“Over the last four years, Dr. Tutwiler has led the Executive Office of Education with infectious joy and energy, underscoring what we can accomplish when we have leaders focused on ensuring each student, each school, and each educator has the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. We deeply appreciate both his commitment to our public schools as well as collaborative and inclusive approach to leadership.

“Like Dr. Tutwiler, Dr. Stephen Zrike has spent decades working in public schools across the Commonwealth. We appreciate that Governor Healey is focused on filling this important position with leaders who have worked in our public schools and have a deep understanding of the public education system in Massachusetts.

“AFT Massachusetts educators and staff worked alongside Dr. Zrike during his years as a principal in the Boston Public Schools and then in Salem, where he has served as superintendent for nearly six years. Dr. Zrike has earned a strong reputation as a professional educator of the highest caliber who stays laser focused on the needs of students and families, while also respecting dedicated educators in the classroom."

January is always a busy month, and this January has been no exception!

At the AFT MA Town Hall this past Wednesday, we shared highlights from recent contract wins and heard from local leaders about new strategies and lessons learned in their recent campaigns. We reviewed state legislation, gave updates on health care changes, and heard from Senator Ed Markey about the federal landscape. We also shared out highlights and learnings from a recent visit to Minneapolis with President Weingarten.  If you missed it, you can still view it and find resources from this town hall here.  

Earlier this month, we had the usual kick-off to the budget season–including advocacy to the Governor about key areas we need addressed this fiscal year, responding to the State of the Commonwealth, and combing through the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget suggestions. This is the very first step in the process of what will be a very difficult budget season. Together, we will need to spend the next five months advocating for our schools, working families, and students across the Commonwealth. The Governor’s draft was a baseline, and will be imperative for us to continue to advocate through our allies in the House and then with those in the Senate to build upon it. 

“Rising costs coupled with drastic cuts to services have made the state’s already high cost of living untenable for most working families across the state. We are living in an economy that does not work for working families.

“The cost for many local school districts to ensure every child has a free and equal public education outpaces state investment. Districts are now teetering at the edge of a fiscal cliff.

“We know this is just the first step in the budget process and see hopeful signs in this budget to address the significant fiscal challenges our communities are facing. But we also know that this must be the baseline to build on because failing to safeguard our communities now allows temporary cuts to become permanent damage, which would be catastrophic for some of our largest, poorest, and neediest communities.

“If Massachusetts wants to remain first in the nation for education and is truly dedicated to protecting our students and the knowledge-based economy our state relies on, we must see a larger level of investment, one that takes into account the true fiscal realities our districts, public libraries, and universities are facing.” 

“There are components of this report that we can all agree on, including areas that we have been and will continue to advocate for, including: accessibility to key academic courses, college and career planning, and attention to different types of learners.

“This preliminary report is just that—a starting point for discussion. We aren’t at the stage of endorsement or opposition.

“Whether or not the educators we represent can fully endorse this plan will depend on the final product.

“There are a number of outstanding questions that must be addressed, including those around the implementation process, the resources schools will need to support this new framework, and a clear understanding of exactly what will be required of our students and how their work will be measured."