Welcome Back Springfield Educators to Yet Another School Year!
Let me start by reiterating something that I referenced during Convocation.
Again, I want to thank each of you for your continued commitment to our students, families, and community of Springfield Public Schools. As we continue to weather the storm of new variants let us not forget how COVID’s destruction illuminated racial inequities in health access and care, yet it has birthed sustainable projects in public education that will have an impact far into the future.
We have to get engaged to ensure our students are afforded the same rights that we had. There’s no turning back, we must propel the next generation in creating the world we hoped for.
We are the SEA, the MTA and the NEA, a union that is built of 3 million with the capacity to change the world when we find and use our collective voices. Educators we are under attack; our student’s individuality is under attack – Public Education Matters and it’s time that WE stand together in unity for systemic change! I again challenge us all to rise and exceed the standards set by the last generation.
This is our time. We must reimagine justice by reimagining ourselves. Who are we and what role do we play in this re-imagined world we want to leave our students?
Finally, as I hear from several SEA members, they often say that the school days are long, and members struggle with many demands. Despite this, educators show up, show out, and maintain the dream to teach every student… every day by becoming the professionals that we are all called to be! As long as there are educators, NOTHING is impossible!!
I saw this on a Facebook post from A More Perfect Union “the Union” is an organization you build with your co-workers, not a service you receive ‘”
As McFadden & Whitehead wrote
There's been so many things that’s held us down.
But now it looks like things are finally comin' around.
I know we've got, a long long way to go, and where we'll end up, I don't know.
But we won't let nothin' hold us back, we're putting ourselves together, we're polishing up our act!
If you felt we've been held down before, I know you'll refuse to be held down anymore!
Don't you let nothing, nothing, stand in your way!
I want ya'll to listen, listen, to every word I say, every word I say!
Ain't no stoppin us now!
We're on the move!!
#AintNoStoppingUsNow
Warm regards. May this be the best year yet!!
Tracy Little-Sasanecki, MSW
SEA President
Two upcoming events in the next week:
Keeping Cultural Pride Alive -Springfield Puerto Rican Parade
Senator Adam Gomez has extended an invitation to the Springfield Education Association to join him in the Puerto Rican Parade. Please come celebrate the rich heritage of many of our students and families on this Sunday, September 18, 2022. We will be meeting at 10:30. This year’s parade will depart from the intersection of Main Street and Wasson Avenue and will march through the City’s North End into downtown, ending at Boland Way. You may join the celebration at the Main stage located at 1550 Main Street’s Plaza.
Welcome New and Returning Educators Late Summer Gathering
Come celebrate our new school year and welcome our new members! Food, lawn games, DJ, trivia, prizes, and a cash bar. All family members are welcome! Please register at the link below
- Thursday, September 22 4-8pm
- Elks Lodge Pavilion, 40 Tiffany St, Springfield
- Children and Families welcome!
- Free food – BarBQ Chicken, Pulled Pork, Mac and Cheese and various salads!
- Cash bar
- Dancing
- Prizes (one for the school with the highest percentage of people in attendance)
- Raffle for classroom resources
- Giveaways from MTA Benefits
- Games and Trivia
COVID Update
Masks
There are only two instances when it is mandatory to wear a mask:
- In the nurse’s office
- A staff or student who tests positive for COVID, may return on day 6, if their symptoms have improved, i.e., they have been fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication, and have not tested negative but must wear a mask through day ten.
Each staff person (other than ones mentioned above) has the right to decide for themselves whether to wear a mask. Although, it is recommended that anyone at higher risk of COVID wear a mask.
KN95 masks are available at each school in the nurse’s office along with other needed PPE
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Testing
Staff and Students who have given permission for testing may receive an iHealth Rapid Antigen COVID test at school
Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 at school or at home:
- must isolate for five days, can return to school day six if symptoms have improved and individual is fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication,
- must wear a mask through day ten, unless you have a negative test,
- if unable to wear a mask, can return with a negative test or return day eleven without a negative test
Close Contacts
- No longer need to quarantine
- Vaccinated and unvaccinated staff and students that are exposed to COVID-19 should wear a high-quality mask for ten days, and get tested at the least on day five
Hand Sanitizer is available and hand washing continues to be recommended.
