After two weeks of empty classrooms and picket lines, Newton students can expect to resume their studies come Monday. The Newton Teachers Association and the Newton School Committee struck a deal on Friday night, nipping what was gearing up to be a costly escalation in fines for the NTA, reported by CBS News Boston. The four-year contract, although yet to be ratified, promises increased salaries for aides, enhanced parental leave, and more social workers, among other negotiated perks.
Students have racked up a deficit of 11 school days due to the strike, one of the longest its state has witnessed. “This strike has been painful for NPS families and the entire City of Newton. The Committee looks forward to the return of students to their classrooms. We will take a breath, then begin the work of ensuring that this never happens again.” the school committee admitted, as per a statement obtained by Boston 25 News. The agreement includes hikes in salaries for all aides, with some increases reaching 50%, and improved compensation across the board keeping Newton a benefits frontrunner.
Details of the agreement also feature adjustments to insurance benefits and healthcare, additional staff to tackle high school class size issues, and guaranteed student admittance for non-resident school system staff. "We are absolutely thrilled to get our students and our teachers back in the classroom," expressed Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, the schools funded through the operating budget and one-time funds, explained in a release.
In front of hundreds of teachers, NTA member Ryan Normandin championed the demonstration's outcome, "Over these last two weeks, we have seen the power of working together to advocate for a better tomorrow for our students, our families, and our schools," he said, in a rally covered by CBS News Boston.
The NTA, meanwhile, facing substantial fines for the action deemed illegal under state law, has committed to clearing their debt to the tune of more than $600,000 before year-end, as Boston 25 News covered.
Disruption to daily life was palpable, with some parents resorting to legal actions and children yearning for a return to normalcy, sentiments recorded in personal letters to a local judge. “We’re all breathing a sigh of relief. We’re certainly getting ready for Monday morning, but also in the coming days I ask for the help of everyone here in Newton in finding ways to reflect and reconnect, to learn from each other and to heal.” Mayor Fuller commented, a sentiment echoed by many in the Newton community, as reported by NBC Boston. To recoup lost time, Newton's February vacation has been canceled, paving the way for classrooms to buzz with learning once more on Monday.
