Last week, the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators Association (MSSAA) voted unanimously to “commence formal action to form a new unified K-12 Statewide Administrators Association.” The formal action will include amending the Articles of Organization and Constitution to include elementary membership and elementary representation on the Board. The MSSAA Board will vote on these changes in June and a 2/3 membership vote would then be required at their annual meeting on July 27. If approved, a new “Massachusetts School Administrator Association” (MSAA) would be in place effective August 1st.
MESPA’s Executive Board and I are confident that this plan is in the best long-term interest of our membership. We will continue working with MSSAA leadership to finalize representation in the new unified association. Based on a preliminary draft, there will be fair representation for elementary principals on the new Board with an opportunity to grow as more of our members become involved. We know that a unified association will provide increased resources for professional learning, as well as a strong voice at the state level. A new Elementary Committee would focus on the needs of elementary principals. The current committee structure used by MSSAA will provide additional new opportunities for members to be involved in shaping the association by serving on committees, including: Assistant Principals, Teaching & Learning, Educational Policies, Legislative, Middle Level, Urban, and Retired.
If you want to know more about MESPA’s future, please plan to attend the Annual Meeting Breakfast on Friday, March 24 at the Spring Conference. We are pleased that MSSAA First Vice President (and President Elect) Mark Wood will join us to greet and speak with our members. You should also feel free to contact any member of the Board or me with questions of concerns. We will continue to provide updates to members as this process moves ahead.