NTA EBulletin: November 23, 2025

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 full-time aides are placed in certain larger kindergarten classrooms, while every kindergarten classroom has at least a half-time aide.  While the School Committee believes it's appeal of the arbitrator's decision was appropriate, the Committee has voted unanimously to not further appeal the matter and will seek to comply with the arbitrator's decision as soon as is practicable. 

Context & Impact:

When NPS implemented full-day kindergarten in 2019, the School Committee at that time agreed with the Newton Teachers Association to provide a full-time aide in each kindergarten classroom with 14 or more students, though there was some conflicting language in the collective bargaining agreement for classroom teachers versus the collective bargaining agreement for paraprofessional staff (aides) regarding the enforcement of that provision. Faced with significant budget cuts in 2023, NPS reduced the staffing of kindergarten aides in addition to other staff reductions, implementing the policy that has remained in place up to today. Upon resolution of this legal process, the School Committee has now directed NPS administration to revert to the policy in place prior to the 2023 budget cuts and staff each kindergarten classroom with 14 or more students with a full-time aide. NPS administration will begin the hiring process immediately with the goal of appropriately filling as many positions as possible for January 2026.

We estimate that the approximate cost of this change in policy will be $560,000 for the remainder of this school year and $1,020,000 for the next school year.  In the Spring of 2025, the Mayor's administration indicated it had intended to utilize incremental school funding from the Commonwealth should this need arise.  We plan to enter into discussions with the Mayor and Mayor-elect as soon as possible to ensure that we have funding for this expense that will not disrupt NPS operations. The School Committee will continue to seek to allocate NPS funding toward addressing the most acute needs of our students.

Thank you, and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday.

Chris Brezski

Chair, Newton School Committee on behalf of the Newton School Committee

NTA Dues Deductions

NTA dues deductions began with the November 14, 2025, semi-monthly paycheck and continue for fourteen paychecks, concluding with the May 31, 2026 paycheck. Please check your paycheck to see if there are any issues with your deduction.  You can see dues and deduction amounts on this document. If you have any questions regarding your deductions, please email the NTA Office at office@newteach.org.

46TH Annual Ethnically Marginalized Affairs Committee

In solidarity,

Mike Zilles, President

Newton Teachers Association