NTA EBulletin: March 30, 2025

UNUM Disability Insurance--Open Enrollment

Unum Representatives will be visiting schools this week. Please see the schedule below for their schedule. You can schedule a meeting a representative in advance, or you simply drop in while they are there. If you need additional time to speak with your representative, you can also schedule a follow up phone call. 

UNUM insurance has a contract with MTA to provide disability insurance on very reasonable terms. Premium costs are deducted from your pay.

Short term disability insurance covers up to 60% of your pay after you have been disabled 14 or 30 days, depending on which coverage you choose. This insurance benefit is provided to you in addition to the regular pay you receive during paid sick leave. Benefits are granted for up to 22 or 24 weeks. 

Long term disability insurance covers up to 60% of your pay as well, but not until you have been disabled for at least 180 days. This insurance benefit is also provided to you in addition to your regular pay. (Last year I misstated this. I said it was not in addition. It is.) The benefit lasts until your period of disability ends, or until you turn 65. If your disability requires you to retire early, UNUM will supplement your pension benefit up to 60% of your previous pay rate until you turn 65.

NPS Budget

The bad news is that Mayor Fuller is proving herself, once again, intransigent in her refusal to adequately fund the NPS.

The good news is that the NTA is not alone. Superintendent Nolin, her administrative team, and School Committee Chair Chris Brezski are standing up to Mayor Fuller, and doing so publicly.

Last week Superintendent Nolin shared this slide deck with the NPS community, both parents and staff. If you have not yet taken a look at this document, I strongly urge you to do so. Superintendent Nolin (1) provides information on the impact of cuts to the Newton Public Schools (slides 52-58). However, she does not stop there. She also (2) presents convincing evidence, given the growth rate of the City of Newton's revenues (see slides 11-15), that Fuller's systematic underfunding of the schools is unwarranted and has been for years. Finally, Nolin (3) mobilizes community support (slide 20), asking community members to email the school committee and mayor, urging their support for a short term increase to the budget now to prevent cuts, and a long term goal to increase the city's allocation to fund a "Thrive" budget. 

MTA/NEA Events This Year

MTA Annual Meeting and NEA Representative Assembly

• The MTA Annual Meeting is May 2-3 in Springfield, MA.This is where representatives from every local union in the state come together to set the budget and policy guidance for the upcoming year.  We can send about 41 people to the meeting.

• The NEA Representative Assembly is meeting in Portland, Oregon from July 2-6 to set the agenda at the national level for the 25-26 school year.  We can send 13 individuals from NTA.   

The NTA has many open slots to be either a MTA delegate to the Annual Meeting or an NEA delegate to the Representative Assembly. 

Most of our delegate slots for both meetings remain open. 

We will fill these slots on a first come, first served basis. Please send me an email indicating your desire to be a delegate, and I will register you. 

This Friday is the deadline to request to become a delegate.

In solidarity, 

Mike Zilles, President

Newton Teachers Association