Newton Teachers Association (NTA) members gathered at the Newton Education Center Monday, Oct. 21, during a Newton School Committee meeting to protest the district’s decision not to hire aids for kindergarten classrooms, as stipulated in the Teachers’ Contract.
Last June, the NTA filed a claim with the state, arguing that Newton Public Schools (NPS) violated the contract by not hiring enough aides for kindergarten classrooms. In April, an arbitrator ruled that NPS must follow the contract and provide aides starting in the 2024-25 school year. However, the committee appealed the ruling, with a final decision expected months from now.
Meanwhile, the NTA has urged the committee to reinstate kindergarten aides while their appeal awaits a decision.
“This would be the second year the kindergarten classrooms are understaffed in a row, and if we wait out this process any longer, it’s quite possible that the district will once again try to delay and not hire a full-time aide for every classroom,” said NTA president Mike Zilles. “We are saying to them, ‘You have every right to appeal this, but the reality is you agreed to do this anyway. So put them in the room.’”
According to an email sent out by the committee in May, the appeal was made on the basis that the arbitrator overstepped his jurisdiction.
“The appeal process is our rights. I think there is a disagreement on the merits, and there is a specific disagreement on the authority of the arbitrator. So we are simply exercising our legal rights to pursue that path, and I assume they would do the exact same thing if the situation were reversed,” said School Committee Chair Chris Brezski, who added that there are no plans to restore that level of aides until a decision has been made.
“The budget reflects what we believe are the most acute needs of the district, and having that limitation in the contract creates an inefficiency in allocating our resources,” he added.
During the public comment section of the School Committee meeting held the same evening as the protest, union leaders and NPS kindergarten teachers spoke about the difficulties involved in managing a kindergarten classroom without an aide.
“The impact of these aides being cut has been devastating. This cut came at a time when the academic demands on kindergarteners has increased, and their need for social-emotional support has never been higher. The absence of a full-time aide means we can no longer provide the same level of attention and time on learning that was possible [before],” said Burr Elementary School teacher Vanessa McMahon. “Many things have been compromised, including one-on-one attention, extra emotional and academic support, and safety.”
Speaking after public comment, kindergarten teaching assistant Paula Pellegrini said, “I wish they would come for one day so they could just see what it is like. Now, my hours have been cut, and I am split between three classrooms. It is not enough. What if a kid needs to go to the bathroom? I can’t leave 19 five-year-olds alone in the classroom to wait.”
Conflicts between the NTA and the committee came to a head last year during a 15-day strike, which has largely defined their relationship since. However, both parties spoke of their desire to bridge their mutual distrust.
