Holding the kids hostage

The exasperation in this message (below) is palpable. Of course, as mentioned at the beginning of the message, the strike is itself the result of exasperation. To be clear, as things stand now, I am not taking sides — also for fear of my life — and because at this point there seems to be a lot of number crunching to be done if you really want to understand and have an informed opinion. But of course, the point is: If all these goodies below can be done now, why weren’t they done months ago? Why did we have to get to this point? Who has been holding the kids hostage? These are probably the questions that the NTA is asking.

Message from the Newton school committee:

We’ve heard a constant refrain from the union during the long 14 days of this strike: “Enough is Enough.” We couldn’t agree more

I want to repeat what I said at the beginning of this strike. It was the collective failure of the School Committee, the NTA and the City that we couldn’t agree to a contract. But the strike itself is not a collective failure. It is a unilateral decision and a willful action to close our schools while negotiations progress.

The two parties have come to agreement on just about all the issues. Except one: the money. Days ago, we agreed to a parental leave policy – a creative solution put forth by the Committee to provide all employees 60 days of paid leave in a manner that responded to NTA demands and was sustainable for the district. We have agreed on how to address issues of class size and social workers in our buildings. Now it is just about the money.

We have come to these agreements because the School Committee has gone repeatedly to CIty Hall requesting additional funds, which allowed us to:

• Add a 4th year to the contract
• Support the NTA healthcare demand
• Increase Unit C paraprofessional compensation
• Provide a retention payment for Unit C members in December 2024.

We have restructured each proposal, and thought through every line item of our budget, under the economic reality we now have to deal with: WE HAVE GIVEN EVERY RESOURCE TO THIS CONTRACT THAT WE CAN WITHOUT HARMING STUDENTS. Despite any limitations, when we compare this contract to our elite peer districts, we have put forth an incredibly competitive package – one that we are proud of.

By contrast, the union proposal is not grounded in any economic reality or any competitive analysis. The union’s proposal, best I can tell, is based on advocacy from the Massachusetts Teachers Association for COLA percentages that one district paid their striking teachers. One district. But people don’t pay their bills with percentage points, they pay their bills with real dollars, and educators in that one district will earn less in 2026 – after their big percentage increases – than a Newton teacher earned in 2023. That district also just announced a proposal to lay off approximately 4% of their staff to fund a contract that they couldn’t afford.

And, so, the reason that our kids remain out of school is that:

• A teacher making $62,116 today will make $81,559 at the end of this contract and not $83,222 as the union demands

• A teacher making $91,251 today will make $121,299 and not $123,744

• A teacher making $120,172 today will make $135,277 and not $138,036

• A paraprofessional making $22.81/hr today will make $32.66/hr and not $35.18

• A paraprofessional making $45.15/hr today will make $51.18/hr and not $53.81

All of this comes with additional longevity payments paid annually for long-tenured employees, and a package of benefits that are unrivaled among our peers. Newton teachers will continue to be among the top paid teachers in the state with many of the best benefits, some of which are unique to this district.

The Committee has focused, well before this strike ever occurred, on the mental health needs of our students. This commitment was evident in the package of funding we negotiated with City Hall back in December, which will allow us to hire more social workers and other supports at elementary schools. It is still evident in our proposal to increase the wages of our Unit C aides, some of whose earnings will increase 50% over the life of the contract. We know what students need today is different from what they needed even five years ago. But we also know that locking our kids out of school for a year is why this is the case. So the union’s reaction to that – to lock our kids out of school once again – makes no sense.

The Massachusetts Teachers Association, who is leading elements of this strike effort and leading elements of the negotiation at the bargaining table, isn’t concerned about the aftermath of what’s left in its wake. It will move on to the next district, and wreak the same havoc there – likely seeking the same demands untethered to any economic reality. Because it’s what the MTA wants. And kids will be kept out of school so long as the MTA doesn’t get what it wants.

We recognize the need to end this. Today, we asked the NTA bargaining team to take our proposal to their membership for a vote. President Mike Zilles refused on the spot.

There is real damage being done here – to the Newton Public Schools, to the City of Newton, to the fabric of our community, and most importantly, to our kids – the children we are all supposed to protect – the reason the Newton Public Schools exist. That is why it is time to end this. By agreement, or by continuing to negotiate while our kids are back in school – just as the Committee has offered time and time again over the last 14 days. So, end this. For the sake of families who rely on NPS for two meals a day. For the sake of students with special needs who are disconnected from the adults they count on. For the sake of my kids. For the sake of all 12,000 students of the Newton Public Schools. Enough is enough.

Mike – Take the proposal to your membership for a vote.

–Chris Brezski

School Committee Chair

on behalf of the Newton School Committee