March 9, 2022
Superintendent's Message - NPS Budget
Dear NPS Families,
At the March 7, 2022 School Committee meeting, I outlined significant budget pressures the district is experiencing this year and the challenges we face next year. (Slide Presentation - SC Budget Preview - March 7, 2022)
2021-22 School Year Budget
As background, we anticipated that our budget would be very tight this school year as we did everything possible to maintain academic and social emotional support for students while keeping our class sizes favorable. While we did consider budget reductions for this school year, we decided to delay and instead manage our budget as tightly as possible. This approach was critical given the needs of our students and staff as they returned to in-person school full-time following a year of hybrid and remote school models.
Unfortunately, a number of things have created even greater financial challenges over the course of this school year, including:
Continued COVID costs
A higher than projected number of health plans utilized by employees and their families
A larger than expected decline in our revenue from school rentals
An increase in substitute teacher costs
2022-23 School Year Budget
Our tight budget this year has a direct impact on our budget for next year. Within next year’s budget, we will need to address the following new/increased costs:
Increased health insurance costs and contractual obligations
More expensive transportation contracts
Costs associated with expanding and starting new special education programs and services for students with disabilities.
As a result of these extraordinary challenges both this year and next year, we currently expect to have a budget gap of $5.2 million for the 2022-23 school year. The gap is comprised of roughly $4 million in operating costs, as well as $1.2 million for special education program development and expansion to meet student needs. Because 88% of our budget is personnel and the remaining 12% is largely fixed, we are forced to look at significant personnel reductions to balance the budget.
Given the current budget parameters, we expect the district will need to reduce 50-60 staff positions, in addition to the approximately 12-14 positions we will reduce as a result of declining enrollment.
Next Steps (Budget Timeline)
Our proposed budget will be presented to the School Committee on March 23, 2022. It must then be reviewed and approved by the School Committee and the City Council. The final budget is scheduled to be voted on by the School Committee on April 11, 2022 and presented to the City Council on April 13, 2022.
In preparing the budget, we are doing everything possible to limit the impact on the student experience in our schools. Every NPS educator and staff member contributes to the educational and operational aspects of our district and making reductions is incredibly difficult. This budget reality is particularly difficult to absorb in the midst of a very challenging year. We will do everything possible to address this most daunting challenge in a transparent, thoughtful and compassionate manner.
Sincerely,
David Fleishman
Mask Mandate Update
On March 7, 2022, the Newton School Committee voted to rescind the mask policy in the Newton Public Schools. As of Tuesday, March 8, 2022, masks are OPTIONAL in our K-12+ school buildings and the Education Center (administrative offices.) This slide presentation provides a helpful summary: Slide Presentation - Mask Policy Discussion - March 7, 2022.
Masks are also optional on all NPS transportation (buses and vans.)
In this new mask-optional environment, we will emphasize personal choice and responsibility around masking. There will be many reasons students and staff continue to wear masks. There will be reasons students and staff decide not to wear a mask. All decisions will be supported and we will ask our school communities to be respectful of others’ individual choices.
Please note, masks will still be required in the following circumstances:
Individuals returning from COVID infection on days 6-10 (CDC requires 10 days of masking, regardless of vaccination status)
Individuals who are unvaccinated and returning from quarantine on days 6-10
In nursing/health offices
Newton Early Childhood Program (NECP)
Certain school environments (assemblies, field trips, music class) - please continue to send your student to school with a mask in the event it is needed.
Please view this helpful slide presentation, created by Maria Kolbe in our social-emotional learning department and shared with all staff by our elementary principals: Slide Presentation - Something New! Mask Choice.
Here is the revised health and safety plan: Health and Safety Plan - Revised March 2022
COVID Testing
- You can still opt-in to the at-home COVID rapid antigen testing program. Opt-in through your Aspen parent/guardian account: Aspen. Follow these instructions once you are logged in.
All testing information can be found on our website here: NPS COVID Testing Webpage.
If your student is within 90 days of a COVID infection, DESE recommends they not participate in the testing program.
