Newton’s School Committee Negotiations Subcommittee has scheduled three executive sessions between Oct. 22 and Oct. 28, covering contract strategy, medication benefits and bargaining with the Newton Teachers Association.

The first meeting is Thursday, Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. in Room 218 of the Education Center, 100 Walnut St. Members will discuss collective bargaining strategy involving NTA Units A through E, according to the official meeting notice. The subcommittee will not return to open session afterward.

A separate virtual session Monday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m. will focus on bargaining strategy concerning GLP-1 medication coverage, according to that meeting’s agenda.

The Wednesday, Oct. 28, meeting includes both strategy discussions and bargaining with the NTA. It begins at 10:30 a.m. in Room 111 at 100 Walnut St., the notice states. That session will also remain closed to the public.

The full School Committee has no regular meeting scheduled this week, according to Fig City News.

Preparing for the next contract

The NTA represents nearly 2,000 Newton Public Schools employees across five bargaining units, including teachers, some administrators, educational support professionals, instructional support staff and IT employees, union leaders told Fig City News in September.

The current contracts expire Aug. 31, 2027.

The union began gathering bargaining priorities early this year through surveys and later building-based focus groups. By September, the NTA and School Committee had exchanged proposals governing how negotiations would proceed.

One proposal would allow joint bargaining sessions to be livestreamed. The NTA asked members for their views on that idea in its Sept. 13 eBulletin. The bulletin also said the union’s bargaining team was considering its response to the committee’s counterproposal on ground rules.

In the September Fig City interview, NTA Release Officer Ryan Normandin said the union wanted an agreement before the existing contracts expired. He identified mental health support, compensation for Unit C employees and cost-of-living adjustments among the union’s priorities.

Union leadership transition

The negotiations coincide with NTA President Mike Zilles’ final school year in the role.

Zilles announced his retirement at the district’s Sept. 1 teacher convocation, effective at the end of the 2026–2027 school year. A former Newton North High School Spanish teacher, he confirmed his plans in the September Fig City interview.

Superintendent Anna Nolin described the district’s relationship with the union as cooperative despite disagreements in an August interview with the Newton Beacon.

“We don’t always agree, but it’s civil, and we all care about kids,” Nolin said.

Separately, the Cabot School Council meets Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 3 p.m. at Cabot Elementary School, 229 Cabot St. Its agenda includes reviewing the council’s responsibilities and the School Improvement Plan, along with planning future meetings.