Recently, the 2023-2024 Newton Public Schools (NPS) budget was proposed with a $6 to $8 million gap, meaning that the school district needs $6 to $8 million more in funds compared to what they received from the city in funding for the 2023-2024 school year.
An override of the city-granted budget was proposed, which would authorize an additional $4.5 million toward the NPS 2024 budget. The passing of the override would result in a smaller budget gap (approximately $2 to $4 million compared to $6 to $8 million) and fewer reductions to NPS administrators, teachers, essential building staff, and programs.
The election on March 14, 2023 will determine whether or not the override passes.
What Would Happen if the Override Does Not Pass?
An estimated 40-50 full-time educator positions would be cut, resulting in:
- larger class sizes
- larger caseloads for special educators
- reductions in electives
Additional cuts include:
- the one-to-one tech initiative (which funds free student Chromebooks)
- transportation
- all freshmen sports teams
The quality of education and the variety of classes available, both of which NPS proudly advertises, would decrease with the cuts in the budget. For example, music and theater programs, clubs, and other art-related programs are at risk of being cut.
Cuts in Electives
Currently, the average class size is about 22-26 students; the override not passing would result in the average class size going up to about 30 in Newton’s high schools and the number of electives going down due to loss of staff.
Lillian Robinson, a history teacher at Newton South, predicts that seniors might not be able to take electives that are not required. “The history department currently offers between 8 and 10 different electives for seniors, so I could see that number going down to 3 or 4,” she says. But with losses in club advisors, sports programs, and arts programs, she believes “the loss of connection is what is going to be even more devastating to students.”
A Recurring Problem
Every year it seems that the NPS budget keeps getting cut; more cuts to teachers, more cuts to social-emotional learning, and more cuts to special education. With the $6 to $8 million budget gap, the school cannot afford to pay teachers raises to match the inflation and cost of living, a problem the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) has been struggling with for a while.
Robinson also anticipates that there would be cuts to guidance counselors and social workers in the building if the override does not pass. She says that “with a larger class size, it’s harder for teachers to provide social-emotional support to all their students. So it would not be surprising to me if mental health supports diminish or even disappear if we don’t pass this override.”
Especially amid a mental health crisis after the pandemic, both Ms. Robinson and many parents in Newton ask the same question: “What does the city really want to spend its money on?”
March 14 Election
For those eligible to vote and those who are interested, here are the questions on the ballot:
Question 1
Shall the City of Newton be allowed to assess an additional $9,175,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of funding Public Schools for student needs, street and sidewalk paving and safety improvements, tree planting and maintenance, park and recreational facility improvements and maintenance, improvements to Horace Mann Elementary School, sustainability and climate resiliency actions, and Senior Services programming and operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023?
Question 2
Shall the City of Newton be allowed to exempt from the provisions of Proposition 2 1/2, so called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to renovate or replace the Countryside Elementary School?
Question 3
Shall the City of Newton be allowed to exempt from the provisions of Proposition 2 1/2, so called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to renovate or replace the Franklin Elementary School?
