevant Educators Do (via edweb) http://www.anymeeting.com/PIID=E053DB83854731 Monday, May 10, 2021 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm EDT (event is live but will also be recorded)
We have been discussing book highlights of Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain by Zaretta Hammond New Book Read: Pedagogy of the Oppressed Book by Paulo Freire (Paolo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed believes that education must be remade to inspire and enable the oppressed in their struggle for equality. This new style of education focuses on consciousness-raising, dialogue, and collaboration between teacher and student.)
Here is the link to register for the Early Retirement Seminar from the MTA. The Early Retirement Bill: What You Need to Know
Here are the results of the vote for the 5th MOA of the 20-21 school year.
Here is the 5th MOA for the 20-21 School year. Please watch your email for details about a general membership meeting and date for voting.
From: Lori Lyncosky – President
Regarding: 1099s issued and scheduling vaccinations
Please be advised that the auditing department sent out 1099s for members who were reimbursed for college courses and conferences they attended. THIS IS NOT LEGAL!!! Please call payroll and request a new W2 that does not include that information. A reimbursement is not a taxable entity.
Members who are scheduling COVID vaccinations will be charged a personal day if they choose to get the shot during the school day. Appointments are being scheduled on weekends and after school. The district is not demanding you get vaccinated. They also see this as business that can be conducted outside of the school day.