top of page
  • Writer's pictureMike Zilles

NTA EBulletin, December 13, 2023: Press Advisory and Photos

Dear Colleagues, 


On Monday, December 18, at 4:15, the NTA will hold a press advisory in front of the education center to announce the results of its vote last week. That same day, your negotiations team will be in a mediation session with the school committee until 6:15. Finally, the school committee meeting starts at 6:30.


This gives you the opportunity to:

  • Attend the press conference

  • Be a silent observer during mediation

  • Line the halls as the school committee enters room 210

  • Give public comment

No sign up needed. Just show up!


 

Media Advisory


This is the media advisory that will be sent tomorrow:


MEDIA ADVISORY

December 18, 4:15PM

Newton Education Center

100 Walnut St,

Newton, MA


Contact: Newton Teachers Association

President Michael Zilles

(617) 947-7503


Newton Educators to Address Contract Crisis Monday


Members of the Newton Teachers Association and their supporters on Monday will address the worsening crisis in Newton Public Schools stemming from The Newton School Committee and Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s unwillingness to settle a fair contract. Even as Mayor Fuller has run budget surpluses of nearly $30 million per year for the last two years, she refuses to fully fund the schools, leading to two cycles of program cuts, excessive class size, and personnel cuts.


The NTA will make an announcement and speak to the press at 4:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18, in front of the Education Center, 100 Walnut St., Newton, prior to a contract bargaining session.


Newton educators issued the following statement:


“Newton educators have been working for more than 100 days under an expired contract. This is indicative of the lack of respect Mayor Fuller and the School Committee have for educators. It’s even more troubling that Fuller and the School Committee fail to see how addressing the issues we are raising in bargaining has such a significant impact on our ability to meet the needs of all students.  Our schools are in crisis and seriously in need of staff and resources. Yet Fuller refuses to trust the judgment and expertise of those working directly in the classroom. Instead, she and the school committee follow the advice of a lawyer hired to settle cheap contracts, who earns more money the longer negotiations drag on. Let’s invest in the Newton Public Schools and not in lawyer fees.”


The NTA bargaining priorities are:

  • Livable wages for education support professionals

  • Cost of living Adjustments that are comparable to those offered in similar school districts

  • Modern paid parental leave

  • Increased mental health supports for students

  • Guaranteed time to prepare course work and to collaborate with colleagues

  • A plan to ensure sufficient numbers of substitute teachers


WHO:            Newton educators, family members, parents and supporters


WHAT:           Newton educators will hold a press conference addressing the ongoing contract crisis in the Newton Public Schools.


WHEN:           Monday, December 18 at 4:15PM


WHERE:       Newton Education Center, 100 Walnut St, Newton


###

 

The NTA is a labor union comprising nearly 2,000 classroom teachers, guidance counselors, specialists, occupational therapists, speech language therapists, education support professionals, administrator and other education professionals in the Newton Public Schools.

******



This is what a Union Looks Like!


Angier Elementary School

66 Members

63 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions

95% Voting; 100% Yes



Bigelow Middle School

65 Members

55 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions

85% Voting; 100% Yes



Bowen Elementary School

59 Members

52 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention

88% Voting; 98% Yes



Brown Middle School

118 Members

96 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions

81% Voting; 100% Yes



Burr Elementary School

60 Members

53 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstention

88% Voting; 100% Yes



Cabot Elementary School

74 Members

54 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstention

73% Voting; 100% Yes



Countryside Elementary School

68 Members

59 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstention

87% Voting; 100% Yes



F. A. Day Middle School

114 Members

88 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions

77% Voting; 100% Yes



Education Center

86 Members

53 Yes, 0 No, 3 Abstentions

62% Voting; 95% Yes

(Many members chose not to appear in photo)



Franklin Elementary School

52 Members

50 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstention

96% Voting; 100% Yes



Horace Mann Elementary School

48 Members

43 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstention

90% Voting; 100% Yes



Lincoln Eliot Elementary School

68 Members

58 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstention

85% Voting; 100% Yes



Mason Rice Elementary School

54 Members

53 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention

100% Voting; 98% Yes



Memorial Spaulding Elementary School

48 Members

48 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstention

100% Voting; 100% Yes



Newton Early Childhood Program

85 Members

85 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstention

100% Voting; 100% Yes



Newton North High School

296 Members

259 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstention

88% Voting; 100% Yes



Newton South High School

239 Members

174 Yes, 1 No, 0 Abstentions

73% Voting; 99% Yes



Oak Hill Middle School

100 Members

75 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention

76% Voting; 99% Yes



Peirce Elementary School

48 Members

46 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstention

96% Voting; 100% Yes



Underwood Elementary School

33 Members

27 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstention

82% Voting; 100% Yes



Ward Elementary School

37 Members

35 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstention

95% Voting; 100% Yes



Williams Elementary School

44 Members

44 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstention

100% Voting; 100% Yes



Zervas Elementary School

69 Members

65 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstention

94% Voting; 100% Yes



In solidarity,


Mike Zilles, President

Newton Teachers Association


Comments


bottom of page