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Update from the School Committee

Dear Friends,

This update is for the 5/11/2020 Newton School Committee meeting. This meeting was largely focused on examining the results of the Distance Learning Survey, conducted over the last several weeks. We will continue to study and analyze the feedback to allow us to improve the Distance Learning experience. To paraphrase our Superintendent, these surveys are about learning from our families, staff and students so that we can improve our Distance Learning Plan, making it better and more effective for all of our students and their families.

As a result, a number of changes to the Distance Learning Plan will soon take effect including:

  • Elementary – Each student will have 4 opportunities per week to connect live with a staff member.
  • Middle – An advisory or community meeting will occur weekly for 30 minutes to both connect and prepare for the week.
  • High – Classes will be scheduled for up to 30 minutes (increase of 10 minutes).

Superintendent’s Update:

  • Teams are currently working on planning for summer programming and awaiting state guidance within the next couple of weeks to help inform our efforts. The district is planning professional development around distance learning tools and best practices, in addition to equipping educators with the skills to address students’ emotional trauma due to COVID-19. The administrative team will soon move to planning for the possibility of distance learning in the fall and considering what school might look like at that time.

Discussions/Update:

  • Distance Learning Surveys Summary of Data shows that “crisis teaching,” our emergency response to a global health pandemic, requires significant time and planning to recreate public education and presents numerous challenges. State guidance continues to focus on equity—the greatest challenge in our current environment. Families have a range of perspectives on distance learning depending on their circumstances.
    • Staff Survey Analysis:
      • Staff cited “not having enough hours in the day” and working constantly, through weekends, to plan and implement distance learning.
      • Across grade levels, the most frequent challenge staff are experiencing with live sessions or whole class meetings is students not attending.
      • Concern for vulnerable students and concern for ensuring equity for all students was their biggest challenge.
    • Distance Learning Family Survey Analysis:
      • For parents/guardians who reported challenges accessing live sessions or whole class meetings, younger students (preschool and elementary) more frequently had trouble engaging during this time, while older students (middle and high school) more frequently had difficulty logging in and technological problems with the virtual platform(s).
      • Analysis of open responses questions, around 3,000 responses for each question, is still underway. A majority of those providing suggestions would like more time with teachers teaching new content as a suggested way to help children manage distance learning. Parents/guardians also suggested small group projects and/or social interactions over Zoom, as well as more simplified and centralized directions for their students each week.
    • High School Student Feedback:
      • Most high school students (58%) report “doing school” between 2-4 hours per day; 43% say the amount of work is a bit much and 41% say it’s just right.
      • 31% of students say missing the social aspect of school is the hardest part.
    • Resources for Growing Student and Family Needs:
      • Device Loan – 1,000+
      • Meals – 2,340+ a day
      • District Response Team in Partnership with HHS
        • Phone: (617) 559-6021
  • Equity Working Group Update:
    • Suggested Annual Elementary Equity Cap of $40, determined by multiplying $40 by the number of students at each school, reviewed every 2 years.
    • The Elementary CAS Limit is three “experiences” per classroom. Annual Concert Series and Preview performances will not count as an “experience” towards the Elementary CAS Limit. Large Periodic Events, such as a Ruby Bridges visit or a mural prepared with the assistance of an artist, will not count as an “experience” towards the Elementary CAS Limit, if they happen no more than once every 5 school years.
    • Recommendations reflect a switch from measuring how much is spent per pupil to how many CAS experiences each student receives. It allows a better balance between the role Creative Arts and Sciences programming plays within a student’s overall educational experience.
  • First Reading Policy Updates (BEDH-Public Comment), IGB (Student Services), JH (Student Absences/Excuses), JICH (Tobacco/Alcohol Use), JLCB (Inoculation of Students):
    • Addresses minor amendments to update changes in the law or eliminate duplicate policies. Additional updates will be upcoming in the next group of policy updates.

Consent Agenda

  • Unanimously voted against participation in School Choice for the FY21 school year.
  • Unanimously approved 4-6-20 and 4-27-20 Draft Minutes.

Next Meeting
On Wednesday, May 27th at 7:00PM the School Committee will have a VIRTUAL School Committee meeting.

We hope you found this summary useful. You can access all School Committee meeting documents via the NPS website (www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee). Additionally, if you are interested in watching an SC meeting from home or a recorded meeting, you can obtain access via www.newtv.org. On the district Facebook page, you can find videos of past “Virtual Office Hours,” which are held once a month and provide the community with the opportunity to ask questions through the FB Live format.

