Winter and spring are always busy seasons for Newton Public Schools (NPS), and the coming six months may be busier than most. The School Committee has posted its anticipated agenda items for remaining public meetings this year, and they include:
- Possible vote on amending Booster and Support Organization (including Parent Teacher Organizations) policies: February 10
- Introduction of proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (September 2025 – June 2026 school year): March 10
- Findings of K-12 math curriculum review: April 30
- The District’s Strategic Plan unveiling: April 30
The NPS annual budgeting process has recently been both contentious — as in Year 2023 immediately following the failed override — as well as straightforward, as in Year 2024. Slide 12 of this presentation, which Superintendent Anna Nolin and School Committee Chair Chris Brezski gave to the City Council one year ago, forecast a “level service” budget for NPS FY 2025 that is supplemented by additional temporary funds from the City. By contrast, budget deficits potentially requiring service cuts — absent additional increases in the City’s annual budget allocation to NPS — appear in approximately 2030. However, unbudgeted items — such as an arbitrator’s recent decision to compel NPS to restore full-time Kindergarten aides — may force more detailed School Committee discussion on budgeting priorities than it had last year.
Outside of School Committee agenda items:
- There will be a special election on March 18 to fill the open Ward 7 School Committee seat vacated by Amy Davenport, who has moved out of Newton. Presently, Alicia Piedalue is the only candidate with enough signatures to appear on that ballot.
- Anping Chen is completing his fourth term, thus reaching the term limit for School Committee members, so he will not be running for reelection to the Ward 3 seat.
The next scheduled School Committee meeting will be on Monday, January 27.
