The Programs & Services Committee met on Wednesday, May 6. See the report and meeting video.
Approved
- Appropriation of $325,000 from June 30, 2025, Certified Free Cash for Newton Public Schools science curriculum (#150-26) — Approved 6–0. The funds would purchase OpenSciEd, a science curriculum currently used in kindergarten through 2nd grade, and expand it to 3rd through 5th graders. The Assistant Superintendent estimated the ongoing annual costs at approximately $50,000 for program administration. The purchase is part of an effort to standardize curriculum across the schools.
- Appropriation of $500,000 from June 30, 2025, Certified Free Cash for Full Day Kindergarten Aides (#153-26) — Approved 6–0. An arbitration ruling required the City to maintain a 1:1 aide-to-classroom ratio for kindergarten classrooms with more than 14 students, a level that had been reduced in the FY24 budget. Eighteen aides were rehired in January 2026; this appropriation covers their compensation through the end of the fiscal year.
Present: Councilors Krintzman (Chair), Malakie, Farrell, Charm, Bixby, and Baker.
Absent: Councilors Oliver and Micley.
Also present: Councilors Wright, Irish, and Block.
City Staff: Liam Hurley, Assistant Superintendent of Newton Public Schools; Drew Willison, City
Clerk; Alissa Giuliani, City Solicitor; Jonah Temple, Deputy City Solicitor; Shin-Yi Lao,
Commissioner of Health & Human Services; Mignonne Murray, Director of Older Adult Services
(OAS); Ashley Shaheen, Deputy Director of OAS; Josh Morse, Chief Operating Officer; John Rice,
Chief Community Service Officer; Dana Hanson, Mayor’s Chief of Staff; Douglas Botelho,
Manager of Financial Services; Endrit Poreci, Senior Financial Analyst; Trevor Goehring, Financial
Analyst; Mary O’Neill, Senior Human Resources Partner; Caroline Wilson, HR Benefits Manager;
Norine Silton, OAS Executive Administrator; Meryl Kessler, Director of Arts & Culture; Carolyn
Stapleton, Rec Program Manager; Miles Starkey, Committee Clerk