Please join us this Friday, April 1st for a special (virtual) meeting with School Committee members Anping Shen and Chris Brezski to learn more about the significant FY23 budget challenges facing Newton Public Schools.
The Newton Public Schools (NPS) is facing significant budget challenges heading into next year. For the 2022-23 school year, there is currently a budget gap of just under $4m. NPS is required to submit a balanced budget and so, to close this gap, the administration has proposed a budget that includes the following reductions:
- Elementary: Reduced elementary literacy intervention and coaching and math intervention support.
- Middle School: Reduced middle school literacy and math support and school counseling. Reduced team teachers resulting in some larger class sizes and a small number of teachers instructing classes outside of their primary area of specialization.
- High School: Increased class sizes in certain courses. Reduced school counseling and likely some elective classes.
- Districtwide: Reduction in K-8 curriculum and instructional leadership in virtually every subject. Decrease in professional development and curriculum initiatives.
The proposed reductions are very troubling and will impact all of our students for years to come – as they move on from Peirce to middle and high school.
We think it’s important for our community to understand the current situation and so have invited School Committee* members Anping Shen and Chris Brezski to meet with Peirce parents and caregivers this Friday at 1:00pm. Please bring your questions about the proposed budget and budgeting process, and join in a discussion about steps we can take as individuals and as a community to advocate for our schools. Please RSVP here.
In the meantime, for those looking to learn more, the School Committee is holding additional budget meetings tonight (Wednesday) and tomorrow (Thursday) at 7:00pm (Zoom information can be found here) and we’ve included several links below with additional information. There will also be an opportunity for public comment before the Mayor and School Committee on Monday, April 4th.
We hope you will join us on Friday at 1:00pm.
Thank you.
Zoom Information
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87330937579?pwd=c01wRDIzSFJqVjZMT3dYelF6NWhEQT09
Meeting ID: 873 3093 7579
Passcode: 706993
One tap mobile
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To Learn More
- NPS District Newsletter including an overview of the FY23 proposed budget (3/23; email)
- Dr. Fleishman’s FY23 budget proposal presentation (3/24; video)
- School Committee newsletter outlining the budget process and milestones (3/25; email)
- School Committee meeting reviewing the FY23 budget proposal and impact for instructional areas – elementary, middle & high schools (3/28; video)
- NPS slide presentation shared at the 3/28 School Committee meeting (3/28; slide deck)
- NPS FY23 proposed budget detail – Peirce specific information can be found on pages 92-94 of the budget book / pages 102-104 of the PDF
*For those unfamiliar with the role of the School Committee during this process, the Committee has responsibility for reviewing and approving the budget for public education in the City under Massachusetts General Law. The School Committee does not determine the allocation of funds to NPS from the City, nor does the School Committee have the ability to independently raise revenue. The budget itself (the allocation of revenues to the various programs and services that NPS provides) is developed by NPS administration under the direction of Superintendent David Fleishman. The School Committee votes to approve an NPS budget at the conclusion of the budget process each spring, after which that budget is sent to the City Council for approval as prescribed by the City Charter.