In this issue:
Negotiations
We will meet with the School Committee for our next bargaining session on Wednesday, January 25.
Superintendent Kathy Smith will present a preliminary budget to the School Committee on Monday, January 23, at 6:30. Meetings are live, but audiences are not permitted to enter the meeting room. The meeting can be viewed in livestream. Click here for links.
Newton Override Campaign
The Newton Override Campaign needs more volunteers.
If you would like to give a testimonial/quotation for the campaign, please click here to volunteer.
If you would like to participate in other ways--doing stand outs, putting a lawn signs in your yard (if you live in Newton), click here to volunteer.
If you live in Newton, or know a friend who lives in Newton, hosting a lawn sign is an easy way to make sure the public is aware of the override, and sees that there is support for it in the community. Click here to sign up for a lawn sign!
The absolute BEST PR for the override campaign is the support of Newton Educators!
NTA Contract Campaign
We began distributing t-shirts last week, and will continue doing so this week. If you have your shirt already, then please wear it in support of your negotiations team this week! (And if you don't have your NTA t-shirt yet, then wear something blue.)
If you work in the Preschool, an elementary school, or a middle school, then Wear it Wednesday!
If you work in one of the high schools, then wear yours on T-Shirt Tuesday!
Parent Educator Collaborative The Parent Educator Collaborative has been begun building a strong educator/parent coalition in Newton. The Collaborative is doing great work to help educators get our voices heard in the community. On January 11, they invited the Co-Presidents of the PTO Council Kerry Prasad and Elsa Janairo to the NTA Representative Assembly, where they heard an update on our negotiations with the School Committee, and heard building representatives speak to how members of the NTA are impacted by these negotiations. The Collaborative is a strong supporters of the override, which will bring much needed funds into the Newton Public Schools. Alison Lobron sent out the below invitation to attend the next meeting of the Collaborative on February 2nd. Please consider attending.Dear Members of the Parent/Educator Collaborative Happy New Year! I hope 2023 is off to a good start for you and your families. As you probably know, city finances are a topic of great interest in Newton at the moment. In March, Newton voters will make a decision about whether or not to pass a tax override. This vote will have a large impact on our city in general. Newton Public Schools will be enormously affected by the outcome of this vote. It has been a priority and focus of the PEC to raise teacher voices and to bring together educators and community members for honest and candid discussions.
On Thursday, February 2nd at 7:30 P.M, the Parent Educator Collaborative will host a panel of teachers, representatives from the "Vote Yes" Campaign, multiple city councilors, and parents and supporters of the schools for a community conversation about the March override. This meeting will take place on Zoom.
There will be a chance for discussion and Q&A so everyone can learn from each other during this session.
Topic: PEC Community Conversation
Time: Feb 2, 2023 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82889589537
Meeting ID: 828 8958 9537
Our educator panelists will give us a snapshot of their work this year, and how their students’ experiences have been impacted by last year’s budget cuts. It is important for all of us to understand how our students will be affected by the results of the override vote.
I really hope you'll join us.
Thanks so much,
Alison Lobron
MTA Winter Workshops for PDPs The MTA invites you to register for its 2023 Winter PDP Programs at 4 pm on Tuesday, December 20th! Learn with the MTA and Earn PDPs to use toward your license recertification! Choose from seven different online courses where you can earn 15 PDPs towards either English as a Second Language/Sheltered English Immersion or Special Education requirements for renewing your professional license. All courses are FREE to MTA members. Space is extremely limited for these courses to ensure an enjoyable and effective learning experience for participants. Registration will open on December 21st at 4 PM. Set a reminder now for your best chance at securing a seat in the program of your choice! Winter PDP Workshops Online Asynchronous Courses:
Fine-Tuning Phonics Instruction for Students with Dyslexia (K-5) 1/21 - 3/4
Teaching with the New Dyslexia Guidelines 1/30 - 3/13
Universal Design for Learning: Reaching All Students 2/1 - 3/15
Online Synchronous Courses: Zoom Meetings
Social Emotional Learning: Using SEL to Inspire Success In All Students. 2/21 & 2/23 (9am-3pm)
Authentic Family Engagement in Literacy 1/28 & 2/11 (9am-12pm)
Collaborative Model for Multilingual Learners with, or Suspected of having, a Disability 2/8 & 3/1 (4-7pm)
Educational Kaleidoscopes: Inclusive Strategies for Multi-lingual Learners 2/2 & 2/16 (4-7pm)
For more information, visit: massteacher.org/pdps
MTA New Member Trainings CREDIT COUNSELING AND LOAN FORGIVENESS: New members often have student debt. This up to 75-minute training provides guidance on how to handle debt while qualifying for loan forgiveness. Ongoing webinar link from MTA Benefits: https://www.mtabenefits.com/student-loan- webinars PROFESSIONAL TEACHER STATUS (PTS): 45-minute training on how teachers acquire PTS, and what their rights are before they get PTS. ESPs: RIGHTS ON THE JOB: This is a 30-45 minute training on the rights of ESPs both before and after they may pass a probationary period. It covers anti-discrimination laws, union rights, contractual rights, the evaluation process, and whistle-blower protections. CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE: 90-minute training explaining the sometimes labyrinthian process of getting a teaching license in Massachusetts. Provisional and Initial License Training Thursday, January 12, 4:00 PM via Zoom, summary and registration here: http://bit.ly/3VB8C03 Acquiring and Renewing Your Professional License Thursday, January 26, 4:00 PM via Zoom, summary and registration here: http://bit.ly/3VB8C03 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: The MTA sponsors a few all-day sessions of Professional Development such as the Summer Conference in August, Winter Union Skills on February 4 and the Early Career Educator Conference on March 4th - save the date found here.