The E duca t o r June 2008 Volume 1, Issue 4

Important Dates NTA June 10 --- NES 3:00 p.m. School Committee Usually held first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. NHS Library

Income Tax Repeal

NTA Election Results At the May NTA meeting, the election results were as follows: Co-Presidents: Megan McNeely and Page Martineau Vice President: Mike Girvin Secretary: Jessica Bateman Treasurer: Alice Crowley ESP Reps: Joanne Johnsen and Stephanie Hansen NES Building Reps: Kathy Adams, Lisa Hood, David Siegel, Beth O’Keefe, Dottie Thompson CPS Building Reps: Alyssa Billings, Anne Marie Dyer, Becky Hickman, Karla Butler NHS Building Reps: Stephanie Johnson, Linda Kelly, Suzanne Fronzuto NES TA Reps: CPS TA Rep: Seanda Bartlett NHS TA Rep: Joyce Van Vorst The following positions may still be open: one NES building rep, one NHS building rep, and 2 NES TA reps. If you would like to be considered for appointment to one of them, contact the current Co-Presidents, Megan McNeely and Mike Girvin. We all would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who served in any capacity over the past year. What makes any union strong is individual member participation.

This fall there will be a ballot question that would first reduce, and then eliminate, the state personal income tax. While no one loves to pay taxes, this would be devastating to public education, the economy, and property taxes. Throughout this summer and next fall I will try to keep you informed about this ballot question. The important thing you can do is to make sure people understand the massive negative effect this would have on the state of Massachusetts. The MTA is making this its number one priority from now until it is defeated is November. The MTA will be producing television and radio ads, mailing out information, and organizing a grass-roots effort to ensure that not only it is defeated, but also that it is crushed. A similar question in 2002 garnered 45% of the vote and most polls this year show that it could pass unless the public is educated about the damage it would cause. The MTA has joined a coalition of labor, civic, non-profit, religious, and business organizations to form the Campaign for Our Communities. A group called The Committee for Small Government, headed by libertarian Carla Howell, is behind this ballot question. This initiative would cut nearly 40% ($12 billion) from the state budget each year. That is money that would go toward public education, public safety, roads and bridges, health care and public health programs, human services, environmental protection, services for the elderly and disabled, courts, park maintenance, libraries, community revitalization projects, etc, etc, etc. To make up for this, the state would have to raise the sales tax, or local communities would have to raise property taxes.

The Newsletter of the Nantucket Teachers Association

NTA Officers Co-Presidents Megan McNeely (CPS/NHS) 1429 --- ext 3504 --- vm Mike Girvin (NES B2) 2125 --- ext 3683 --- vm Vice-President Steve Sortevik (CPS 06) 1413 --- ext 3568 --- vm Treasurer Alice Cowley (CPS 01) 1410 --- ext 3757 --- vm Secretary Jessica Bateman (CPS 22) 1432 --- ext 3553 --- vm NES Reps Mary McGuinness (NES D7) 2157 --- ext 3642 --- vm Tracy Mailloux (NES C4) 2131 ---ext 3681 ---vm Rosemary Topham (NES E5) 2169 --- ext 3629 --- vm CPS Reps Ann Maury (CPS 09) 1417 --- ext 3562 --- vm Elaine Russell (CPS 11) 1422 --- ext 3566 --- vm NHS Representatives Suzanne Fronzuto (NHS 211) 1358 --- ext 3515 --- vm Dave Webb (NHS gym) 1211 --- ext 1211 --- vm TA Representative Megan Boyes (NES A6) 2113 --- ext 3601 --- vm Tandi Reece (CPS) 1426 --- ext Joyce Van Vorst (NHS) 3546 --- vm ESP Representative Joanne Johnson (NHS 001) 1279 --- ext / vm

Anyone interested in submitting an article or providing information for future newsletters should contact: Editor: John M. McGuinness, NHS, Room 006, 1228 (ext), 3527 (vm)

The goal of the Nantucket Teachers Association is to provide a voice for the faculty and staff of the Nantucket Public Schools. The NTA advocates for the improvement of education for the students of Nantucket. Your voice is important. Be active in the Association. Go to meetings, run for office, let your opinions, concerns, and ideas be heard.

The Nantucket Teachers Association

MTA Annual Mtg Summary

MTA Summer Conference

At the May NTA meeting, the following change to the Bylaws was adopted: Increase the number of building reps to 6 for NES, 4 each for CPS and NHS, 2 for TAs at NES, 1 for TAs at CPS, 1 for TAs at NHS, and 2 for ESPs. This change also included a stipend of $200 for all reps.

NTA By-Law Change

Any one interested in attending the MTA Summer Conference and would like the local to pay for it, should attend the May NTA meeting. The Summer Conference is a great place to earn PDPs, connect with other Association members from across the state, and have a great time. The Conference takes place at Williams College, during the week of August 3 - 7. There are a wide variety of workshops, lectures, programs, social events, and chance to earn 2 graduate credits through Fitchburg State College. I have attended for the past 6 years, as MTA Board member, and can attest to it being worth the time.

Here are some highlights from the 2008 MTA Annual Meeting: Dues next year will be $427. For secretaries, clerks, and custodians it will be $257; for aides, food service personnel and other education support professionals $129. Anne Wass and Paul Toner, running unopposed, were re-elected to a second term as President and Vice President of the MTA. This will be their final terms in these positions. The delegates adopted the following new business items: endorsed Len Paolillo for NEA Executive Committee; opposed the high-stakes and the sanctions portions of the MCAS and No Child Left Behind; supported the work of PHENOM (Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts); contributed $10,000 to Mass-Care (the campaign for single-payer health care); and having the MTA educate members of national and local anti-worker, anti-public education groups. The delegates adopted the following amendments to the MTA Bylaws: changed the terms of office for MTA Executive Committee members to 2 three year terms and established and set eligibility of student delegates to the MTA Annual Meeting.