'We Need More Money': Newton Teachers Strike Tensions At Tipping Point In 10th Day Missed

NEWTON, MA — Newton students were home from the classroom for a 10th straight school day on Thursday as the union representatives for striking teachers called on Mayor Ruthanne Fuller to release the additional funding necessary to close what both the union and School Committee said was a $15 million gap in contract proposals.

Newton Teachers Association spokesperson Ryan Normandin said on Wednesday night that teachers would not return to the schools without a new contract and acknowledged that the School Committee does not have the ability to make an acceptable offer to the NTA membership without Fuller authorizing more resources.

"We cannot go back to the buildings until we have a contract that is going to allow those buildings to be safe, to give our students what they need, we are trying to solve real problems in the schools," Normandin said. "And to go back before we've started to solve those problems would be irresponsible.

"As to what it's going to take to do that? Mayor Fuller needs to increase the allocation for the schools."

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

The School Committee said the biggest sticking point is cost-of-living wage increases for teachers with the latest offer being 12 percent over four years — and 15 percent increases for Unit C (often paraprofessional behavioral health and special education support staff) — but that it cannot go beyond that without risking reduced services to make up for the increase or setting the district up for future deficits without additional funding.

"The School Committee remains focused on reaching an agreement that is competitive and sustainable," the School Committee said in a statement Wednesday night. "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."

Normandin reiterated the NTA's call for social workers in every school to deal with the increased mental health needs of students that he said teachers and support staff have tried to advocate for within the buildings in recent years but now need a greater solution.

The NTA has indicated in recent days that its fight is part of a more profound reassessment and prioritization of educational and support service needs for students that needs to happen both in the city and across the state.

"The mayor has large surpluses in the free cash account over the past two years," Normandin said at a news conference. "She has some Eversource (settlement) overlay money as well. But I want to reiterate that it is not my job, it is not the teachers' job, to figure out how to balance the mayor's budget.

"The mayor has underfunded the schools for years. This is laid out plainly in the city budget. And the community needs her to do what is right by our educators and our kids. She is the mayor of this city. She needs to make that happen."

Fuller said on Wednesday night that the latest city offer is a "highly competitive offer, a sustainable offer" and has said that while she is prepared to propose another Proposition 2 1/2 tax override to increase funding for schools and other city services, she cannot authorize spending of money ahead of a townwide vote after a tax override failed last spring.

"The offer we proposed would continue to make Newton one of the highest-paying school districts in the state," she said, again calling on the NTA to send its membership back to the schools amid negotiations and ending its "illegal strike."

Teacher strikes are illegal under Massachusetts state law. The NTA has incurred about $575,000 in court fines as of Thursday for the work stoppage.

"The fines for us are not going to impact whether we return to the classroom," Normandin said. "We are committed — as we have been from the beginning — to stay out as long as it takes to ensure that when we return our students and our educators have what they need to be safe, and be successful, both today and going forward for the city."

All school buildings remain closed — and all school sports, arts and drama programs, after-school care and community education programs are canceled — amid the strike.

All missed school days will have to be made up this academic year before June 30 with the School Committee set to discuss a preliminary plan that would have students go to school during April vacation and up to at least June 28 during Thursday night's virtual meeting.