Safe Schools for All Task Force
About the Safe Schools for All Task Foce
The MTA has created a task force focusing on the mental health of staff and students in our preK-12 public schools. As outlined in a New Business Item passed by the Annual Meeting of Delegates, MTA is providing financial and staff support and lobbying for policy change at the statewide level, including but not limited to funding for safe staffing levels, behavioral support, para support and smaller class sizes. One of the goals of the task force is for all current and future member resources be accessible in one place. Ultimately any trainings and/or a summit will be available to all members. The task force will report each December to the MTA Board of Directors and conclude its work and make final recommendations at the December 2027 meeting.
Co-Chairs:
Donna Grady, Franklin Education Association
Eric Simard, Pathfinder Education Association
Members:
Janet Anderson, Taunton Education Association/Retired
Gayle Carvalho, Quincy Education Association
Rosemarie "Tina" Conte, Weymouth Educators Association
Patty Donahue, Education Association of Plymouth & Carver
Pat Plucinski, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional Secretaries and Assistants Association
Staff Consultants:
Victor Rosado, vrosado@massteacher.org
Scott Fulmer, sfulmer@massteacher.org
Anastasiya McWilliams, amcwilliams@massteacher.org
For additional materials, visit bit.ly/MTAHealthandSafety.
Safe Schools for All Task Force
This survey was created by the Safe Schools for All Task Force in response to widespread demand in the absence of reliable information about educators’ experience. The survey, which is open to all MTA members, has received 1,550 responses from more than 120 MTA locals over a three-week period.
Addressing workplace violence and the need for stronger protections for public school educators
The members of the MTA Safe Schools for All Task Force have drafted nine recommendations to address workplace violence in our public schools. These recommendations include addressing staffing needs, reduced class sizes, legislation to improve student mental health, health and safety contract provisions and more.
Excerpt from April 16, 2025 letter to Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler:
Educators and Education Support Professionals throughout the Commonwealth are committed to fostering safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments for every student. Yet increasingly, they are finding their own safety and well-being jeopardized by rising incidents of verbal abuse, harassment and physical violence in the workplace. These conditions are unacceptable and preventable. As members of the Safe Schools for All Task Force, we believe that meaningful change starts with acknowledgment, accountability and action. We respectfully call for the following steps: