Ruling establishes fact of illegal strike, however State Superior Court would impose potential penalties. The Massachusetts Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (“CERB”) issued a ruling that the Newton Teacher’s Association (“NTA”) and the employees it represents, prior to their vote on January 18 “are about to engage in a strike in…
Posts published in January 2024
On January 19, 2024, after months of unsettled educator contract negotiations with the Newton School Committee, the Newton Teachers Association announced a strike. The sudden shut down of schools presents challenges for students, families, and the community, and parents may struggle with how to explain what’s happening to their children.…
On January 18, a reported 98% of the membership of the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) voted to go on strike starting on January 19 until a contract is reached with the Newton School Committee. NTA president Mike Zilles made the announcement on the steps of City Hall’s War Memorial Auditorium,…
As a potential strike by the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) looms Friday, parents fed up with stalled contract negotiations rallied outside of City Hall on Wednesday morning, to make their voices heard. “Staff morale is abysmally low,” said Alison Lobron, an organizer with the Newton Parent/Educator Collaborative who spoke at…
On January 18, a group of 22 City Councilors sent an open letter to the Newton Public Schools community ahead of the vote by the membership of the Newton Teachers Association, expected later in the day, on whether or not to strike. The letter calls for “an immediate return to…
On January 17, the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) published a response to the NPS slides and discussion points presented by School Committee Chair Chris Brezski at a question-and-answer session held by NPS with PTO leaders and the public on January 16 (see Fig City News article on that session). Among…
I don’t think I would know anything about the NPS/NTA contract negotiations if it weren’t for The Lion’s Roar newspaper. As young(ish) students, we are privileged enough to believe that “ignorance is bliss” when we see our teachers “coincidentally” wear blue shirts on Tuesdays, or rally outside of the building…
School Committee files Petition for Strike Investigation. Since the start of the new year, rumors regarding an imminent strike by Newton Public Schools (NPS) educators have gained traction, first on social media, then in the Charles River Regional Chamber of Commerce newsletter on January 12, and then over this past…
Pathway to Possible is launching a new support, education, and advocacy program for family members, friends, and community caregivers with its Family Series. All are invited to a free Listening Session on January 18, 6:30-7:30PM — P2P’s main offices (1301 Centre Street, Newton) — to engage with other mission-connected families and share thoughts…
As Katani Sumner started to perform Lift Every Voice and Sing on January 15, she encouraged the entire audience in the Newton North High School auditorium to join in as the moving lyrics were projected behind her. The Newton South High School METCO counselor’s rousing rendition of the more than…
On January 16, the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) released the results of a study of the past 20 years of the impact of the METCO program on METCO students and their suburban peers. This longitudinal study, conducted by Tufts University Assistant Professor of Economics, Elizabeth Setren, found that…
The Finance Committee voted to approve the following (see Report and watch NewTV video): The Finance Committee held the following: NPS recently purchased a new English Language Arts curriculum that meets State standards (following the Science of Reading), that cost $2 million. NPS plans to spend $1 million of supplemental…