MTA statement on ending school receiverships
MTA statement on ending school receiverships
MTA leadership: 'The residents of Holyoke have waited too long to regain control over their public schools'
Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy issued the following statement regarding the state’s decision to end receivership of Holyoke Public Schools and the Avery School in New Bedford.
The residents of Holyoke have waited too long to regain control over their public schools, and we are confident that the hard work by educators, parents, students, community partners and advocates for public education will successfully meet the state’s criteria for fully ending receivership.
Holyoke Public Schools suffered from decades of chronic underfunding and problematic district leadership that acutely affected students of historically marginalized communities. The Massachusetts Teachers Association never supported state receivership as it cut off the community’s ability to democratically decide on the function and priorities of its schools. Additionally, receivership removes collective bargaining rights, sending dozens of experienced educators fleeing to other districts, while also failing to provide sustained funding or resources to struggling districts.
The Student Opportunity Act passed in 2019, following fierce advocacy by MTA members and other supporters of public education, and dramatically boosted state funds for public schools in Holyoke. In fiscal 2025, the city received $18.5 million more in state funds for schools compared to pre-SOA levels.
For more than 30 years, the MTA has publicly argued that our Gateway Cities and urban school districts need more financial support and the ability to provide what residents justifiably demand – high-quality preschool, fully staffed schools, equitable classroom ratios, wraparound services to meet student needs, culturally relevant curriculum, a diverse teaching force and enriching electives, advanced courses and extracurriculars.
We are proud of the members of the Holyoke Teachers Association for working through a difficult period to provide what their students and the community needed and deserved.
We are proud of the members of the Holyoke Teachers Association for working through a difficult period to provide what their students and the community needed and deserved. Removing workers’ rights as part of receivership was a travesty, undermining the district’s ability to attract and retain staff. The churn of a third or more of educators every single year was the opposite of what our students needed.
We are pleased that Mayor Joshua Garcia and Acting Education Commissioner Russell Johnston are prioritizing the needs of students in taking this decisive step to end receivership of Holyoke Public Schools.
In addition, we also commend the New Bedford Education Association for its role in moving the John Avery Parker Elementary School out of the “chronically underperforming” designation and its commensurate state receivership.
Receivership is a failed strategy because it separates communities from their schools.
Receivership is a failed strategy because it separates communities from their schools. The MTA supports the development of community school models that invite more participation from parents and residents who want great public schools for their cities and towns.