NTA EBulletin: June 8, 2025
- Mike Zilles
- 12 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Dear Colleagues,
The news of the deployment of National Guard troops in California to crush protests against ICE are a frightening escalation of Trump's deportation scheme.
What can you do if you see ICE agents near your school, your students or their families?
Call the LUCE hotline in the above graphic.
To learn more about what LUCE does, click here.
On June 4, Karen Tokos attended the MTA and ACLU hosted training announced in the above flyer, and will be sharing what she learned with any members who would like to attend our last virtual Contract Action Team meeting of the year tomorrow evening at 7:00.
The Zoom address is:
Chris Walsh's Retirement
(Revised from June 6)
It's coming soon: Chris Walsh's retirement party will be on Tuesday, June 17 from 3:30 to 5:30 at the Social Restaurant in Newton Corner. Please click on the image above to RSVP. Donations can be made to Corrie Popp via Venmo or to Sue Cohen in cash or check. If it is easier for you, you can send Sue a check through the PONY.
Juneteenth Celebrations
The Newton Juneteenth Planning Committee, in partnership with their fiscal sponsor, Families Organizing for Racial Justice is hosting one of the longest running Juneteenth celebrations in the region. Their event is a free, city-wide gathering inviting educators, students, residents and visitors to share in the celebration of black heritage and culture by showcasing black-owned artists, craft and food vendors, musicians and dancers all while appealing to a diverse pool of attendees.
For more information, as well as to find ways to get involved, click here.
MTA "Literacy is Liberation" Juneteenth Celebration. The Ethnically Marginalized Affairs Committee invites you to their 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration. This year's theme is Literacy is Liberation and will feature storytelling by Len Cabral, drumming by Sidy Maiga and sounds of the African diaspora from DJ Lady Ly. There will be breakfast by Neighborhood Kitchen, desserts by Gerly’s Ice Cream, a book swap, family activities, exhibitors/vendors, and more. The event will be held Saturday, June 21th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Fuller Middle School in Framingham, MA. The event is FREE for all members and their guests. You can find more information about the event here.
Joint Labor Management Committees, 2024-2025
(June 2)
The Joint Elementary Oversight/Elementary Day Committee examined the elementary school day to determine whether the day could be restructured in order to provide a better learning experience for students as well as increase the minimum amount of planning time for educators to at least 220 minutes per week. The committee met numerous times during the year, culminating in a full release day in May. The committee will continue its work next year.
Chairs of the Committee: Chris Walsh and Ayesha Farag
NTA members representing the NTA on the committee: Brenna Green, Lynn Penczar, Elizabeth Ross Del Porto, Amanda Bixby, Jackie Flause (Gilligan), Lisa LaCava, Lindsey Mueller, Amanda Napolione, and Jayme Ellis
NTA members representing administration on the committee: Lauren Harrison, Maura Tynes, Jen Ortega, Shannon Komow, Maria Kolbe, and Jesse Krotick
The High School Joint Oversight Committee first determined that high school department meetings should continue to be held during the mornings on Tuesdays--NTA high school members overwhelmingly supported this decision in a survey we conducted. Continuing the work we began in last year's negotiations, we also looked at ways in which to cap class sizes while maintaining priorities like lower class sizes for CP classes. The committee will continue its work next year.
Chairs of the Committee: Mike Zilles and Gene Roundtree
NTA members representing the NTA on the committee: Ryan Normandin, Amy Winston, Brendan Amedio, David Bedar, Derek Knapp, Greg Drake, Jasmine Lellock, Jason Williams, and Ashley Chapman
NTA members representing administration on the committee: Kim Borgida, Allison Levit, and Caitlin Brown
The Unit C Coverage Joint Labor Management Committee examined the problem of coverage from a number of perspectives: The use of Unit C staff to provide coverage for Unit A and C members; the chronic coverage problems caused by inadequate staffing; the ways that having additional coverage would provide for greater opportunities for staff development and PD. For the first part of the year we brainstormed these needs and opportunities; for the second half of the year we worked on gathering data. The committee will continue its work next year.
Chairs of the Committee: Mike Zilles and Joany Santa
NTA members representing the NTA on the committee: Abbie Taube Mugo, Rachele Thivierge, Ally Andrews, Kate Parker, Liz Gerritson, and Lisa Goldthwaite.
NTA members representing administration on the committee: Tracy Hatch, Jim Ellis, and Katy Dearborn.
The Mental Health Joint Labor Management Committee examined the social, emotional and mental health concerns we have for our students, first identifying areas of need and then proposing improvements that would enable the district to more fully meet those needs. The committee looked in particular at ways in which the ability to provide better social, emotional and mental health support for curriculum 1 instruction and more comprehensive tier 2 and 3 interventions would provide immediate benefits to students and staff, while helping us to avoid identifying children for special education services who would be better served through enhanced instructional strategies and tier 2 and 3 interventions. The recommendations of the committee were included in the "Thrive" budget Superintendent Nolin presented to the School Committee. The committee will continue its work next year.
Chairs of the committee: Casey Ngo-Miller and Mike Zilles
NTA members representing the NTA on the committee were: Sue Cohen, Gillian Van Delft, Jen Terrazino, Donna Thayer, Darcy Howell, Carie Lynn Carnahan, Brendan Amedio and Dan Rubin.
NTA members representing administration on the committee were: Sophie Brion-Meisels, Beth Swerderskis, Jessie Krotick, Sarah Maxwell, Toni-Marie Kelly, and Jordanna L'Esperance.
Stipend Review Committee
Dear NTA members,
By a vote of the Representative Assembly, NTA formed a committee to review the stipends provided to the NTA President, Second Release Officer, and other elected and appointed positions within the NTA, and make recommendations about the structure and amount of these stipends going forward by January 2026. The full committee met for the first time on April 10 to review the current stipend structure and those of comparable local educator unions, and a smaller subcommittee met on May 22 to put together a rough draft proposal for the full group to consider based on our initial discussion.
The next full committee meeting will be Tuesday, June 17, 7-8pm on Zoom. If you would like to participate in the work of the committee please email David Bedar david.bedar@gmail.com, Kate Foley mkatefoley1@gmail.com, and Mike Schlegelmilch mikeschlegelmilch@gmail.com.
In solidarity,
David, Kate, and Mike
RetirementPlus Update
(Updated 5-18-25)
The state House of Representatives completed its budget debate last week. During floor debate the MTA had a major victory with the adoption of language to create a new, one-time opportunity for teachers to enroll in RetirementPlus. This provision was added during the amendment process with the strong support of the MTA and is nearly identical to the version that passed the House at the end of last session. The MTA is urging members to contact their senators to ask that the Senate follow the House by including this critical priority in its version of the budget. Visit massteacher.org/retirementplus for more information and to send an email to your state senator!
In solidarity,
Mike Zilles, President
Newton Teachers Association
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