Superintendent Anna Nolin announced her goal of district unity and cohesion for the year following the tension of last year’s contract negotiations and strike at a district press conference Friday, Sept. 6.
Nolin and other Newton Public Schools (NPS) administrators also spoke on changes in policy for the new year and commented on how the year was going so far. Nolin’s remarks covered changes in policy and operation in Newton schools, including a new food service provider, Chartwells, new technology policies, and curriculum review.
“The team of educators here with me is a symbol of the 2100 educators in our district who are working together to turn the page on the last few difficult years, support and inspire our students, and build bridges of understanding and collaboration with our parents and the Newton community,” said Nolin.
Although the cell phone policy has stayed the same since last year, the mandate to enforce the policy has become stricter, according to Nolin. The internet in NPS buildings will also block access to social media sites.
“The distractions and the difficulties of internet-enabled devices in the pockets of all of our children have been challenging over the last several years,” said Nolin. “We can help students become more regulated in this area with the device limitations,” she added.
During the Q&A portion of the conference, Dr. Eugene Roundtree, the newly appointed Assistant Superintendent for secondary education, spoke on his ideas for Newton’s high school students. Specifically, he plans to expand the CTE programs and create opportunities for students to take dual-enrollment classes at local colleges.
“It’s really important for school districts that all students can access something that is ‘them,’ and that speaks to their spirit and aspirations for the future,” he added.
Nolin noted the district’s preparatory accomplishments this year, including staffing all full-time positions. She added that 30 teaching assistants are still needed across the district.
“We have come back from post-pandemic hiring challenges, and our district is one of the most attractive in the Commonwealth for educational professionals,” Nolin added.
Principal Henry Turner touted student accomplishments last year, including impressive college acceptances for the class of 2024 and English language learner (ELL) student growth. Turner also praised the school spirit of North’s junior and senior classes, adding that he hopes to grow connections between students with an updated advisory curriculum.
“From a student perspective and a staff perspective, we’ve had very positive opening days,” Turner added.
The conference included statements from various administrators and teachers in addition to Nolin, including Karen Manning, the co-president of Newton Schools Foundation, Kathleen Browning, the executive director of Newton Early Childhood Program, Turner, math teacher Sam Shoutis, and English teacher Kate Shaughnessy.