As always, we are very happy to answer any questions or discuss any concerns you may have. Please feel free to contact us via the email address below.

Sincerely,
The Newton School Committee

Join the Newton Food Pantry Teen Ambassador Program (TAP)

Interested in building your leadership skills while supporting the efforts of the Newton Food Pantry? Consider joining the inaugural Teen Ambassador Program (TAP) with other teens who are developing their passion for making a difference in our community.

Find out more about the TAP program and the Newton Food Pantry at www.newtonfoodpantry.org. To apply to the TAP program please complete the TAP Application today.

Basketball training remotely

ASA Hoops is now offering virtual training 4 days per week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Training is for boys and girls ages 7-14, prices just $10.00 per session. This is a great way to stay fit and active during this time.

To register please visit https://www.asahoops.com/training  and if you have any questions please email Coachb@asahoops.com.

2020 Newton Schools Foundation Honor Thy Teacher

Over these past weeks, many parents have developed a deep appreciation for the job that our teachers do each day. If you are looking for a way to express that appreciation during Teacher Appreciation Week or after, here is a way to say thank you.

By donating to Newton Schools Foundation’s Honor Thy Teacher program in the name of one or more of your children’s teachers, you can show your appreciation for them AND support your children’s schools. NSF will notify each teacher honored of your gift and share their names with Principals and the Superintendent. A list of honored teachers will appear on the NSF website and in the Newton TAB.

Your tax-deductible donation will go towards funding NSF grants for promising educational initiatives, professional development, and programs that close gaps in opportunity and achievement. In furtherance of those goals, in recent weeks NSF directed its resources toward the challenges of COVID-19 with a $85,500 grant for the Newton Public Schools to purchase 300 Chromebooks for students needing access to online learning during school closures.

It’s easy to donate online at http://www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org/honor-thy-teacher or you can mail your donation to Newton Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 590020, Newton Centre, MA 02459. Please be sure to include the names of the teachers and/or staff that you are honoring.

To find out more about the programs NSF funds, visit their website at http://www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org/programs-we-fund.

 

Newton Food Pantry

The Newton Food Pantry would like to extend a huge thank you to the community for the incredible support over the last 6 weeks. COVID-19 has brought about a challenging and uncertain time for many in our community but our hearts are full from your overwhelming love and support.

Because of your generosity, the Newton Food Pantry is able to continue its commitment to help those in need across Newton by offering:

  • Curbside pickup twice a month to Newton residents (previously clients were able to shop once a month.) From March 18th through April 22nd, the Newton Food Pantry served a total of 978 households. Thirty percent of these households are new to the Newton Food Pantry since March 18th.
  • Bulk grocery deliveries to seniors residing in 9 different Newton housing facilities to keep them safe and sheltered in place. From March 18th through April 22nd, over 40% of the total households served (411 households in all) were senior bulk grocery and home deliveries.
  • Home delivery to clients who are homebound because of disability or severe medical conditions.
  • Optimum safety and efficiency for both clients and volunteers with use of 3 new PODS located outside City Hall.
  • Canned and dried goods for the city’s Food for Families Backpack program.
  • The Newton Food Pantry is distributing more than 8,500 pounds of food per week. In addition to distributing a dry goods bag, a produce bag and a refrigerated goods bag, the Newton Food Pantry clients are also receiving personal care items and cleaning agents.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? Aside from donating double-bagged grocery bags and egg cartons (please drop off at 61 Ballard Street or 36 Metacomet Road ONLY), please consider a financial donation at www.newtonfoodpantry.org/donate/

Check out this little jingle https://bit.ly/NFP-DBS) just to show you how serious they are about double-bagging.

Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors

In the last two weeks Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors has focused on supporting local organizations that serve some of our most vulnerable community members. Neighbors gathered food and collected thousands of dollars for Coleman House, a elderly housing facility in Newton that lost much of their food supply due to a power failure after the storm on the 13th. Neighbors also donated enough funds to the Arabic Baptist Church Food Pantry in Newton Corner to buy food supplies the next two months, and helped deliver food from Newton Food Pantry and Centre St Food Pantry to neighbors in need. Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed and volunteered for these efforts and others!!

