May Newsletter

May is always a whirlwind, and this year is no exception. As we begin our end-of-year celebrations, the first glimmers of summer are finally starting to appear. This is a natural time for us to pause and reflect on everything we have accomplished together over the past several months.

First and foremost, thank you to everyone who turned out to support our budget conversations with the Board of Education. Because of your advocacy and engagement, the budget officially passed the town referendum this week—a vital win for our school community.

We also want to acknowledge the immense amount of work you do every day. We know that so much of your impact happens behind the scenes, fueled by a deep passion for your work and a dedication to our students. Your efforts do not go unnoticed.

Looking ahead, we hope to see you at our upcoming NEA-R celebration. It will be a wonderful opportunity to congratulate our colleagues who are beginning their next chapters in retirement and to honor their years of service.

Enjoy these final weeks of celebrations and milestones. We are here for one another, and as always, we are better together!

Mary Ellen & Executive Council


In this update: 



Updates from the NEA-Ridgefield




Reminders:

Observation Timeline:



Upcoming Events:

Tuesday 5/26

NEA-R Retirement Celebration at Gallo



Thursday 5/28

@4p - Legislative Lisetning Session


@5p General Membership Meeting

(link forthcoming)



Quick Links from NEA-Ridgefield





News from the CEA


**To gain access to the full CEA.org website you will need your CEA number**


The legislative session closed with some big wins for teachers.

The Fair Dismissal Law has been amended to include "just cause" for teachers and a binding decision from an arbitrator. This has been a huge priority issue for CEA for several years. 

Teachers who are injured by students will get additional protections including full pay for injuries covered under Workers Compensation.

State budget was amended to provide significant additional funding for school districts and local communities.

Schools are established as "protected areas" that prohibit law enforcement agencies from taking individuals into custody without a valid judicial warrant.

CEA RA was held on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. 

Nine New Business Items were passed, as well as one Constitutional amendment and two Bylaws amendments.

The Hands Across the Green Golf Tournament is July 23. Proceeds benefit the Connecticut Education Foundation, a 501(C)(3) charitable organization that helps Connecticut students in need. Information and registration are here.

The CEA Summer Conference is scheduled for August 5 and 6 at Foxwoods. Registration goes live on May 18, on a first come, first served basis. Check the CEA website for details. View the brochure here.

Social Media Reminder

Be mindful of what you post on social media (even if the account is private) as there have been cases of accounts having screenshots taken and disseminated.

Discounts and Deals?

Have your CEA number ready and checkout the teacher discounts available to members!

It is almost time to start planning summer vacation. NEA offers discounts on all sorts of travel. For more information click here.

CT Educator News

Interested in keeping up with Education related news? Check out CT Ed Watch





Legislative

Legislative Update

**Mark Your Calendars: Listening Session II With Our State Reps is MAY 28 from 4-5 PM, immediately followed by the General Membership Meeting. Make your voices heard in Hartford! Join us here https://cea-org.zoom.us/j/86137695981**


Several major education issues emerged during this year’s Connecticut legislative session, with the Connecticut Education Association continuing to advocate for increased school funding, educator protections, and improved working conditions in schools.


Increased Education Funding. State lawmakers approved approximately $170 million in additional education funding after many districts faced budget shortfalls, staffing concerns, and rising special education costs. CEA called the increase an important step while continuing to advocate for long-term reform to Connecticut’s school funding formula.


New Educator Protections. CEA also celebrated the passage of HB 5003, legislation designed to strengthen fairness and due-process protections for educators in disciplinary and termination proceedings. Supporters say the bill helps ensure professional decisions are handled more objectively and fairly.


Cell Phone Policies. Momentum continues to grow around stricter cell phone restrictions in schools. CEA has supported “bell-to-bell” phone-free policies, citing improved classroom focus, engagement, and student well-being in districts already implementing restrictions. While broader statewide legislation did not pass this session, the issue is expected to return in the future.


Recruitment, Retention, and Working Conditions. Teacher recruitment and retention remain major concerns statewide. CEA continues advocating for higher starting salaries, student teaching stipends, reduced certification costs, and improved healthcare affordability. Additional priorities include reducing class sizes, addressing special education caseloads, and improving school infrastructure and air quality.


As the legislative session concludes, many of these issues are expected to remain central topics for educators and lawmakers moving forward. Bring up these issues at the listening session! 

New Federal Law: the PUMP Act


Passed in the spring of 2023 as a part of the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill, the PUMP Act expanded rights to nursing mothers to have the time and space needed to pump breastmilk at work. While this new law may only be relevant to a small portion of our membership, this law represents a major change to how the law extends rights to educators. Learn more about the PUMP Act from the Department of Labor HERE and an overview from WeAreTeachers.org HERE.