Brezski memo sparks School Committee debate on future of small schools. The June 24 regular School Committee meeting, the last one for this school year, did not coast into the summer but ran almost four hours across several topics widely followed in the community. The public comment period included three…
Posts published by “Adam Bernstein”
On Thursday, June 13, Memorial-Spaulding elementary school students, families, alumni, and educators, as well as Newton elected officials, gathered on a sunny late afternoon to unveil the latest Newton school mosaic by artist David Fichter, whose projects for NPS include murals at Burr, Bowen, and Ward elementary schools. The mood…
Nolin announces Pledge of Allegiance will commence at School Committee meetings this autumn. The June 10 regular School Committee meeting began with the Superintendent update, during which Superintendent Anna Nolin announced that starting in September 2024, School Committee meetings will begin with a Pledge of Allegiance to the United States…
City Council passes amendment 13-11, but State acceptance remains in doubt. The June 3 City Council meeting contained item #49-24 “Discussion and possible adoption of an ordinance requiring electrification of all new construction and substantial renovations.” The proposed ordinance is called the Fossil Fuel-Free Ordinance (pages 7-11 here), which was…
Three new administrator hires announced prior to meeting. The regularly scheduled School Committee meeting on May 20 contained a busy agenda and ran close to three and a half hours. The regular Superintendent’s update highlighted professional development training for 130 staff members at the Hebrew College library. The training was…
At the May 6 School Committee meeting, Day Middle School principal Jackie Mann, Newton North High School principal Henry Turner, and soon-to-be-departing Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education Toby Romer discussed Newton Public School (NPS) policies regarding student cell phones. Prior to the presentation, five different parents gave public comment in…
The May 6 regular School Committee meeting lasted three and a half hours while covering a busy agenda, culminating in the Committee’s vote to continue the Newton Public Schools (NPS) policy of opting-out of the Massachusetts Inter-District School Choice Program. Committee Chair Chris Brezski (Ward 2) and Committee members Rajeev…
Unknown at this time if district will appeal ruling. On Monday, April 28, the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) announced that an arbitrator had ruled in its favor regarding its grievances against Newton Public Schools (NPS) relating to the reduction in Kindergarten aides following the 2022-2023 school year. The NTA, then…
The School Committee will hold a hybrid public hearing regarding School Choice on Wednesday, April 24 at 5:30PM, followed by a Regular Meeting. (Zoom link. Agenda.) School Choice The public hearing is on whether Newton Public Schools (NPS) should participate in Massachusetts’ Inter-District School Choice Program. As previously covered by Fig City…
The April 4 School Committee meeting contained only two significant agenda items: approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for Newton Public Schools (NPS) and discussion of busing services provided to some Newton private-school students. Superintendent Anna Nolin began the meeting with her regular Superintendent’s update, which included acknowledging feedback…