Committee hears but doesn't rule on teacher hire

School Committee · Meeting of September 28, 2026

Newton's School Committee sat through more than an hour of divided public comment over a new Brown Middle School teacher's hiring before turning to budget and facilities business. Speakers including rabbi Lisa Keshet and Robin Goldstein of Temple Emanuel's Anti-Semitism Task Force said the teacher's graduate thesis on post-October 7 campus protests should bar her from teaching about Israel; others, including Hani Murad and physician Mohamed Asmal, said the campaign reflected "expanding Islamophobia" in Newton. The committee took no action on the matter.

Chief Financial Officer Liam reported the district closed fiscal 2026 with a $1.4 million circuit breaker carry-forward against a $2.5 million goal, leaving roughly a $1.1 million effective shortfall heading into fiscal 2027. Mayor Laredo, who chairs the committee, said of the carry-forward practice, "I am not going to defend the past practice." The committee approved updated student handbooks 9-0, adding a new policy barring AI use without permission, and voted 8-0 with Laredo abstaining to approve two consent items addressed to the mayor's own office.

In the full story:

• Procedural steps and outcome
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,494 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of September 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.