The Programs & Services Committee approved the following (see the report and watch the meeting video):
- Hancock Estates Easement for Walking Trail Access (5-0, Councilor Baker not voting) for a Grant of Easement from Hancock Estates LLC for walking trail access at 200 Estate Drive in Chestnut Hill. The easement will allow for a level path.
- Authorization to appropriate $2,000,000 to the NPS Educational Stabilization Fund (6-0) from Certified Free Cash. Funds will help purchase the new math curriculum.
- Authorization to appropriate and expend $338,119 for McKinney-Vento Homeless Student Transportation: From the State to reimburse homeless student transportation costs.
The Programs & Services Committee voted No Action Necessary for the following:
- A discussion on transitioning to electric school buses (6-0) Newton Public Schools lack a bus parking lot and chargers needed for electric school buses. NPS is exploring a shared EV bus lot with neighboring communities. The current bus parking lots are leased for $300,000 to $360,000 annually.
The Programs & Services Committee voted to hold the following:
- Request for Updates from School Committee and Newton Public Schools (6-0) A semi-annual update. The NPS completed its Portrait of a Learner process, where Critical Thinking, Communication, Empathy, Adaptability, and a Learner’s Mindset were selected as the district’s aspirations for NPS students. The Portrait of a Learner will be used to help develop NPS’s strategic plan. Despite enrollment declines, NPS expenses have been increasing due to the “complexity and severity of both mental health and academic recovery need” and because of the lack “of common and systematic emotional and academic curriculum and services.” NPS is ‘approaching a funding gap.’ The School Committee is not considering closing elementary schools. Newton Community Education, which has an annual cost of $1.3 million, is now part of the NPS budget ($286 million in FY2025).