Author Archives: Steve

Response to Newton Patch Questions

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Steve in Uncategorized

Hello Voters, Running a campaign includes managing an overwhelming array of details. One detail that got away from me is my response to the Patch Questionnaire sent earlier during the campaign season. Please read my responses to the questions here. … Continue reading →

Full Day Kindergarden – Advocacy and Cost

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Steve in Budget, Class Size, Curricula and Learning, NPS Policies, Special Education, Teachers

I have been quite open to full day kindergarten (FDK) as research indicates it supports children academically, socially, and emotionally. My approach to an issue like this is to confirm the objective, and then work to figure out how to … Continue reading →

Flexibility with Our Short Term Space Budget

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Steve in Budget, School facilities

A year ago I was quite concerned that the proposed Day Middle School and elementary school modular (short-term space) budgets might not be strictly honored, but my point of view has evolved to a different place. Three things have changed: … Continue reading →

Sleeping in is good for high schoolers. Who knew?

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Steve in Curricula and Learning, NPS Policies

Groundbreaking work that began in Minnesota in the 1990s routinely shows positive results for high school students who start school later in the morning. This relates directly to adolescent biology around Circadian rhythms and the timing of Melatonin production. Here … Continue reading →

Should we be making changes to early release time?

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Steve in Budget, NPS Policies, Teachers

Early release in Newton has been here for a long time and is firmly embedded in our teacher contracts. Rodney Barker, a former School Committee member and former Alderman, has fought about this in the past and he wrote an … Continue reading →

Top 2 challenges for our School Committee this year

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Steve in Budget, School facilities, Teachers

Top Two Challenges: 1. Completion of a fair and sustainable teacher contract. Signs are that we are close, and a contract that is long-term affordable while respecting our teachers as bargaining table partners is a very good thing. For years, … Continue reading →

Parkview Homes and School Overcrowding

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Steve in Budget, School facilities

The new Parkview Homes affordable housing development off Lexington Street will house children within the Burr School district. Many area parents have expressed concern that city planners have supported this private development but have not planned for its impact on … Continue reading →

What will happen if we start to renovate Carr and Angier without asking for a debt exclusion?

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Steve in Budget, School facilities

Let’s pick some numbers: Suppose that a substantial Angier renovation and addition costs $25 million, somewhat less than a new building that could run to $35 million by 2013. Suppose that Carr can be renovated into swing space for $7 … Continue reading →

CIP Spending – The Right and Wrong Targets

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Steve in Budget, School facilities

Most of the funding for Newton’s school building maintenance comes from a fund called the CIP. CIP money, traditionally $1.75 million annually, is borrowed by the City via the sale of municipal bonds and is turned over to the Newton … Continue reading →

Virtual Learning in Newton

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Steve in Curricula and Learning

My nephew (college sophomore) and niece (high school senior) live in Merritt Island, FL, and they have taken about 1/3 of their coursework online via the Florida Virtual High School (FVHS). This high school program is fully accredited and their … Continue reading →