Sign the Petition

To My Fellow Presidents:

Our No On 2 victory in the Fall of 2016 sent a clear message to corporations that they were not allowed to come into our state to take over the number one ranked public education system in the U.S.

But now these same organizations are making backdoor deals in communities to negate the success of our victory. In my city, New Bedford, public schools are already underfunded by $40 million! And yet two charter schools are asking the city for an additional 1200 seats. If these seats are approved by the state, New Bedford could lose as much as $30 million to charters.

Unlike No On 2, this decision will not be made by the community that will be affected. It will be made by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education at the recommendation of one man, Commissioner Jeff Riley.

We must not let this happen! As presidents, we must continue to fight for our members, for our communities, and especially for our children. Please sign this petition and ask every member in your Association to do the same. If these charters win in New Bedford, they will come to your cities and towns next. But if we stop them now, we have a chance!

Only through the strength of our collective voice do we have power. We have demonstrated that power before, and look at the results! Join me now to show once again how strong we are when we stand together!

MTA President Merrie Najimy and Vice President Max Page have been supportive of our efforts to be part of community coalition opposed to the charter school expansion. Eventually, they will be contacting all MTA members to be a part of this fight, but in the meantime I am asking for your help as a local president. Please sign the petition and pass it along to your members.

Sincerely,

Lou St. John, President

New Bedford Educators Association