A new development in the ongoing Newton Public Schools (NPS) budget debate occurred at the October 23 School Committee meeting: the consensus of the Superintendent, School Committee, and Mayor to find a way to transform excess one-time City funds to increase NPS funding over eight years beginning in FY 2025. The week prior to the meeting, the City Council had voted down (13-10) the Mayor’s previous proposal to create an Operations Booster Stabilization Fund, which would have served the same purpose and which had not been publicly vetted with the School Committee. That proposal would have raised the annual funding increase to NPS from 3.5% to 3.7% in each of the years FY 2025-32.
NPS and City budgets are determined annually each spring, and since the FY 2024 budgets were approved this past spring, an additional $55 million of one-time funds has become available from Free Cash (unrestricted funds from operations in the previous year) and surpluses in other accounts. The uses of that one-time funding, and how much to save versus spend, has been a topic of ongoing municipal debate, as well as being cited by the Newton Teacher’s Association as a reason the current School Committee contract offer can move higher.
As part of the planned School Committee meeting agenda, Kathy Shields (Ward 7), a member of the Negotiations Subcommittee, gave this presentation to the School Committee, showing a $36 million gap over the 3-year contract period between the negotiating positions of the School Committee and the NTA. The contract dispute is presently in mediation conducted by the state.
Following this presentation, Superintendent Anna Nolin shared her perspective that under the current NPS budget, there exists only enough money to maintain services rather than improve them. Dr. Nolin cited reducing large science and math class sizes, as well as hiring more mental health professionals, as items that would require more funding than allowed within the existing NPS budget. Committee Members Paul Levy (Ward 6), Chris Brezski (Ward 2), Tamika Olszewski (Chair, Ward 4), and Mayor Fuller responded by agreeing that the current budget was insufficient. Mr. Brezski stated that he believes the City Council, which must vote to approve any additional NPS budget allocation, was expecting the School Committee to formulate a proposal.
The School Committee, Mayor, and Superintendent agreed to work together to develop a plan for transforming the one-time funds to operational funds for NPS over the FY 2025-32 period. The School Committee then directed Dr. Nolin to draft a plan for those operational funds, prioritizing spending items she believes to be urgent for student achievement and well being. Any such plan would need to be approved by the City Council. No formal School Committee vote was taken on this issue.
The meeting replay is available on NewTV.
Ed. Note: We revised this article, based on information from the City’s Chief Operating Officer, Jonathan Yeo, to indicate that the new operational funding will not be targeted to FY 2024 but to the years FY 2025-32.