As you can imagine, the need does not end here – in our conversations with partners who work closely with community members deeply affected by COVID-19, we are hearing about the many ways in which families are profoundly struggling during this time. We believe that our community extends beyond the Newton city limits and that it is critical to consider how we can support our neighbors both within and outside of Newton. Many of you have reached out asking for ways to help and we have organized a large, 4-part donation drive this week which will benefit several organizations and communities that are heavily burdened by this crisis. You can contribute any time between now and May 2nd. The houses gathering items for the drives below are all in Newton Centre.

How you can help

Porch Drive #1: Donate non-perishable food for families in Chelsea and Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Boston

There continues to be an urgent and growing need for food relief in Chelsea, with the number of families lining up for food increasing greatly as each week goes on. The Salvation Army Chelsea would appreciate NON-PERISHABLE FOOD if you are able to contribute. Items need to be donated by mid-day Tuesday for a Wednesday delivery to the Salvation Army. Any items collected after Tuesday will be donated to SURJ Boston for distribution to families in Boston who also continue to experience great need.

Drop off non-perishable food at 97 Lake Ave in Newton Centre (between Crystal and Laurel)

Porch Drive #2: Donate diapers and wipes

There are many families with young children who need diapers and wipes. Donations will be provided to families in the Early Childhood program at Jewish Family & Children’s Service in Waltham, and to families in Newton.

Drop off diapers and wipes at 15 Norwood Ave 1R in Newton Centre (there is a horse statue on side lawn). Drop off by the garage behind the house.

Porch Drive #3: Donate fabric, sheets, and t-shirts

There continues to be a tremendous need for cloth masks at healthcare facilities, housing facilities, and community agencies, as well as other items such as caps. We are asking for donations of 100% cotton fabric, quilting fabric, sheets, and old T-shirts. No flannel, upholstery, or linen please. All donations will be provided to the MetroWest sewing group which will donate what they make to organizations throughout the region.

Drop off fabric, sheets, and T-shirts at 960 Beacon St in Newton Centre

Don’t have items to donate or can’t make it to Newton Centre to drop off? Consider donating towards gift cards for immigrant and undocumented families

Undocumented families are experiencing many of the hardships facing other families but are also ineligible for many of the funds and supports available due to language and information barriers, legal status, and/or isolation. We would like to raise funds for 40 families in this position from East Boston, Revere, Chelsea, and Lynn. This project is in collaboration with Jessica Harper Santos, Lecturer at Brandeis University and Christian Samame who has been doing community work with youth, families, and elders in Latino neighborhoods around Boston for many years. We are aiming to gather funds to buy a gift card of $50 per family. You can Venmo contributions to Jessica’s account: Jessica-Harper-Santos. All contributions will go towards purchasing gift cards which will be provided directly to families.

Thank you for anything you are able to contribute. Your kindness and generosity during this difficult time is so appreciated.

Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors connects community members to support one another and share resources for people who live, work, pray, play and/or learn in Newton. Want to stay involved?

Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors
newtonneighborshelping@gmail.com

Update from the School Committee

Dear Friends,

This update is for the 4/27/2020 and 4/30/2020 Newton School Committee meetings. We have combined these two meetings into one newsletter as they both examined the significant impacts COVID-19 will have on our proposed 2020-2021 Annual Budget. During the 4/27/2020 meeting, Mayor Fuller and Maureen Lemieux, Newton’s Chief Financial Officer addressed the Committee to describe the “deep changes in revenue assumptions,” to ask the district to reduce its FY21 budget by $1,500,000, and to plan accordingly for even greater reductions in FY22. Superintendent Fleishman and Chief Financial Officer, Liam Hurley, recommended a number of adjustments to immediately ddress this request and begin the process of carrying funds forward.

Superintendent’s Update:

  • In positive news, the Newton South Global Community’s program received a Green Difference Award, recognizing their outstanding energy, environmental and STEAM efforts.
  • Distance Learning Update: Received Phase 3 Guidance from DESE focusing on 4 key areas of distance learning: prioritizing meaningful connections with educators and peers, providing engaging core instruction focused on the content standards most critical to student success, moving to new content material, offering opportunities for enrichment exercise and play and ensuring that programming is accessible. DESE has also prioritized asynchronous learning as opposed to live lessons where many students may not be able to join lessons.
  • Reviewing Feedback on Distance Learning: We’ve already received high school surveys and had very good response rate from staff survey. Next week we’ll begin to analyze the NPS Distance Learning: Family Survey to try to triangulate that data and think about how it compares with the specific guidance we are getting from DESE. The results will be shared during the Monday, May 11th School Committee Meeting.

