Canton Teachers Association
December, 2007
URGENT information from the MTA
The following are excerpts from an urgent letter sent to all local presidents
A group led by former Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Carla Howell claims it collected enough signatures to place a measure called the Small Government Act before the voters. Petitions in support of this ballot initiative have now been filed. This measure seeks to eliminate the state income tax and remove $11.4 billion from the Commonwealth’s annual revenues – an amount that equals 57 percent of all state taxes collected. The state budget would be destroyed. Huge cuts would cascade through our economy, devastating public schools, public colleges, the University of Massachusetts, local police and fire services, environmental protections, and human services programs.
Thousands of our colleagues – educators from pre-Kindergarten to higher education – would lose their jobs. No school or campus would be spared, and the impact would be catastrophic not only for those directly affected, but for the long-term well-being of Massachusetts…..
The stakes have never been higher….. As those of us who lived through the years following the passage of Proposition 21/2 know only too well, the success of an initiative such as the Small Government Act would lead to agonizing disruptions of the lives and livelihoods of teachers, ESPs, higher education faculty and staff, and other MTA members. In addition, it would have a terrible impact on students and parents throughout the state. In 2002, the last time an initiative to remove the income tax was on the state ballot, it received a staggering 45 percent of the vote.
Given the consequences, it is imperative for the MTA to do everything possible under the law to defeat this proposal. Many of you no doubt recall our successful challenge to Barbara Anderson’s 1997 tax-cutting petition. Our challenge and task are very different this time because the circumstances are far from the same. One factor is the involvement of the paid signature gatherers, who receive significant incentives to meet their goals. Only by undertaking an investigation that is extremely labor-intensive will we know whether we can defeat the initiative on the basis of fraud or other forms of deception. Second, we learned a great deal from our successful 1997 challenge, and we will take advantage of technology not available to us 10 years ago to make our investigation more efficient and effective. The MTA has engaged a software company to develop computer programs to streamline the work required. Once we have the petitions in hand, and as our work progresses, we will be evaluating and re-evaluating our organizational actions at regular benchmarks. (For the next few weeks the MTA staff has put all but essential work on hold to review and challenge the petitions..Katey)
In the days ahead, we may well be asking for a good deal of help from you and your members. As a result, it is crucial that you begin immediately to collect the names of potential volunteers. Beginning December 17, it is very possible we will be asking you to engage members in visiting city halls and town halls to obtain copies of voter registration cards. Later, the work could involve visiting people whose names are on the petitions to determine whether their signatures are authentic and were properly obtained.
In conclusion, we want to personally thank each one of you for your dedication to the MTA and for your support of this vital mission.
Anne Wass, President,
Massachusetts Teachers Association
From Katey: The effect of the Small Government Act would be more devastating than the failed override and subsequent staff reduction we experienced in Canton earlier this year. Please forward a note to me ASAP if you would be willing to volunteer for this very important mission.
Thinking of Retiring in June?
If you would like to be included in the Teacher Retirement Stipend, you must submit your letter of intent to Dr. D’Auria by December 31, 2007. See Appendix E of the contract for additional information.
Evaluations
All teachers with professional status who are scheduled to be evaluated this year should have had their first observation completed by November 20. The second observation will be completed by April 9. All teachers without professional status are due for a second observation by January 14.
See your Executive Council building rep or PR&R rep if you have any questions about the evaluation procedure. Now is the time to seek CTA help if you are experiencing difficulties.
AD Hoc Committee on Evaluations
As per Article XII, Teacher Evaluations, the Ad Hoc evaluation committee has been called into existence by the school committee. Our representatives on the committee are:
Pat Phalan, Elementary Schools
Denise Buckley, Middle School
George Farrell, High School
Jolene Gillander, at large
They met with Dorine Levasseur, our MTA uniServ rep, to review pertinent state regulations and CTA contract language. They will begin their work with the full committee this month. Please contact the rep for your level if you have any thoughts, concerns or suggestions about changing our evaluation process. This committee will have the authority, by majority vote, to recommend to the respective parties (school committee and CTA) any changes to Article XII for finalizing through collective bargaining. The administrative representatives are Robin Billing, Jennifer Henderson, John D’Auria, and Bill Griffin. Many thanks to Pat, Denise George, and Jolene for agreeing to serve on this very important committee.
Negotiations Update
During the CTA meetings held in each school last month, members were asked to provide items they would like the negotiations committee to consider including in the next round of bargaining slated for this year. The committee met to review these suggestions and is in the process of putting together a proposal to bring to the table. We are currently working under a one-year contract, expiring August 31, 2008.
Tape Recording of TEAM meetings
Teachers have the right to refuse the tape recording of a TEAM meeting during the time in which they are present. You can contact the CET chair or the student liaison prior to the meeting, or slip them a note when you enter the meeting if you do not want the recorder on while you are present.. Comments such as “We have to turn this off now because Mrs. Jones doesn’t want this recorded” are unacceptable. Please contact your PR&R rep if you have concerns about this issue.
CTA Scholarship
For the past several years, the CTA has awarded scholarships to graduating CHS students at a cost to the Association of between $1,500 and$2,000 each year. Our fundraising efforts have not been sufficient enough to cover the cost. This lack of funding has been draining our budget. Do we: End the scholarship? Limit the award to one recipient as long as the funds have been raised? Increase our fundraising? (requiring a committee of many volunteers) Increase our CTA dues? The CTA scholarship will be on the agenda at the next Executive Council meeting and a vote is planned to determine the scholarship’s future.
Longevity
Administration has informed us that checks for longevity will be issued December 13. This will include adjustments for those who received a longevity check in September and those who are now eligible for longevity through the new contract.
Executive Council
Meetings are held each month and any CTA member is welcome to attend. The meetings have been moved to room 138 at Canton High and begin at 3:30. The next meeting is scheduled for December 20. Executive Council reps continue to hold 10-minute meetings each month in your school. Ask your rep for the date of the next meeting.
Enjoy the holiday season
Katey