School Committee Approves Peak School, Education Grant
Newton School Committee authorized the Peak School and approved a state genocide-education grant Thursday.
School Committee · Meeting of August 27, 2026
Newton School Committee authorized the Peak School and approved a state genocide-education grant Thursday. Members voted 6-0, with one recusal and two absences, to approve Peak School's application under policy LBC, clearing roughly 30 already-enrolled students to start class rather than wait for the Sept. 14 meeting. Member Ben Schlesinger pressed Superintendent Dr.
Nolan on whether a new genocide-education grant, funded through curriculum developer Primary Source, would displace existing Holocaust units for grades 8 through 11; Nolan said it would only add content, calling the grant "additive." That grant passed 7-0 with two members absent. The committee also unveiled its Newton Teachers Association bargaining team, including principals Jackie Mann, Orla Higgins, Tony Byers and Mark Nardelli, and pledged to livestream negotiating sessions, following districts including Brookline.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,443 words
Source: the School Committee meeting of August 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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