'$15 million Apart On Our Proposals': Newton Teachers Strike Update

NEWTON, MA — The longest Massachusetts teachers' strike in three decades claimed a 10th straight day of classes on Thursday after the School Committee announced no contract breakthrough had been made.

"The School Committee and Newton Teachers Association have come to an agreement on many issues, but compensation remains unresolved," the School Committee said in a statement Wednesday night. "The two parties remain approximately $15 million apart on our proposals.

"The School Committee remains focused on reaching an agreement that is competitive and sustainable. Signing a contract we cannot afford is not going to improve outcomes for students, and will consume resources that our teachers are asking for to reduce class sizes and add mental health supports."

Despite hopes for a deal following exchanges of multiple proposals between the School Committee and NTA on Tuesday and Wednesday as Mayor Ruthanne Fuller joined the talks in person, classrooms will remain closed with all school-related activities — including athletics, arts and drama programs, after-school care programs and adult education programs — canceled.

(More on Patch: Striking Newton Teachers 'Hold The Line' As Missed School Days Mount)

While the NTA said, "We're getting closer to an agreement" Wednesday night, the union also issued a call for support at a Newton Education Center rally planned for Thursday at 1 p.m.

National Education Association President Becky Pringle was in Newton on Wednesday morning for a rally at the Newton Education Center where the focus was creating a "livable wage" for Unit C — including many special education and behavioral support paraprofessionals — employees.

The Newton Teachers Association said on Wednesday that it rejected the School Committee's recent proposal including some wage hikes and additional parental leave because some of the gains in negotiations were tied to tradeoffs that would be unacceptable to the NTA membership.

Among those cited include increased health care premiums, limitations on sick time banking, longer durations between step service time pay increases, and insufficient substitute teaching support staff.

The School Committee, meanwhile, said earlier in the day that it continued negotiations on Wednesday aimed at reaching an agreement that will "have students back in the classroom on Thursday."

But those hopes were dashed early Wednesday night as the strike was set to hit two full weeks since 98 percent of NTA members voted in favor of the work stoppage on Jan. 18 effective the next day.

The School Committee said the school calendar will be among the discussion items at Thursday's open committee meeting with all days missed during the strike needing to be made up by June 30, according to state law.

The School Committee said no public comment will be allowed at that meeting.