My Responses to NTA Candidate Questionnaire
As part of their endorsement process, the NTA sends a questionnaire to all candidates (you can read the questionnaire letter here). While I am not seeking an endorsement to avoid any conflict of interest in future School Committee contract negotiations, I am publishing my full responses to each question below:
1. The Unit A Collective Bargaining Agreement requires that every kindergarten classroom with fourteen or more students have a full-time kindergarten aide. The current School Committee has not honored this provision. When an arbitrator ruled last year that the School Committee must restore full-time kindergarten aides in accordance with the contract, they appealed this. Would you support the immediate restoration of full-day kindergarten aides in accordance with the district's contractual obligations by advocating for the withdrawal of the district's appeals, and voting in favor of any such withdrawal?
Linda Swain: It’s important that our kindergarten teachers have the support they need in the classroom, and full-time aides can play a valuable role in making sure young learners get the attention they deserve. At the same time, this year’s budget has already been finalized after a great deal of difficult work to make the numbers balance, so adding back full-day aides would require trade-offs. I believe any such decision should be carefully considered to ensure our resources are aligned with the district’s most critical needs.
2. The Superintendent, along with some members of the current School Committee, have suggested that, while MCAS is no longer a statewide graduation requirement, Newton might incorporate MCAS into its local graduation requirement. Do you believe Newton ought to do this?
Linda Swain: It’s important that every NPS graduate leaves school with the skills they need to succeed, and I strongly support the district’s focus on the Portrait of a Learner competencies. In the past, Newton voters supported keeping MCAS as a requirement, and I agree that we need some type of objective standard—MCAS is one possible tool in the toolbox. If not MCAS, then we should work together to determine what the right standard should be.
3. What is your understanding of what precipitated the January 2024 NTA strike, why it lasted as long as it did, and what the results were?
Linda Swain: The strike was very difficult for our community—students, families, educators, and administrators alike. It reminded us how important it is to keep kids in school and underscored the need to support our teachers, who deserve competitive salaries and benefits so we can recruit and retain great educators.
Many factors led to the strike. Poor communication between the School Committee and the NTA was a factor. Data also suggests the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) played a role: since the current president took over in July 2022, there have been 8 strikes totaling 64 days of disruption, compared to just one strike lasting a single day since 2007. Unfortunately, the strike accomplished little, while causing pain for our community and hurting our children. It also damaged trust between NPS—including our teachers—and families. That said, I believe we now have an opportunity to rebuild relationships, improve transparency, and ensure Newton schools are once again a model of collaboration and excellence.
4. What actions do you plan to take to avoid another strike?
Linda Swain: The strike reminded us how essential it is to keep kids in school. We learned that listening more closely to teachers matters, and that tone and respect are critical. At the same time, we must avoid financial decisions that create unintended consequences, especially staffing cuts.
To prevent future strikes, first and foremost, I will advocate for the City funding that NPS needs. We also need to rebuild trust through open communication and transparency, and the Superintendent and Chair Brezski’s spring budget updates were an encouraging step in the right direction. If elected, I will hold office hours at times convenient for teachers and administrators to keep lines of communication open. I will also actively seek out the ideas and perspectives of our educators, who are such an essential part of NPS.
5. What do you think are Superintendent Nolin’s strengths? Where do you think the Superintendent has room for improvement?
Linda Swain: I support Superintendent Nolin’s vision for NPS and believe that, in her short time here, she has already made meaningful enhancements. Her strengths include a clear focus on leveraging data—particularly student outcomes—to guide decisions. I’m impressed by the work she led on the Portrait of a Learner, which does an excellent job defining the competencies that students need to thrive beyond school. I’m also encouraged by her recent announcement of the new Math Pathways program. Looking ahead, I would love to see the pace of change accelerate. For example, I think the evaluation and adjustment of multilevel classrooms should happen more quickly. With her leadership and the strong partnership of our community, I am optimistic that we can restore the excellence in education for which our City is known.
6. Historically, School Committee members have worked most closely with the Superintendent, and it is from the Superintendent that they receive most of their information regarding the operations of the school system, including its ongoing relations with the NTA. How do you think the School Committee could communicate and collaborate more directly with the NTA?
Linda Swain: I believe it is essential for the School Committee to work closely with both the Superintendent and the NTA. Regular meetings and open communications between the School Committee and NTA would help ensure greater alignment. These conversations shouldn’t be limited to contract negotiations – ongoing, consistent dialogue is key to building trust and fostering collaboration.
7. Health insurance costs have increased dramatically over the last year, burdening the NPS and the City of Newton budgets. Do you believe that some of these costs should be shifted onto Newton educators?
Linda Swain: Rising health insurance costs are a challenge for families and organizations everywhere. In Newton, these costs are projected to make up about 14.2% of the FY26 NPS budget, up from 13.5% the prior year. This issue needs to be addressed holistically. I would like to explore creative ways to manage these expenses—such as thoughtful health plan design or preventive care initiatives—while ensuring our educators continue to have access to high- quality, affordable coverage.
8. If there is anything else you consider pertinent to your candidacy that you would like to share, please feel free to do so.
Linda Swain: My goal in serving on the School Committee is to help restore excellence in education at NPS. Excellence may look different for every child, but every student deserves a school system that helps them reach their full potential. I will support the superintendent’s vision with a strong focus on measuring student outcomes and using data to guide decisions. If elected, I will work with the City Council and Mayor to build a sustainable budget that supports this vision while balancing the city’s broader needs. Most importantly, I will ensure every decision is made in the best interest of our students.