News from AFT Massachusetts and President Beth Kontos - July 2021
A Message from President Beth Kontos
July brought us so much rain! We needed it to end the drought and in return we have blossoms and green grass everywhere. I hope this brings you as much happiness as it does to me.
AFT MA is working with several of our locals to create Back-to-School celebrations that pair the celebration of learning with the protection that vaccines can bring to our communities. Remember that Covid-19 vaccines are approved for everyone aged 12 and up. Making sure that vaccines are available to all who want them will help for a safe return to school for everyone in September. While many communities in Massachusetts have high rates of vaccination, we still have some work to do in a few of our hardest hit communities. Stay tuned for more details on our success in the coming months.
Meanwhile, we are encouraging the governor and the state Department of Early and Secondary Education needs to listen to health experts, including the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and require universal mask wearing in schools this fall. We all want a safe return to school in September, and with the Delta surge and vaccine disinformation threatening the progress we've made against COVID, we need to use all the public health tools we have to stop the spread. Until we can get all school-aged kids vaccinated, basic public health precautions like masking are the bare minimum needed to keep our students and their vulnerable family members safe.
AFT Massachusetts Responds to New DESE Guidance On Masking That Contravenes CDC Recommendations
In response to new guidance from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that contravenes CDC recommendations by suggesting that only unvaccinated students, educators, and staff members in Massachusetts schools should wear masks indoors this fall, the 23,000-member AFT Massachusetts released the following statement from AFT Massachusetts President Beth Kontos:
"The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education needs to listen to health experts, including the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and require - not just recommend - universal mask wearing in K-6 schools this fall. If DESE continues to reject public health guidance and fails to act, local school committees need to step up and require universal mask wearing to keep us all safe and to maximize the likelihood of schools staying open this school year.
"We all want a safe and productive return to school in September, and with the surge of the incredibly contagious Delta variant and vaccine disinformation threatening the progress we've made against COVID, we need to use all the public health tools we have to stop the spread and keep schools open for in-person learning. Until we can get all school-aged kids vaccinated, basic public health precautions like masking are the bare minimum needed to keep our students and their vulnerable family members safe.”
#AFTVoices Member Spotlight Series
We kicked off our #AFTVoices member spotlight series! This series aims to uplift the voices, members and educators that make up AFT Massachusetts. Our first member highlight is on Gary Torres, a Paraprofessional and Member Organizer coming from the Lynn Teachers Union! Ever since Gary attended his first AFT meeting, after being encouraged by a friend, he is devoted to the people and place he represents. "As a member organizer, I’ve been focusing on getting others involved, especially paraprofessionals. I am here to listen. It’s personal for me."
Stay tuned as we continue to display more of our conversations with other AFT members, showing how we collectively strive to build an industry where we all have the #FreedomToThrive! Click here if you would like to be part of our campaign!
Take Action and Support the Revere Federation of Paraprofessionals
Over 18 years ago, Revere’s School District decided to cut paraprofessional hours rather than offer them healthcare in retaliation to the passage of the ACA and the Massachusetts Health Care law. This not only short-changed a workforce that is predominantly low-income women, but it also undercut services provided to our most vulnerable students. Paraprofessionals are the education aides to pre-kindergarten, students who have disabilities, support for those that need help with areas of academics, and support for those that need English language help. This cut minimized the amount of time given to students by each para and created massive turnover and difficulty in hiring to fill the positions. The decision to do this was shortsighted and continues to hurt kids.
Currently we, the Revere Federation of Paraprofessionals, are bargaining with management over a new union contract for the paraprofessionals. We have asked that our members be treated like paraprofessionals are in other districts across the state and made full time. We know that now is the time to do this because of the money coming into the district from both the federal government and the Commonwealth. Management has been dismissive and demeaning, rolling their eyes, making threats to reduce jobs, demanding that para’s do work outside of the classroom, and denying that there is indeed funding. We have made movement at the table, they have not. Click here to read more and to send a letter to the Revere School Committee!
AFT Massachusetts Members in Elected Office: Dracut School Committee Member Renee Young
With public education undergoing such challenging conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to have lawmakers who understand what it’s like in our classrooms. That’s why so many AFT members across the country are putting their hat in the ring; running for office to serve their communities on school committees, in town halls, in state legislatures, and in the halls of Congress.
One AFT Massachusetts member who serves in public office is Dracut School Committee Member Renee Young, a history teacher at Billerica Memorial High School and member of the Billerica Federation of Teachers. READ MORE.
Sen. Warren’s Office Seeking Feedback on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program: Please Complete a Brief Survey
Established in 2007 by the U.S. Congress, the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program is a critical student loan forgiveness program for public school educators and employees, municipal librarians, other public sector workers, and individuals employed by certain non-profit organizations. The program provides eligible borrowers with student loan debt relief in exchange for a decade of service in their communities.
AFT Massachusetts and its parent organization, the national AFT, are committed to fixing these problems, and we are working with allies, such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, to ensure the program is implemented as intended.
Senator Warren’s office is conducting a survey to learn more about Massachusetts public servants’ experience with student debt and the PSLF program. All responses are anonymous. The survey results will help to inform future policy. READ MORE.
