NPS Summer Update: School Committee ballot, Federal funding, Legal news, PTO approvals

This mid-summer update about Newton Public Schools (NPS) includes news about who is running for School Committee in November, the status of Federal funding for schools, two lawsuits of note, and approval of PTO’s donations to NPS.

School Committee races

Following the July 22 deadline for School Committee candidates to submit at least 150 valid signatures to be on the November election ballot, there are 5 competitive races (out of eight seats) and 11 new candidates — not including the winner of the Mayoral election, who will also serve as a voting member on the Committee. See Fig City News summary table. While the ballot is closed to any new entrants, candidates may withdraw until August 7.

One surprise on July 22 was that Bruce Hedison — who in March had declared his candidacy for the Ward 7 seat in “partnership” with 3 candidates for other Committee seats — did not submit signatures to appear on the November ballot. Mr. Hedison told Fig City News via email:

After careful reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from the Newton School Committee race.

I entered this campaign with a strong commitment to our schools, students, and community — and that commitment remains unchanged. I’m proud of the conversations sparked and connections made, along the way.

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who offered their support and encouragement. Your belief in me has been truly meaningful, and I look forward to finding new ways to contribute to Newton’s future.

This means that Alicia Piedalue, the current Ward 7 representative, is now unopposed on the ballot.

Federal education grant funding

On June 30, the federal Department of Education notified school districts across the country that it was pausing approximately $6 billion in “Title” grant funding authorized in the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act. Of those grant programs named in the notice, in FY 2025 Newton received $189,454 in Title II grants (educator professional development), $128,718 in Title III grants (English language learning support), and $34,033 in Title IV (health and technology). 

Newton also received federal funding in FY 2025 of almost $3.5 million in IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act) grant and $493,655 in Title I-A grants (programs for low-income students). As of this writing, these programs have not been halted by the federal government. The FY 2026 NPS budget for the upcoming school year assumes the same level of federal funding as prior years. That assumption was one of the compromises the School Committee made with City Hall this spring to achieve a balanced budget forecast, at least on paper.

This pause of federal Title grant funding was not directly related to the March 20 White House Executive Order to close the Department of Education, since the text of that Order did not address program funding changes and specified continued delivery of services. 

In response to the federal pause, on July 14 the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced a lawsuit, in conjunction with 22 other states, to compel the Department of Education to release the grant funding. On July 25, the federal government abruptly changed course and announced it would unfreeze the education grant funding, which the Massachusetts AGO responded with this statement. 

Replying to Fig City News’ inquiry regarding the current known status of federal education funding to Massachusetts, the AGO said, “We are not aware of any additional education funding that has been frozen outside of the grants included in our [July 14] lawsuit.” It is unknown as of this writing whether the White House will seek formal Congressional rescission of any previously approved education funding.

July 23 summer School Committee meeting

The School Committee met in a public but unrecorded session on Wednesday July 23 primarily to review and approve donations to NPS made by Support Organizations, including Parent Teacher Organizations. This meeting followed the June 2 School Committee approval, on Superintendent Anna Nolin’s recommendation, of changes to rules and guidelines for Support Organizations, including more explicit School Committee acceptance of PTO contributions to NPS. The July 23 meeting materials public folder contains detailed information about donations school-by-school.

From the courthouse

On July 7, Newton South High School teacher Katani Sumner filed a lawsuit in U.S. Federal Court Massachusetts District against NPS alleging violations of anti-discrimination statutes regarding race, sex, and age, in connection with NPS not offering Ms. Sumner a Dean position at Newton South, which instead was assigned to a Caucasian male educator. Ms. Sumner seeks unspecified damages. As of this writing, Fig City News is not aware of any public statement issued by either side of this dispute nor any indication of a change in the status of Ms. Sumner’s work at Newton South.

A long-time musical educator, Ms. Sumner has sung the Star Spangled Banner at Newton South athletic events and led pro-Newton Teachers Association demonstrators in singing We Shall Overcome outside of the Education Center during the 2024 teachers strike. The federal judge presently assigned to the lawsuit, Leo Sorokin, has been in the news recently for issuing rulings opposite the Trump Administration. 

Ms. Sumner is represented by Daniel S. O’Connor & Associates in Norwood, MA. The law firm specializes in employment-related claims, however it does not appear to be overtly publicity-seeking based on lack of press available regarding its cases. The firm maintains a blog that focuses on wage and benefit cases, rather than discrimination claims.

Separately, on July 18 Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Christopher Barry-Smith dismissed a second class-action lawsuit filed by a group of Newton parents following the 2024 teachers strike. The suit sought direct damages from the Newton and Massachusetts Teachers Associations, the National Educators Association, and United Autoworkers for their roles in organizing and assisting the Newton teachers strike. 

Judge Barry-Smith’s ruling generally centered on the state’s Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (CERB) being the sole entity charged under state law with enforcing teachers’ union compliance with labor regulations and making claims for illegal work stoppages. Fig City News is not aware of any public statement by the parent plaintiffs nor the union defendants discussing the ruling, or any next steps such as an appeal.