Newton City Council Resolution Requests More ARPA Funds For Schools

NEWTON, MA — The Newton City Council has made a resolution requesting more ARPA funds for the school budget in response to concerns from the city’s Parent Educator Collaborative about how staff budget cuts will impact student mental health and academic success.

The resolution was led by City Council Chair Susan Albright and co-docketed by 15 other councilors. Twenty-two councilors voted in favor of the resolution, with one abstaining and one absent.

"As ARPA funding was specifically created to fill the gaps and meet the needs created by COVID-19 in school districts and cities and towns across the country, we ask that an additional $1.4 million be restored to the FY23 School Committee Budget specifically aimed at middle and high school students,” the resolution reads. "We understand that the School Committee is grateful that half of their $4 million budget gap was restored but we feel that gratefulness will not provide the services our students need.”

"We understand that ARPA is one time funding however we are hopeful the city will seek revenue in the coming year and this is not the time to let our students down,” it continues.

According to the City Council’s report, the severe mental health needs of students are well documented. An April 2022 report from the CDC shows that more than one in three high school students, or 37.1 percent, experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, 44.2 percent of students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, almost 20 percent seriously considered suicide, and 9 percent attempted suicide during the 12 months before the survey.

A November 2021 Pew report also indicates that the mental health issues are not limited to high
school students, but affect the behavior of younger children as well.

As part of the resolution, the Newton City Council released a list of the middle and high school teachers that have not been restored, including the middle school math intervention program, which has not been restored but it is not on the list of cuts provided by the Superintendent:

• Middle School Team Teachers at Day -2.0
• Middle School Multi-Team Teachers -2.1
• Middle School Literacy Specialists -2.5
• High School Teachers at Newton North -2.6
• High School Teachers at Newton South -2.0
• Career and Technical Education Teacher -0.8
• Secondary Library Salaries -0.4
• Middle School Psychologist (Day) -0.2
• High School Guidance Counselor -1.0
• Middle School Math Intervention

"This is not the time to take adults out of the middle and high schools,” the City Council said. "Rather, this is the time to provide the supports necessary to successfully get kids through this difficult time."