The May 18 regular School Committee meeting focused on the Committee receiving updates from district and school-level department heads regarding curriculum and programming reviews for engineering and computer programs, athletic departments, as well as voting on allocating budget funds for Math and English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum materials. Fig City News continues its in-depth analysis of curriculum reviews and changes with articles this week focusing on mathematics and social studies.
Committee’s annual School Choice debate: Opting out again
Prior to the curriculum presentations, the Committee voted unanimously to “opt-out” of the Massachusetts School Choice program which would allow non-Newton students to attend Newton Public Schools (NPS) in a quantity determined by the School Committee. These students’ home districts would pay NPS $5,000 annually per student in tuition. This vote is required annually by the state, and NPS has not participated in School Choice in decades, if ever. However, Superintendent Anna Nolin has recommended participation both in 2024 and this year, in order to increase revenue.
While the administration’s recommendation focused on expected marginal costs incurred by each additional student being exceeded by tuition, Committee members’ concerns centered on those costs being understated. Linda Swain (Ward 2), noting the district would not provide transportation to students from outside Newton and therefore only highly motivated parents would undertake that daily commute, said she believed about 80% of School Choice students may require special education services. The current district percentage of 30% was used in the NPS estimate of the financial impact of School Choice.
Alicia Piedalue (Chair, Ward 7) further observed that the financial forecast used to support School Choice in Newton depended on a large number of non-resident NPS teachers’ children who currently attend NPS to be selected by the School Choice lottery, thereby triggering the $5,000 per year tuition. The current collective bargaining agreement requires those educators to first apply for School Choice before otherwise enrolling their children at NPS as an employment benefit. However, School Choice selects students who apply via lottery, so it would be unknown how many of those educators’ children would fall under that program. Ms. Piedalue also noted a Newton Teacher’s Association survey showing that two-thirds of educators who responded oppose School Choice, with another 20% neutral.
Ben Schlesinger (Ward 5) said prior to the vote “this School Committee will be tasked with doing things that are both right and unpopular, and to me this isn’t one of them.” Mayor Laredo also was vocal against the program, citing Newton’s long history of opting-out, and noting that costs would increase with inflation over time, while the tuition revenue is fixed. Dr. Nolin shared follow-up analysis the Committee had asked her to provide at the May 4 School Committee meeting.
The meeting replay is available on NewTV, with School Choice discussion beginning at the 50-minute mark.
Newton South Principal Departing
On May 19, Newton South High School Principal Tamii Stras announced that she will be leaving South to accept a position as an assistant superintendent for Cambridge Public Schools. In her message to the Newton South community, sent via NPS’ ParentSquare portal, she said “Over the past five years, it has been the honor of a lifetime to serve this community. Together, we have navigated moments of challenge, growth, celebration, and transformation.” Ms Stras shared with Fig City News she has completed a superintendent preparatory program, and the change in position was motivated by both professional goals and the appeal of the Cambridge school district.
Ms. Stras’ departure means both of Newton’s high schools will have new leadership in September, following Principal Henry Turner’s announcement last month to leave Newton North High School. It’s likely that one or both high schools may have an interim principal while a permanent search is conducted.
Although Mr. Turner and Ms. Stras were hired by previous NPS superintendent David Fleishman, current superintendent Anna Nolin has expressed support for the principals, including mentorship in superintendent development programs. Alongside this, Dr. Nolin and recent School Committees have communicated what they perceive as academic and curricular shortcomings — throughout NPS, not specific to high school – that accrued during Dr. Fleishman’s tenure. Combined with the near-total turnover in the NPS central administration’s leadership positions since Dr. Nolin’s hire, these departures mean Dr. Nolin will play a role in selecting new leadership at both high schools.
Ed. Note:This article was updated with details regarding the high school principals’ professional development.