Detailed findings shed light on major NPS deficiencies accumulated over prior years At the November 20th School Committee meeting, new Superintendent Anna Nolin presented a lengthy report of insights she had gained by canvassing the Newton community since March of this year. The Entry Plan Analysis document contains information that…
Posts published by “Adam Bernstein”
Superintendent Nolin links decline in math scores to High School class sizes At the November 6 scheduled School Committee meeting, Ryan Normandin, math and science teacher at Newton South High School, gave a public comment during which he sharply criticized Mayor Fuller for under-funding NPS and stated that his recent…
An alert reader referred Fig City News to this article in The Justice, the Brandeis University student newspaper, noting that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spoke in Newton on Friday, October 13 at an event held at the Newton Marriott hotel. The event was a fundraiser for the Massachusetts Family Institute…
A new development in the ongoing Newton Public Schools (NPS) budget debate occurred at the October 23 School Committee meeting: the consensus of the Superintendent, School Committee, and Mayor to find a way to transform excess one-time City funds to increase NPS funding over eight years beginning in FY 2025.…
The October 11 School Committee meeting began with the School Committee chair making a statement regarding the recent events in “Israel and Palestine,” and shared information about the concurrent Interrupting Antisemitism and Hate in Our Community event occurring at City Hall. Following public comment, the meeting’s regular agenda commenced. A…
The September 27 School Committee meeting began with several public commenters, including current students and Newton Public Schools (NPS) employees, advocating passionately for higher compensation for educators. One commenter, Jo-Louise Allen, whose LinkedIn profile states her profession as a Newton-focused special education services advocate, called for higher spending on student…
NTA Convocation Boycott Constitutes Illegal Strike, but Silent Meetings Are Permitted. On September 26, the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (“CERB”) issued a ruling in response to the School Committee’s September 5 petition to the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations regarding recent actions by the Newton Teachers Association. The 45-page ruling…
Additional Post-Hearing Filing Submitted by School Committee on September 12 Despite expectations of both the School Committee and the Newton Teachers Association of a faster state ruling on the School Committee’s September 5th petition for the NTA to cease-and-desist “Work-to-Rule” activities, as of this writing, no determination has been made.…
How many NPS educators will attend Wednesday’s annual Welcome Back convocation for teachers hosted by NPS? It’s a question many raised this week. For background, last week on August 22, the School Committee notified the NPS community that the state had appointed a mediator, per the request of the School…
Much has been written and communicated with Newton residents about the financial and political events surrounding the current contract negotiation between the School Committee and Newton Teachers Association (NTA). While privately employed individuals generally experience behind closed doors the victories, losses, and emotions of their compensation negotiations, public union employees…