From the mayor’s office…
Newton, MA – The Newton School Committee and the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) have approved a new contract for teachers, administrators, aides and other NTA employees, school and union officials announced today. The School Committee approved the agreement in a public session earlier this morning.
The contract covers the four year period from September 2014 through August 2018. The compensation changes continue the School Committee policy of agreeing to compensation that is financially sustainable. Annual step increases and cost of living adjustments are provided in amounts that enable the Newton Public Schools to continue to offer very competitive compensation to all employees while allowing for continued investment to improve and move the system forward each year.
In addition to the overall compensation adjustments, the contract includes provisions that focus on key areas that needed to be addressed such as coaching stipends and overnight travel with students, quality of life issues for teachers and other members of staff, and creates study committees to deal with potential changes to early release days parent teacher conferences, and the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon programs.
“Excellence in our school system is one element which makes Newton one of the best places to live in the country,” Mayor Warren said. “We have outstanding educators in our classrooms and this agreement will allow us to continue to foster and grow excellence throughout the public school system, as well as ensure sustainable finances for the City now and into the future. I am thankful for all the hard work of Superintendent David Fleishman, School Committee Chair Matt Hills and other committee members, NTA President Mike Zilles and his team, Chief of Staff and CFO Maureen Lemieux, Deputy School Superintendent and CAO of the Newton Public Schools Sandy Guryan, and everyone who worked collaboratively to make this agreement possible.”
“These agreements reflect not only the hard work of our negotiations team and the School Committee, but also the remarkable support our members and the community provided us over the last year as we worked without a contract,” said NTA President Michael Zilles. “It was a stressful period for our members, but these agreements move Newton into a much more competitive position to continue to hire and retain the great educators the citizens of Newton rightly expect in their children’s classrooms.”
School Committee Chairman Hills added, “We have achieved this agreement because both parties remained at the table to negotiate a contract that works for the students, taxpayers, and educators of our community. We all can be very proud of the result.”
“We couldn’t ask for a better way to start the school year,” Superintendent Fleishman said. “I am confident that this settlement will allow the Newton Public Schools to continue to recruit and retain skilled and dedicated educators.”
Two questions, how much of an increase does the new contract cost the taxpayers per year in the next 4 years? Does this mean another battle for future overrides? In other words can we tax payers afford these pay increases and the benefits that will accrue as all these new staff and salary increases set new pension levels for the next 30 years.
One suggestion, rethink the life long pension payment system. It isn’t sustainable.
The city does not pay teachers’ pensions. 11% of a teacher’s salary is deducted and put into a pension fund managed by the Massachusetts Teacher’s Retirement System. It’s a common misconception that the city pays teacher’s pensions.
Jane, that is a relief. If so, we don’t have to worry about under funding.
Underfunding what?
Jeffrey-I like to enter a conversation assuming good intentions, so just to clarify – teacher pensions have never been a part of the school or city budget. Nothing has changed with regard to this issue.
I know how pensions work in general, although I do not know how the teacher’s pension works. If the pension is funded entirely by teachers, then, presumably, the city is not obligated to pay a shortfall.
Jane, I presume that you are correct. I know that the teachers have a different set up. If so, this is one less thing to worry about at the city level. I think we are on the same page.
Thanks, Jeffrey. I assumed that’s what you meant and yes, we’re on the same page.
Congratulations!!!
The teachers do pay into their state pension fund but the State is in deep trouble meeting their obligations for the upcoming decades. Newton does pay other benefits to teachers that may need revision. Teacher aides do receive pensions via the city and those costs are growing rapidly.
Teachers self-fund 95% of the MTRS and is considered among the best managed pension funds. MTRS is not a state agency.