Unresolved NTA Contract Overhangs Meeting Agenda. The School Committee meeting on January 8, consistent with prior meetings for the past few months, began with several public commenters advocating for higher City budget allocations to Newton Public Schools (NPS) in order to settle the outstanding negotiation with the Newton Teachers Association…
Posts published by “Adam Bernstein”
Mo money, mo problems. As the rapper Notorious B.I.G. sang in 1992, more financial resources do not appear to have resolved the negotiating impasse between the School Committee and the teacher’s union. Following Sunday evening’s pledge by Mayor Fuller of additional funding for Newton Public Schools (NPS), Monday’s events illustrated…
In an e-newsletter sent on Sunday December 17, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller announced that she had indicated commitment for “70% of $26 million” in property tax Overlay Surplus funds to supplement the existing Newton Public Schools (NPS) budget. Background: Since the March 2023 operating override vote was not approved and the…
The December 4 School Committee meeting agenda included the Superintendent’s regular report, as well as updates regarding negotiations with the Newton Teachers Association, progress on this year’s NPS systemwide goals, human resources, PTO spending, and NPS budget planning. Kathy Shields (Ward 7, Vice Chair) who sits on the SC Negotiations…
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…
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…