NTA Endorses Newton School Committee Candidates

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).

The NTA sent questionnaires, which can be viewed here, to all School Committee and Mayoral

candidates.

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!