Emergency COVID Leave Policy
There is currently no Emergency COVID Leave Policy. That means, at this time, staff must use their regular sick time for the time they are out. Please contact the SEA office if you run out of sick time and we can advise you about accessing the sick bank. If you believe that the lack of policy this year is unfair, please email the office and offer to be involved in organizing to try to change the district’s position on this. So far, they have been adamant that COVID is here to stay, and we just have to get used to it!
Vote Yes on Question 1!
Help get $2 billion more in the state budget for public education and public transportation.
Springfield receives more state aid per student than any other city or town in the state. The Student Opportunity Act that passed in 2019 will bring at least $180 million increase in state funding to the Springfield Public Schools by 2027. To ensure that there is revenue for that increase, as well as to meet other needs of our public education system, we need to ensure that the Fair Share amendment passes on election day in November.
What it the Fair Share Amendment (FSA)?
The Fair Share Amendment would amend the Massachusetts Constitution, creating an additional tax of 4 percentage points on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million. This new revenue would be invested into funding our public schools and colleges as well as the repair and maintenance of our roads, bridges, and public transportation infrastructure.
Please help pass the Fair Share Amendment
There are several ways to help pass the amendment:
- Talk to the staff in your building and make sure they know about the amendment
- Talk to 10 family and friends, get their commitment to vote yes, and remind them to vote
- Volunteer to talk to parents at school open houses in October for 2 hours
- Volunteer to knock on doors on Wednesday 9/28 and 10/12 for 2 hours
- Phone bank from the comfort of your home with your computer and cellphone
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Use this link to sign up to help: Fair Share Amendment Support Form
SEA Executive Board Election
The SEA Executive Board has 3 Members-At-large opening and 1 Retiree Opening
The SEA Executive Board's goal is to increase member activity through communication/listening so that SEA membership develops and shares power to obtain and ensure the working conditions necessary to guarantee a quality public education for all students in Springfield.
The members of the Executive Board are the President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, ten members-at-large, and one retired member at large. They are elected every two years by the membership. The Executive Board members attend two board meetings a month, as well as the monthly Legislative Board meeting. The Executive Board Members often are involved with different subcommittees and special projects throughout the year.
As defined by the SEA's Bylaws, the job of the Executive Board is to develop policies of the Association with input from membership and recommend those policies to the Legislative Board for adoption. They also work with the budget. The Board's job is to approve or amend and recommend an annual budget to the Legislative Board. They can also approve or amend line-item adjustments to the adopted budget.
Process for Self-Nomination and Election:
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The election/self nomination forms can be found here
- Self-nomination papers are due back in the office by Thursday, September 29th at 5pm.
- The list of candidates will be posted on October 5th until the election on the SEA website.
- The election will take place electronically if there are more candidates than openings from Monday October 24th at 7am to Tuesday, October 25th at 5pm.
- It is important to update your information on the building list when the Building Reps ask you to check, to ensure that we have your correct nonwork email address for the election.
School Level Budgeting
Schools will be asked, again this year, to develop a plan for spending the increased Chapter 70 revenue that the district is receiving. Starting in December, principals will be asked to start discussing the spending of this money for the next year. Last year the amount that each school received was $850 per student. This year, we expect it to be higher.
We suggest that union members at your school get together in October to start discussing what you believe that money should be spent on in the coming year.
Last year all schools were allocated $4,300 per student in one-time ESSER revenue. The district has informed us that no school has been able to start spending that money due to a hold up at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). It is important to understand your school’s plan for that money, and to monitor its spending. The money is a one-time allocation that needs to be spent by September 30, 2024.
Student Loan Debt Forgiveness (the Biden Plan) and
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Information
Here is information from the Student Aid government website about the Biden Debt forgiveness program:
Here is a tool, provided for free to MTA members to help members with loan forgiveness:
