In an email sent to the Newton School Community, the School Committee announced that the state’s Department of Labor Relations has appointed a mediator for the contract negotiations between the Newton Public Schools (NPS) and the Newton Teachers Association (NTA). The School Committee had asked the state in July to appoint a mediator, stating that the negotiations had reached an “impasse.”
The email also warned of possible demonstrations that may take place before or after the contractual school day and assures readers that that the School Committee “will take appropriate action, as required by law” should the “NTA take any action that would hinder” the rollout of a new literacy program.
In a separate email sent by Superintendent Anna Nolin to NPS faculty and staff, she explained the “pickle” that she is in, stating that in weighing the legal advice and advice from other districts, she has concluded that the district must “open school and provide the same opportunities for students that they have had in any other year in Newton.” While she recognizes that union representatives are doing what is asked of them by requesting principals to cancel certain events like “sneak peek days,” she said “principals run the risk of creating a ‘lockout’ …when administrators create conditions where staff cannot do their jobs in the fashion they always have, and we cut off the ability for a teacher/staff member to make his/her/their own decisions about how to proceed when conducting their professional lives.” She then directs the staff as follows:
Back-to-School Events and Preparation Clarifications
- Staff are directed during the contractual work day, to work as Newton staff has worked in prior years. Newton teachers are directed to uphold the same work routines and provide the same experiences that have existed in prior years–welcoming students and interacting with members of the community who care for children and visit schools.
- Schools and grades who have had a tradition of “sneak peak days” in the past will be expected and directed to have “sneak peak days” this year as well.
- Classroom preparation and set up that allows for a safe, orderly and welcoming return to school is required and staff are directed to keep the same routines they have kept in the district for decades.
- If you have accepted appointment to a stipended job, curriculum writing, or some other paid activity, this work is part of the job that you accepted and agreed to perform and you are directed to follow through on that paid activity for which you have already been contracted.
- Staff are directed, as they have always done, to attend Back-to-School nights (open house/curriculum nights) and to work to ease student transition difficulties, as they have done every year.
- It is expected that staff attend our opening day convocation at Newton South High School. Breakfast will be served prior, but only attendance at the convocation is expected. In the future, trainings and professional development germane to our district’s vision and strategic plan of the future will be a part of this day.
Elementary Literacy Clarifications
- General education, special education, ELL educators and literacy specialists assigned to Grades 1, 2 and K are directed to participate meaningfully in professional development being provided during the work day for EL curriculum (this is scheduled for the week of September 11). Implementation of this expected curriculum is mandated in these grade levels. We will gladly satisfy any impact bargaining obligations that may still exist associated with aspects of implementation.
She said that for the Opening Day Convocation on August 30, she has invited Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, DESE Deputy Commissioner Regina Robinson, DESE Director of Innovation Darcy Fernandes, Newton North alumnus Kahlel Pritchard speaking about the impact his experience in the Newton Public Schools has had on life beyond NPS, and Day Middle School 8th grader Cole Morris sharing the impact an NPS teacher has had on his current school experience.
