Welcome to STA Web!
QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS???
Do you spend personal money on school supplies?
Are you concerned about class size?
Do you spend more time addressing in-direct student services?
How much does it cost to educate our students?
A whole generation of students has gone through the Massachusetts public schools since the last time an analysis of what it costs to educate our children from pre-K to high school graduation was done. That’s why educators, education support professionals, and community members need to advocate for legislation to help determine how best to provide opportunities for every Massachusetts student.
Let’s be proactive…let’s be informed...! Learn more about House Bill 153, An Act to Fulfill the Promise of Education Reform: Adequate Funding for Student Success. Join your colleagues at a discussion with:
Senator Patricia Jehlen
Second Middlesex District
Thursday, November 17, 2011
4:30 PM
West Somerville Neighborhood School
177 Powderhouse Boulevard
Somerville, MA 02144
Contact Frances Cooper-Berry, via e-mail, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for information and to be included in the Legislative Political Action Team (LPAT).
LPAT Second Middlesex Senate District is a collaboration of members
of the Massachusetts Teachers Association from Medford, Somerville, and Winchester
Last Updated on Tuesday, 08 November 2011 17:01.
MTA Supports Wall Street and Boston Protests
The Massachusetts Teachers Association supports Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Boston and similar protests across the country that are calling attention to political and economic systems that unfairly reward the wealthy at the expense of everyone else and are contributing to high levels of unemployment and economic insecurity.
Although the protesters express diverse views, a unifying message is that financial and political institutions must be held accountable for the excesses that led to the current economic crisis, the struggles of the middle class and the growing wealth gap in the United States.
The MTA shares these concerns. We believe:
* Strong educator unions are needed to defend the interests of our students, many of whom are not able to reach their full potential because of the lack of necessary resources and supports in their schools and communities.
* Strong unions are needed to hold corporations and politicians accountable for how their policies affect working men and women.
* Strong educator unions are needed to defend the interests of teachers, higher education faculty and other education staff - public servants who have been under attack in many states by those who mistakenly believe that organized labor is responsible for the country's economic ills.
* Progressive tax reforms are needed to make sure the wealthy are paying their fair share and to guarantee adequate funding for education and other public services that are essential to the successful functioning of our democracy.
We encourage MTA members to participate in peaceful protest actions that call attention to these inequities and that seek reform of the financial regulations, campaign finance rules and tax codes that so handsomely reward the 1 percent at the expense of the remaining 99 percent.
GIC Enrollment-Please Read
As I am sure you have read the timelines for enrollment into the Group Insurance Commission are coming up quickly. STA is pleased to offer the following information sessions for members (and retirees) to meet to address the ever elusive question,
"How do I decide which GIC plan is right for me?"
October 5, 2011 from noon to 2pm at Somerville Library 79 Highland Avenue.
This session is targeted for retirees
October 5, 2011 from 6-8 pm at Somerville High School Auditorium 81 Highland Ave.
October 11, 2011 from 6-8 pm at SHS Auditorium, 81 Highland Ave.
October 12, 2011 from 6-8 pm at SHS Auditorium, 81 Highland Ave.
October 18, 2011 from 3-5:30pm at SHS Auditorium, 81 Highland Ave.
It anticipated that this session will be extremely well attended. If you have many specific questions, you are encouraged to attend one of the evening sessions.
These sessions are intended to help members in their decision making process. You will not be able to enroll in GIC plans during these times. If you have any questions, please call 617-666-0600.
GIC Enrollment-Please Read
As I am sure you have read the timelines for enrollment into the Group Insurance Commission are coming up quickly. STA is pleased to offer the following information sessions for members (and retirees) to meet to address the ever elusive question,
"How do I decide which GIC plan is right for me?"
October 5, 2011 from noon to 2pm at Somerville Library 79 Highland Avenue.
This session is targeted for retirees
October 5, 2011 from 6-8 pm at Somerville High School Auditorium 81 Highland Ave.
October 11, 2011 from 6-8 pm at SHS Auditorium, 81 Highland Ave.
October 12, 2011 from 6-8 pm at SHS Auditorium, 81 Highland Ave.
October 18, 2011 from 3-5:30pm at SHS Auditorium, 81 Highland Ave.
It anticipated that this session will be extremely well attended. If you have many specific questions, you are encouraged to attend one of the evening sessions.
These sessions are intended to help members in their decision making process. You will not be able to enroll in GIC plans during these times. If you have any questions, please call 617-666-0600.
Last Updated on Monday, 03 October 2011 19:56.
Teachers offer cautious praise of new health insurance deal with City
The Somerville Teachers Association and other public employee unions reached an historic health insurance agreement with the City of Somerville today that will save the City millions of dollars a year while safeguarding health insurance benefits for retirees.
Somerville Teachers Association President Jackie Lawrence said that the new agreement is? the best deal possible under the circumstances.? She praised the City for agreeing to negotiate over health insurance with a coalition of public employees and retirees? called Section 19 bargaining? rather than forcing employees to join the GIC under the new Municipal Health Insurance law.
This was a difficult issue for teachers and other school staff because going into the GIC means higher out-of-pocket costs for our medical care,? Lawrence said.? In the end, however, we decided that the benefits of this package outweigh the costs, both for our members and for the community as a whole.? The City has been seeking to move public employees into the GIC since May 2010, and pursued the issue with renewed energy after the MHI law was passed in July.
To their credit, City officials decided not to force employees into the GIC under the very restrictive conditions required under the new law, but instead agreed to continue bargaining with the Public Employee Committee, which represents all of the unions as well as retirees,? Lawrence said.
In the negotiations, the STA remained flexible, looking out both for members? health insurance benefits as well as for the financial health of the school district and the City as a whole.
We will be paying higher co-payments and deductibles out of our pockets, which will bring down the premium costs considerably,? Lawrence explained.? Eventually our members will also pay a slightly larger share of the premiums, so we and the City will both benefit from the lower premium rates.?
Under the agreement, all city and school retirees will realize better premium splits and can be assured that those splits will not be reduced for at least six-and-a-half years.
In the first year of this agreement, the City will save an estimated $6 million in health insurance premium costs.
We all benefit from those savings, especially our students,? said Lawrence.? A large share of that money will be going into our public schools and can be used to hire or retain teachers and other staff, and to maintain or restore programs and supply budgets.?
Lawrence added that contract negotiations are likely to proceed more smoothly now that the City? s finances will be in better shape as a result of employees absorbing more of their health insurance costs.
I won? t kid you and say this is ideal,? said Lawrence.? We and the other public employees are making some sacrifices in this agreement. But something has to be done to rein in health insurance to save jobs, protect our schools, preserve other vital public services and help the taxpayers.? --
Jackie Lawrence
Somerville Teachers Association
17 Washington Street
Somerville, MA 02143
617-666-0600
Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 September 2011 05:19.