School Committee files Petition for Strike Investigation. Since the start of the new year, rumors regarding an imminent strike by Newton Public Schools (NPS) educators have gained traction, first on social media, then in the Charles River Regional Chamber of Commerce newsletter on January 12, and then over this past…
Posts published in “Negotiations”
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…
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…
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…
In an email sent to the Newton School Community, the School Committee announced that the state’s Department of Labor Relations has appointed a mediator for the contract negotiations between the Newton Public Schools (NPS) and the Newton Teachers Association (NTA). The School Committee had asked the state in July to…
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…
In the week leading up to the July 25 School Committee meeting, the School Committee’s negotiations subcommittee ended direct negotiations with the Newton Teachers Association for a new collective bargaining agreement to follow the expiry of the current contract on August 31. The School Committee filed with the state for…
Newton’s Parent Educator Collaborative has been working over the past three years to bring together NPS educators, parents, community members, and city leaders for authentic and constructive conversations about how to support Newton Public Schools, especially in challenging moments. The Collaborative’s priority right now is to highlight for the community the…