NTA EBulletin: October 19, 2025

Support Newton Teachers Association Endorsed Candidates for School Committee

The Newton Teachers Association has endorsedSchool Committee candidatesJenna Miara (Ward 5),Mali Brodt (Ward 6), and Jim Murphy (Ward 8). The NTA sent questionnaires to all School Committee and Mayoral candidates. Their responses can be viewed here. Please click on the links attached to each candidate’s name to find out how you can directly support their campaigns.

Now that we have made the endorsements, what can the NTA do to support these candidates? 

1. Perhaps most importantly: if you live in Newton, make sure you vote for our endorsed candidates! In school committee elections, a resident can vote for candidates in all of the school committee contests. In other words, Newton School Committee members are voted on at-large. 

So if you live in Newton, please vote! 

2. Submit an op-ed to the Newton Beacon or Fig City News or both. Op-eds are a great way both to show your individual support, and show that the NTA is ALL of its members.

3. Reach out to your building representative an help them organize a standout at your building to support these candidates. We will help you coordinate with the candidates so that they can join you during your standout and to make sure you have campaign signs.

4. Contact the campaigns and ask them to share buttons with you. We hope to have these distributed at the building level, but get ahead of this process and get buttons to wear for your candidates. You do not need to live in Newton to wear a button.

5. If you live in Newton, reach out to the campaigns and offer to have them post a sign in your yard. Posting signs for our three endorsed candidates sends a clear message: educators value these candidates.

Retirement Plus

You've sent this letter before... maybe more than once. Since the Retirement Plus bill failed to pass in the state senate last spring, the process begins again. Please click below and sign again. This legislation is impactful for thousands of Massachusetts educators approaching retirement.

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/urge-your-state-legislator-to-support-retirementplus-enrollment

Thank you!

Holy Days

We continue to hear reports of members having their notifications that will be using holy days rejected. For this reason, I am again sharing the link to our google form so that you may report any recent denials.

Remember, you may take holy days on any day that you need to be absent for a sincerely held religious belief. This includes your own, your children’s, or your parents marriage, or any other religiously important day you need to be absent.

Please noter: you are granted four “other” days per year. If you use all four days for religious observance/celebration, you will have no days remaining to use for bereavement, attendance at commencement exercises, absence caused by an automobile accident on the way to work, or attendance at the MTA annual meeting.

Middle School Citywide Meetings

It looks like we are near an agreement on how to schedule and hold middle school Wednesday middle school citywide meetings. More to follow…..

Social Media Training for Educators

Join MTA Legal for a webinar designed to offer public school educators practical guidance on navigating the complex intersection of social media and public employment. We will discuss the protections – and limits – of the First Amendment and labor laws to help educators maximize their rights, recognize their limitations, and make informed decisions before posting on social media.

PreK-12 Social Media Training

Date: Oct 21, 2025

Time: 7pm – 8:15pm

Registration Link: https://massteacher-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/CFa7Cl55TtSR4ausvDYkYw

Higher Ed Social Media Training

Date: Oct 22, 2025

Time: 7pm – 8:15pm

Registration Link: https://massteacher-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/5bTxRv7tSxCfHJrWQ-5z5g

PreK-12 Social Media Training

Date: Oct 30, 2025

Time: 7pm – 8:15pm

Registration Link: https://massteacher-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/6cUiDNr-TlGKVHI2xKq6aw

Support Belmont Educators

The Belmont Education Association showed up for us in our last campaign. Now it’s time to support them. If even only a few of you are able to attend this bargaining session—or another in the future—it provides Belmont educators with an incredible boost. 

If you live in or near Belmont, join the Belmont Education Association as Silent representative at bargaining on Wednesday, October 29, 5:00PM-8:00PM at Belmont High School (221 Concord Ave). RSVP Here!

Belmont Education Association is now working under an expired contract. Yet the Belmont School Committee (BSC Team Members: Meg Moriarty and Amy Zuccarello) has been unwilling to agree to a contract that provides:

Time to Collaborate and Prepare

Dedicated time during the school day for educators to plan lessons, collaborate with colleagues, and meet the diverse needs of our students.

Manageable Class Sizes and Caseloads

Adequate staffing and resources to ensure each student receives the academic, social, and emotional support they need to thrive.

Fair Compensation

A living wage for Education Support Professionals and cost-of-living adjustments to help Belmont recruit and retain excellent educators.

Belmont Can Afford This! The BEA’s proposals are within the town’s current budget. The Belmont School Committee can settle these contracts today using increased state Chapter 70 education aid and savings from staff turnover, but they need your help!

RSVP TODAY to attend the next Belmont Bargaining Session on Wednesday, October 29 from 5:00PM to 8:00PM at Belmont High School as a silent representative.

In solidarity,

Mike Zilles, President

Newton Teachers Association