NTA EBulletin: October 13, 2025

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), andJim 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 here.

On Friday, Oct. 3, all responses were shared with the full membership, which had until Monday, Oct. 6, to vote on whether to endorse any of the candidates. In order to receive an endorsement, candidates needed to receive a two-thirds majority from among respondents. (Christine Fisher’s questionnaire was received too late to be considered by the membership, but her responses are included in the link.)

Jenna, Mali, and Jim all met the threshold necessary for an endorsement. In all other races, including the Mayoral race, more than two-thirds of respondents voted for “No Endorsement.” (Please remember that all Newton voters can vote for candidates in all eight Wards, not only the Ward in which they live.)

Newton’s educators voted to support the candidates who expressed straightforward, educationally sound answers to our questions.

All three unambiguously support the immediate restoration of the contractually required full-time kindergarten aides, which the current School Committee has illegally refused to uphold to the detriment of our young learners.

All three understand that in order to do right by Newton’s children, they need to hear from the people who work with them in the buildings every single day.

All three represent a clear break from the misinformed  beliefs and chaotic practices now characterizing the Newton School Committee as it hops from crisis to crisis.

Ten candidates chose not to participate in NTA’s endorsement process. Several cited a conflict of interest, yet have accepted an endorsement from a mayoral candidate.This is disappointing - School Committee members should be prepared to fight for what students need, and not for what a mayor wants.

Jenna, Mali, and Jim have made clear that they want to advocate for students. They are independent candidates who bring sound experience and perspectives to the committee. They have expressed a genuine desire to communicate and collaborate with stakeholders in our schools.

As the City’s educational experts, as your children’s teachers, we sincerely hope that the voters of Newton share our enthusiasm for the vision and leadership that Jenna, Mali and Jim are bringing forward.

We hope that Newton voters will support all three of Jenna Miara, Mali Brodt, and Jim Murphy on Nov 4!

Jim Murphy’s Statement of Gratitude

Members of the Newton Teachers' Association,

It is my honor to accept your endorsement in my race for the Newton School Committee.  It means a great deal to me that my colleagues have expressed faith in my candidacy, and I promise to try to live up to it.  Contrary to what my opponent and the rest of his slate believe, I see your endorsement as an invitation to improve the relationship between the School Committee and Newton's educators through genuine respect for your expertise and hard work, and for the vital role you play in this community.  I look forward to that work.

However, I do need to win this election first, and for that I need help.  My opponent enjoys the support of much of Newton's political establishment, which makes this campaign something of an uphill battle.  Still, the response I've received has been very positive, I think this is a very winnable race, and I'd like to enlist your help.  Here are some things you could do:

• Visibility is my number one need right now.  If you can contact people you know in Newton and ask them to place lawn signs, it would be a huge help.

• I've been doing morning standouts in front of all the schools (I'm on my second round).  If you're willing to help out at some of these - even for just a short period of time - I can schedule some of my visits accordingly.

• Visit my website, jim4newton.org.  There you'll find information about my campaign, how to request a lawn sign, how to contact me, and other ways to help.

Thank you for your endorsement - I truly appreciate it.

Sincerely,

Jim Murphy

Candidate for Newton School Committee, Ward 8

Holy Days

We continue to hear reports of members having their notifications that will be using holy days rejected. For this reason, I am again sharing the link to our google form so that you may report any recent denials. 

Remember, you may take holy days on any day that you need to be absent for a sincerely held religious belief. This includes your own, your children’s, or your parents marriage, or any other religiously important day you need to be absent. 

Please noter: you are granted four “other” days per year. If you use all four days for religious observance/celebration, you will have no days remaining to use for bereavement, attendance at commencement  exercises, absence caused by an automobile accident on the way to work, or attendance at the MTA annual meeting. 

Statement on Middle School Citywide Meetings

At the Oct. 6 School Committee meeting, Dr. Nolin informed the committee of an NTA middle school “job action,” which allegedly occurred on Wednesday, October 1. According to Dr. Nolin,  this “job action” caused the district to fall “a month behind” in curriculum initiatives. I was disappointed to hear Dr. Nolin characterize what happened that day as a job action as well as exaggerate the consequences for the district’s curriculum plans.

Late in the prior week, on September 25 and 26, Ryan and I began hearing from members who had concerns with the late dismissal planned for a citywide department meetings. They had just received the citywide meeting schedules.

Anna and I were in communication about the meeting end times on Monday and Tuesday. I informed Anna that the meetings exceeded the end of the contractual work days by twenty-five minutes at Day and Bigelow and ten minutes at Oak Hill. The meeting schedule did not extend beyond the contractual work day for Brown.

I shared with Anna the language that was new for the Middle School Time and Learning Agreement in the 2023-2027 contract. Anna shared with me meeting schedules that had been worked out in accordance with the 2019-2023 contract, and updated schedules that had been modified for the 2024-2025 school year. 

The new language added to the Middle School Time and Learning Agreement states this:

“The regular work day will end 10 minutes after the students are dismissed from school, except for weekly student short days when the regular work day for teachers will end 90 minutes after the dismissal of students” (2023-2027 Unit A Contract, Middle School Time and Learning Agreement, #2).

When I informed Anna that the citywide schedule did not adhere to the contract, communications on both sides were cordial, and we both agreed to notify staff separately, and to work to solve the problem going forward.

Anna did so, although in her communication to educators, she expressed some ambivalence about just what was contractually required. But she gave permission for educators to leave at the contractually specified end time.

I also sent out an email to middle school educators, and I strongly encouraged them to leave at the end of their contractual work day. I emphasized in my communication that this was especially important, as we need work together as union members to to enforce the contract. I also reminded members that Anna had given them permission to leave. 

In short, Anna, with some ambivalence, acknowledged the correct end times, and gave educators permission to leave at the end of their contractual work day; I strongly encouraged educators to take Anna up on her offer, and to do so in the interest of maintaining boundaries regarding their contractual work day. 

Given that Dr. Nolin herself told directors and central staff to allow educators to leave, and expressly gave middle school educators permission to leave, it is unclear how educators following both the contract and the instructions of their directors and the Superintendent of Schools could be characterized as a “job action.” We can do better, as using this language inappropriately implies antagonism.

As always, the NTA remains committed to working collaboratively with all parties to solve problems. We hope that, in the future, our partners will not mischaracterize good-faith attempts at collaboration in ways that give a false impression of the NTA’s working relationship with Anna’s administration to the community.

In solidarity,

Mike Zilles, President

Newton Teachers Association