All positive COVID tests results should now be reported using this form: Form - Positive Result from At-Home Rapid Antigen Test.
Daily Health Assessment
It is critical that all families conduct the daily health assessment every day before your student comes to school. If your student is sick, please keep them at home. Be alert for the following symptoms:
Fever (100.0F or higher), chills, or shaking chills
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
New loss of taste or smell
Muscle aches or body aches
Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, when in combination with other symptoms
Headache, when in combination with other symptoms
Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies), when in combination with other symptoms
Special Education Overview
We are pleased to share that the Special Education Services Program Overview has been recently updated. You can view the updated guide on the NPS Special Education webpage.
Middle School Matters Forum - Zoom Recording Available
On Thursday, March 3, 2022, NPS held an informative community forum with guest speaker Phyllis Fagell. Ms. Fagell is a licensed clinical professional counselor, certified professional school counselor, journalist, and author of the best-selling book “Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond—and How Parents Can Help.”
Missed it? You can view a recording of the forum here: Zoom Recording - Middle School Matters
Please note! The recording will only be available until Friday, March 11, 2022. Please view it prior to that time.
Additional resources and links can be found on the Middle School Matters page on the NPS website
Kindergarten Registration - NOW OPEN!
If your child turns 5 years old before September 1, 2022, you are eligible to start kindergarten in the Newton Public Schools next fall! Registration is NOW OPEN! To help us plan for next year, we ask families to register as soon as possible.
To find out more about registration for kindergarten, please visit this webpage on the Newton Public School district website: www.newton.k12.ma.us/kindergarten
On March 3, 2022, NPS held an information session for kindergarten families new to NPS. Here is information from that session:
School Calendar for the 2022-23 School Year
At their meeting on Monday, December 6, 2021, the Newton School Committee approved the calendar for the 2022-23 school year. You can find it here:
Special School Committee Meeting - Tuesday, March 28, 2022
The next School Committee meeting will be held on Monday, March 28, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. This is a special meeting of the School Committee to review the FY23 budget. There is no public comment.
To join the meeting virtual, follow this link:
Zoom meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/390017072
Call-in information: 1-646-558-8656
Call-in meeting ID: 390 017 072
The meeting agenda and meeting materials can be found on this page (once posted): School Committee Meeting Materials for the 2021-22 School Year.
Newton Schools Foundation
Newton Schools Foundation recently approved a grant for Challenge Math Boards. This project is an extension of a very successful pilot at Burr. The grant funds expansion of the project to five elementary schools. If the project continues to be met with energy, enthusiasm, and engagement from teachers, staff, and students, the math boards would appear in all 15 elementary schools in Newton. NSF's goal is to be part of this kind of well-considered innovation and continues to be a partner in achieving equity and excellence in the Newton Public Schools.
CAS Authorfest - April 12, 2022
Through the Creative Arts and Sciences Program (CAS), authors and illustrators are coming to all Newton Public Schools elementary and middle schools to engage students in the writing and illustrating process!
On April 12, everyone is invited to a meet-and-greet, book sale and signing at Cabot Elementary School between 3:15-5:30 PM. Authors and illustrators will be there to sign books and talk to students and their families.
Newtonville Books will have select books for sale at the event, or you can order ahead of time at https://www.newtonvillebooks.com/npsauthorfest (20% of proceeds will be used for future CAS events.)
CAS AuthorFest 2022 is made possible by a generous grant from the Newton Schools Foundation, with additional support from The Village Bank, the Harmony Foundation, and parent contributions to their PTO.
SPACE Camp for Summer 2022!
S.P.A.C.E. Camp is a four-week summer enrichment program run by the Newton Public Schools from July 5th through 28th. Students entering kindergarten through 9th grade in the Fall of 2022 are eligible to attend. We offer two programs - an upper camp (entering grade 5-entering grade 9 in the Fall of 2022) and a lower camp (entering kindergarten-entering grade 4).
Check out the S.P.A.C.E.website for more information or REGISTER NOW! Questions? SPACE@newton.k12.ma.us