by Emily Moss
Members of the Newton School Committee signed the contract with the Newton Teachers’ Association (NTA) Oct. 2, marking the final step of a negotiation process that lasted roughly a year and a half.
The signing of the contract took place a month after the NTA had voted to approve the tentative terms of the agreement Sept. 2. According to School Committee Chair Matt Hills, the NTA and School Committee had negotiated all of the substantive conditions of the contract by the time the NTA voted, so preparing the contract for signature was only a matter of refining the language.
“By definition, negotiations require compromise,” said Hills. Still, he noted that School Committee members are generally satisfied with the contract.
“Negotiations, whether over a union contract or anything else, often are not simple or fast and can be contentious,” he added. “I know it was a difficult negotiation for all of us.”
Ultimately, however, Hills said that the School Committee was able to “work collaboratively with the union to reach an agreement that was good for the School Department and the School Committee” and that is financially feasible.  
He concluded, “We have been and will continue to be highly competitive with other school districts.”