Newton Schools Closed Friday For 6th Day Amid Teachers Strike

NEWTON, MA — The Newton teachers' strike will claim a sixth straight school day on Friday as reported progress in negotiations between the union and city again failed to produce a new contract agreement.

The School Committee said on Wednesday that was "a day of progress in negotiations, though the parties still remain far apart on several key issues. There were meaningful discussions on issues of substance and on paths forward toward an agreement."

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The two sides spent about 10 hours negotiating on Thursday with the Newton Teachers Association also rallying at both City Hall and the State House to gain support for its push to reverse what it called the "chronic underfunding in public education occurring at both the local and state level."

The NTA faces steep fines a week after a Middlesex Superior Court judge imposed fines that began at $25,000 on Monday and doubled each day of the strike. The NTA was to appear back in court on Friday after racking up $350,000 in penalties as of Thursday night.

Teachers' strikes are illegal in Massachusetts.

Despite the fines, the NTA said its priorities remain living wages for all employees, including special education support personnel, increased student mental health services and adding social workers to every elementary and middle school, what the NTA calls "modern and humane family leave," cost-of-living adjustments and designated times for classroom preparation and collaboration with colleagues.

Newton teachers voted last Thursday afternoon to walk off the job effective Friday morning after the union said 98 percent of its membership voted in favor of the strike.

Superintendent Anna Nolin said that all school buildings will be closed — with all school-related events canceled — for the duration of the strike.

Grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals will be available each school day morning of the strike at Newton North and Newton South from 9 a.m. to noon, as well as METCO headquarters on Roxbury Street in Boston from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All school days missed due to the strike will have to be made up at some point during this academic year.