Newton Teachers Union Votes 'No Confidence' In Mayor, School Committee

NEWTON, MA — The Newton Teachers Association voted "no confidence" in Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and the Newton School Committee as the educators move past 100 days working under an expired contract.

In a statement Wednesday night, the NTA said the vote taken among its 1,600 members across all 23 school buildings was 99.6 percent in favor of the "no confidence" declaration.

"This is indicative of the lack of respect Mayor Fuller and the School Committee have continued to show for educators," the NTA said. "It's even more troubling that Mayor Fuller and the School Committee fail to see how addressing the issues we are raising in bargaining have such a significant impact on our ability to meet the needs of all students.

"Our schools are in crisis, seriously in need of staff and resources. The mayor refuses to trust the judgment and expertise of those working in the classrooms directly, and instead follows the advice of a lawyer hired to settle cheap contracts and who earns more money the longer this drags on.

"Let's invest in Newton schools and not in lawyer fees."

The NTA said its bargaining priorities are livable wages for support staff, pay raises for licensed educators similar to those offered in similar school districts, "modern" paid parental leave, increased mental health support for students, guaranteed time to prepare course work and to collaborate with colleagues and a plan to ensure sufficient numbers of substitute teachers.

The teachers union said it will hold a press conference on Monday at 4:15 p.m. in front of the Newton Education Center on Walnut Street "where we will address the worsening crisis in Newton Public Schools stemming from Mayor Ruthanne Fuller's unwillingness to settle a fair contract."