Negotiation Frustration

The Newton Teachers Association begins its contract negotiations with a School Committee facing financial pitfalls

By Bella Ishanyan and Matan Josephy Graphics by Julie Wang

The red shirts have turned blue, sported on Tuesdays by educators around the building — a sign that contract negotiations are underway. The Newton Teachers Association (NTA) leadership wants their members to increase engagement amid negotiations between the NTA and the School Committee, which officially began in mid-October, amidst a tenser backdrop than usual.

While the teacher strikes in neighboring towns have not yet faded into the public's memory, a drastic increase in the cost of living in the city due to pandemic-related inflation, Newton’s first override since 2013 and recent developments regarding the School Committee’s negotiations sub-committee have mounted pressure to come to an agreement during an especially unstable time in Newton’s education system.