The persistent budget shortfall facing Newton Public Schools is no longer a temporary hurdle; it is the fiscal crisis that remains the unspoken backdrop of every discussion about NPS. While the constraints are real, the way our leadership handles them is a choice, and currently, those choices are failing our students.

During the last election, every new School Committee member ran on a platform of supporting the Superintendent’s vision. Now is the time to demonstrate that support through action, not just rhetoric. True advocacy for our district’s leadership requires pushing Mayor Laredo to release the necessary funds to move the Superintendent’s vision forward. Without adequate funding, even the most inspired leadership is set up to fail.

Furthermore, Mayor Laredo’s current approach seems at odds with his campaign promise of collaboration. He pledged to be a leader who listens to all stakeholders, yet his apparent closed-door stance on securing additional school funding suggests a lack of genuine engagement. We expected a Mayor who would work creatively with the community to solve these systemic issues, not one who oversaw further stagnation.

It is also vital that we protect the progress made in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and sustainability. These initiatives are not “discretionary” add-ons; they are essential components of a modern, responsible education. These programs should be expanded and integrated further into our district’s identity, not sidelined or shut down during budget negotiations.

Our students have already weathered years of instability and repeated rounds of “belt-tightening.” They cannot afford any more cuts to the quality of their education. It is time for the School Committee and the Mayor to honor their campaign commitments and prioritize the long-term health of Newton Public Schools.

Mali Brodt
Newton Centre

Brodt: Budget choices are failing our students

...Other News...