'Major Step Backward': Newton Teachers Strike Update As Schools Stay Closed For 6th Day

NEWTON, MA — Optimism from a day of progress at the negotiating table on Wednesday faded heading into Friday as Newton Public Schools were closed for a sixth straight school day amid the ongoing teachers' strike.

The Newton Teachers Association termed the latest attempt at agreeing on a new contract "a major step backward" as its members headed back to the picket lines on Friday while a Middlesex Superior Court judge was set to issue more fines to compel the teachers to return to the classrooms.

Teacher strikes are illegal in Massachusetts.

(More on Patch: Newton Schools Closed Friday For 6th Day Amid Teachers Strike)

"Educators experienced a major step back backward in bargaining," the NTA said in a statement Friday morning. "The School Committee and Mayor (Ruthanne) Fuller showed that they have no interest in genuine negotiation.

"With continued rejections of every meaningful proposal, there is no credible evidence that the School Committee and Mayor Fuller actually want to settle this contract. Instead, they seem to be more interested in power and control than getting children back in school."

Fuller said in a statement that she and the School Committee seek a resolution of the strike but that the demands of the NTA would put other city services in jeopardy in future years without additional funding — which Newton voters rejected in a Proposition 2 1/2 tax override vote last spring.

"Our team at City Hall continues to work with Newton Public Schools on paths that provide our teachers with competitive compensation, funding for Superintendent (Anna) Nolin's plans, and a contract that is financially sustainable," Fuller said. "We will not sign a contract with the union that would result in cuts to programs, services or staff in our schools and/or other city departments."

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.

"The mayor is manipulating negotiations to fail in hopes of blocking the NTA's demands for fully funded schools," the NTA said Friday morning. "Her actions are shameful and the School Committee is cowardly. The School Committee needs to step up to Mayor Fuller, do their job, and advocate for the needs of the Newton Public Schools. The only person who has benefited during this crisis is the lawyer to whom Newton Public Schools has now paid hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"The NTA remains willing to bargain day and night so schools can reopen as soon as possible and educators can be with their students in the classroom. This will only happen with the settlement of a fair contract, so the Newton community still needs Mayor Fuller to fully fund the schools and allow the Newton School Committee to reach an agreement with the NTA."

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.

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 were made available during the first week of the strike with future availablity to be determined.

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