Setting the Standard, Striving to be Better
Setting the Standard, Striving to be Better
I (Max) spent last weekend at a Debt Collective convening in Philadelphia that centered on the impact of debt on public schools.
Two impressions stood out.
First, the group of union and community leaders from around the country quickly made clear that they look to the MTA for leadership in a host of areas including our statewide Fair Share victory, your local victories for ESP living wages, and our tools for analyzing municipal budgets that are changing how you fight for fair contracts. One national union leader said very simply: “The MTA is the most creative and effective statewide union in the country.” Even as we always strive to improve our union, and win better working conditions for our members, and better learning conditions for our students, it is good to remember that together we have set a standard that others look to emulate.
Second, I had my eyes opened about how debt has undermined our public schools. It is the next frontier in our municipal finance work. When districts and municipalities are forced to take on debt to pay for school buildings or operating costs, as happens in many poorer urban districts, it means that they have less for fair pay, for hiring more educators, or for providing the resources you all need. This debt represents a failure of our society to appropriately fund public education.
The whole system hurts our schools: Wall Street profiteers get our hard-earned tax dollars, credit rating agencies like Moody’s tell districts to hold down costs (e.g. salaries, hiring) lest they downgrade our cities’ and towns’ ability to borrow, and politicians allow this system to keep going by not being willing to tax the wealthy so that we don’t need to borrow as much for school buildings.
It all seems so natural – don’t we all have debt? But it's not natural. Debt has ballooned in recent years, for individuals, for students, for universities, and for our school districts.
Ready to learn more? Check out this “School Finance School” webinar. And look forward to learning opportunities in the coming months.
MTA Events, Opportunities and Solidarity Actions
Literacy Legislation – Take Action!
Legislation before the Joint Committee on Education would mandate the use of specific literacy curriculum and place in state law a flawed definition of “evidence-based literacy instruction” that would restrict educators from implementing effective practices. Please write to your legislators today to urge them to listen to educators in their district and oppose this legislation. And learn more about MTA’s reading educators’ recommendations, and analysis of how adoption of these laws has had minimum or no effect in other states.
RetirementPlus - Tell Your Senator This is Important
Legislation to create a fix for enrolling in RetirementPlus is a top priority for us. The House in late July approved the bill, H.4361, but it and a Senate version, S.1884, remain in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. Please send a letter to your senator, urging them to move on the bill, which would afford educators a new opportunity to join RetirementPlus.
MTA’s Safe Schools Task Force
When: Oct. 8 and Oct. 9
Where: Northeast regional office and Quincy headquarters
Please register for upcoming regional caucuses on workplace violence, classroom safety and student well-being. The Southeast region is hosting a community conversation in Taunton focused on a review of current protocols, staffing levels, learning environments, curriculum and use of community resources, as well as collaborations that support family/school relations.
The Northeast region caucus will focus on sensitive systems to document incidents and provide resources that meet students’ needs. The Metro regional event will draw on recent experiences of members to illustrate models for action and their challenges, including contract action. Find and register for the event you want to attend, either in person or via Zoom.
Update: More Than 300 Sign Fiscal Crisis Letter
With just over a month before our Nov. 7 signature deadline, we are thrilled to report that more than 300 school district leaders and educators have signed a letter to the governor and the Legislature, urging action to address the systemic fiscal crisis that is harming public education. Please review the list of all signers, and if you see that your local president, school committee members, superintendents, or municipal leaders in your community have yet to sign on, please let them know. If other people are missing, invite them to add their name, too. Help us advocate and win the funds that our students, educators and communities deserve. Learn more about the campaign at massteacher.org/fiscalcrisis and read the fiscal crisis letter.
Register for the First Wednesday Speaker Series - COLA and Retirement
When: 3 - 4:30 p.m., first Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 8
Where: Virtual
The 2025-2026 series of speaker events organized by the Retired Members Committee kicks off on Oct. 8 with a critically important topic: Dignified Retirement and the History and Future of the COLA. The opening session will feature MTA staff member Sean King, a member of the Government Relations team, and Frank Valeri, president of Mass Retirees. They will review and discuss legislation that would raise the base on which the annual state pension COLA is calculated. Register and learn more.
Nominations open for the 2026 MTA ESP of the Year Award
Do you know an Education Support Professional who deserves recognition for their professionalism and dedication? Please nominate someone for the 2026 ESP of the Year. ESPs in both higher education and preK-12 are eligible for this honor. Nominations will be accepted through Dec. 15. The nomination form and a look back at previous honorees are posted at massteacher.org/espoftheyear.
2025 MTA Fall Regional Presidents’ Meeting
When: 4:30-7:30 p.m., Oct. 14 – Nov. 20
Where: Regional offices
Local presidents and their guests are invited to join us for a regional presidents’ meeting at the regional office that is most convenient for you. This is a chance to speak to MTA President Max Page, Vice President Deb McCarthy and Executive Director-Treasurer Mike Fadel about issues affecting you in your workplaces. A light dinner is included. Register today.
People's Forum on Graduation Requirements
When: 6:30 - 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 22
Where: Zoom
Now that we are free of the MCAS as a graduation requirement, we have the opportunity to have a real conversation about the education we want for our children. Citizens for Public Schools is hosting a series of People’s Forums. Residents of Western Massachusetts are invited to gather together on Zoom for the next session.
Political Education
The Economic Policy Institute has annually tracked the pay gap between teachers and other similarly educated workers. The pay gap has grown. Massachusetts is hardly the worst, but there is still a 22.5% disparity. Your bargaining and our advocacy for school funding have helped Massachusetts achieve a level that is among the better states in this regard. Note that this data only concerns teachers. We know that Education Support Professionals are paid far less, even as so many have attained high levels of education, training and skills that merit true living wages, at the very minimum.
In solidarity,
Max and Deb