Question of the Week (new)  I will report the results of the last question of the week next week, and add another question then.   Anna Nolin's February 22 "Inside Voice" Email: A Reponse  (new) The Pace and Efficacy of Change This document is a response to Anna Nolin’s February 22 “Inside Voice” email to staff. I have divided my response to Nolin’s email to staff into two parts: Part one is her response to concerns you voiced in our NTA member survey. I appreciate that she

Question of the Week (new) Answers to last week's question:  Do you think we, as members of the NTA, should be preparing for increased ICE activity in our city? I found these results perplexing. I had thought that the membership of the NTA would be largely unified around the need to prepare for increased ICE activity. However, 25% of respondents saying 'no' must be taken very seriously. There are two things I noted in the wording of the question that may have elicited a no v

Question of the Week (new) Answers to last week's question: How many more snow days do you think we will have this school year? This week's   question: ( click on your answer below the question to register your vote.) Do you think the we, as members of the NTA, should be preparing for increased ICE activity in our city? yes no   NTA Quality of Life and Working Conditions Survey (new) Last week I shared responses to the entire NTA Quality of Life and Working Conditions Survey.

Question of the Week (new) Answers to last week's question: A lot of skepticism that we can negotiate a new contract before the current one expires.  This week's (light) question: (click on your answer below the question to register your vote.) How many more snow days do you think we will have this school year?  zero one two three more than three   NTA Quality of Life and Working Conditions Survey (new) Last week I said I would share the survey with you in segments. I am shi

Dear Colleagues, In the light of the horrendous invasion of Minneapolis and St. Paul by ICE, and the murders of two innocent civilians there, it feels surreal to turn to the mundane business of being a local union. So you aware, we are already weighing how we can demonstrate our solidarity with the residents of Minneapolis. St. Paul, and other cities across the nation and protest the violence instigated by Trump and his allies in the White House.  Question of the Week (new)

Question of the Week (new) The NTA is preparing for bargaining with the Newton School Committee. We will offer multiple opportunities for member input into our bargaining platform. As a first visit into gathering this information, the question of the week is: "What is the most important issue that you believe the negotiations team should focus on"? Cost of living increases Rising cost of health insurance Slowing the pace of new initiatives Living wage for Unit C Improved le

Dear Colleagues: I apologize for getting this eBulletin out to you a day late. The primary focus of is not so much to communicate with you, but rather to hear from you through a survey. Yesterday, that survey was just not ready. While I'm sure it still contains mistakes, I am confident that completing the survey will repay your efforts. Please complete the survey! You will be providing us with vital data that will make NTA leaderships' voices more powerful as we advocate on y

Dear Colleagues, First of all, I apologize for getting last week's eBulletin into your inboxed so late. Second, this is the last eBulletin that will be going out until the new year on January 11th.  Finally, I hope you all enjoy a restful break. You deserve it! This has been a particularly exhausting year! Anti-Union Mailer (new) I've seen anti-union mailers (or emails) before, but this is one of the more insidious that has come across my desk. What makes this mailer so bad?

MTA Officer Candidate Forum: Hold the Date What: Candidate Forum for MTA Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates When: Wednesday, February 4, at 4:15 PM Where: TBD This year at MTA annual meeting, Delegates will vote for a new President and Vice President of the MTA to two year terms.  This will be a very consequential vote. Educators for a Democratic Union, endorsed candidates currently hold the presidency and vice presidency and a majority of Board and Executive Commi

MSJOC Joint Statement on Parent Teacher Conferences for the 2025-2026 School Year On Tuesday 11/18, the Middle School Joint Oversight Committee voted to recommend for the school year 2025-2026 that each building maintain the schedules used in the school year 2024-2025 for parent teacher conferences.  The central administrative team took the recommendation into consideration and agreed to retain the same number of parent conference dates, but with modified schedules to allow t

Full Time Kindergarten Aides: Done! It took from March of 2023 until now, but the kindergarten saga is over!  From Chris Brezski to Newton Public Schools community: ********** Dear NPS families and staff, On November 12th, Massachusetts Superior Court Justice Sarah Weyland Ellis ruled to uphold an arbitrator's decision that the Newton Public Schools must reinstate a full-time aide in all kindergarten classrooms with 14 or more students.  The policy in place at present is that

Another Victory in the Campaign to Restore Full Time Kindergarten Aides! The Honorable Superior Court Judge Sarah Weyland Ellis has rejected the appeal of the Newton School Committee to overturn the Arbitration Award to restore full time kindergarten aides in the Newton Public Schools. From the Middlesex Superior Court Docket: 11/12/2025 ORDER: Memorandum of Decision and Order on Cross Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings For the reasons set forth above, the School Committe

Setti Warren: In Memoriam When I learned that Setti Warren had died last week, I was in shock--numb, in disbelief--yet also spent the week holding terrible grief at bay.  Setti was a superb and extraordinary man. He was a friend to me personally, a friend of education and educators here in Newton, and a model of authentic leadership.  Setti became mayor of Newton in January of 2010; I became president of the Newton Teachers and David Fleishman became superintendent of schools

Support Newton Teachers Association Endorsed Candidates for School Committee I don't think any of us have forgotten how difficult the last contract campaign was, both the strike, and all that led up to the strike. There are many things we can do to avoid that scenario in the future. But there is one thing we can do right now: If you live in Newton, vote on November 4 for the NTA endorsed school committee candidates Jenna Miara (Ward 5), Mali Brodt (Ward 6), and Jim Murphy

Support Newton Teachers Association Endorsed Candidates for School Committee Join a Standout this Week! Wed 10/29: NNHS 8:15-8:55am NSHS 3:45-4:10pm Thurs 10/30: Bigelow: 7:30-7:45am Lincoln-Eliot: 3-3:30pm Friday 10/31: Brown/Oak Hill: 7:55-8:09am If you live in Newton, Vote! If you live in Newton, Vote for our NTA endorsed candidates! Encourage your friends and neighbors to vote as well! Election Day Voting Polls across the City will open on Election Day, Tuesday, November

Support Newton Teachers Association Endorsed Candidates for School Committee The Newton Teachers Association has endorsed School Committee candidates Jenna Miara (Ward 5), Mali Brodt (Ward 6), and Jim Murphy (Ward 8). The NTA sent questionnaires to all School Committee and Mayoral candidates. Their responses can be viewed here. Please click on the links attached to each candidate’s name to find out how you can directly support their campaigns. Now that we have made the en

Press Release: Newton Teachers Association Endorses Three Candidates for School Committee The Newton Teachers Association is pleased to announce its endorsements of School Committee candidates Jenna Miara (Ward 5), Mali Brodt (Ward 6), and Jim Murphy (Ward 8). Please click on the links attached to each candidate’s name to find out how you can support their campaigns. The NTA sent questionnaires to all School Committee and Mayoral candidates. Their responses can be viewed h

School Committee Endorsements Please vote on NTA endorsements for Newton School Committee candidates! Voting is open, and will remain...

Resolution of Differences with the District on the use of Holy Days We have reached a resolution and mutual understanding with the...

Click on the image above to link to the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation. When Waltham Strikes The Charles River Museum of...