Discussions/Update:

  • The Last Day of School: The last day of school for students will be Tuesday, June 18, 2019, and the last day for teachers will be Wednesday, June 19, 2019.
  • FY20 Fiscal and Operational Update:
    • Chief Financial Officer, Liam Hurley, presented our third Fiscal and Operations Update of the school year. As of March 31, 2020, the district has spent and encumbered $157.2 million, or 66% of the annual budget of $237,022,312. The current financial forecast includes projections for all areas of spending for the year, with a projected positive balance of $2.8 million.
    • New assumptions made because of school closure for the remainder of the year due to COVID-19:
      • Salaries, benefits, utilities, maintenance, contracted services, tuition, transportation and spending on supplies and equipment are all projected to end the year under budget.
      • Food Service, however, will require a $359,000 subsidy in FY20 due to the district’s contract with food service vendor Whitsons, contingent upon 180 service days, and expanded food service operations during the district-wide shutdown to provide students with nutritious meals at three school sites, 150 Jackson Road, North High, and South High. Coordination is underway with City Officials to open serving sites to all residents regardless of age. Also, negotiations will take place to determine Whitsons management fees for the year.
  • Facilities Update:
    • Chief Financial Officer, Liam Hurley, provided an update on several projects currently underway including:
      • Newton Early Childhood Program (NECP) – project has now been put out to bid and we expect to receive bids in May.
      • Lincoln-Eliot at 150 Jackson Road- the working group is recommending that the space program be revised for an enrollment of 396 students and 18 classrooms, plus an expanded scope including the existing auditorium.

      • Horace Mann Improvements- City Council voted to approve $650,000, reimbursing NPS for completed work and $150,000 for additional work, including the installation of sinks on the second floor and some interior updates. However, the additional $500,000 request covering installation of additional playground equipment, will now be deferred due to significant changes in City finances from the pandemic.
      • Lincoln-Eliot Building Envelope Project- work to start on replacing windows, project completion anticipated by the end of the summer.
      • Oak Hill Classroom Addition- Design Review Committee (DRC) approved the site plan for the three-classroom addition. The September 2021 completion date, may be adjusted as COVID-19 creates an uncertain bidding environment.
      • Phase 3 Solar Panel Updates.
  • Regular Yellow Bus Contract Modification:
    • NPS has agreed to pay Eastern Bus adjusted daily rates for the period that we are closed, honoring a request from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and requiring Eastern to continue to pay their drivers regularly scheduled wages and benefits.
      • In-City Yellow Buses will be paid at 61% percent of contracted daily rate, $350 per bus per day, for 34 buses.
      • METCO Buses will be paid at 63% percent of contracted daily rate, $408 per bus per day, for 8 buses.
  • FY21 School Department Budget
    • District must now reduce its FY21 budget by $1,500,000.
      • Savings in the maintenance account of $500,000 by reducing summer projects such as painting, floor tiling and other cosmetic work.
      • Remaining $1,000,000 will come from carry forward from this year.

Consent Agenda

Next Meeting
On Monday, May 11th at 7:00PM the School Committee will have a VIRTUAL School Committee meeting.

We hope you found this summary useful. You can access all School Committee meeting documents via the NPS website (www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee). Additionally, if you are interested in watching an SC meeting from home or a recorded meeting, you can obtain access via www.newtv.org.  On the district Facebook page, you can find videos of past “Virtual Office Hours,” which are held once a month and provide the community with the opportunity to ask questions through the FB Live format.

As always, we are very happy to answer any questions or discuss any concerns you may have. Please feel free to contact us via the email address below.

Sincerely,
The Newton School Committee

Newton Community Farm’s online Seedling Sale

Newton Community Farm is opening their online Seedling Sale on April 27th. Order through May 13th, then schedule your curbside pickup date and time in mid-May. There are over 80 varieties of vegetable, fruit, herb, and flower seedlings plus soil for sale.

Thank you for supporting the Farm and happy gardening! https://newtoncommunityfarm.org/news-events/2020-seedling-sale/

Survey of Newton Businesses

Mayor Fuller has requested that the Economic Development Commission (EDC) provide her with ideas on a recovery plan focusing particularly on steps that can be taken to assist Newton businesses in regaining their footing post Covid-19. As part of the EDC’s development of these ideas, they are surveying Newton businesses.

This survey is open to the Newton business community and will be open through May 4th www.surveymonkey.com/Newton_EDC_Business_Survey If you have questions, please contact Devra G. Bailin, Director of Economic Development for the City of Newton at dbailin@newtonma.gov.