School Committee debates joining school choice
The Newton School Committee debated, but did not vote on, joining the state's school choice program for the first time in at least 25 years.
School Committee · Meeting of April 29, 2026
NEWTON — The Newton School Committee debated, but did not vote on, joining the state's school choice program for the first time in at least 25 years. Superintendent Nolan recommended opening 80 seats to non-resident students at the state-set $5,000 base tuition, potentially generating roughly $400,000, but members including Ben and Jonathan said the net benefit might land only in the "mid to low six figures" once Chapter 70 losses and special-education risk were factored in. Mayor Laredo defended the district's budget, saying Newton received "roughly a 7-plus percent increase" this year rather than a cut.
A public hearing on school choice is set for May 11, with a possible vote May 18 or June 1. Separately, the committee voted 9-0 to approve an updated bullying prevention policy.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 927 words
Source: the School Committee meeting of April 29, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.
Members read the rest of this story and every Newton meeting we cover, in full.
Become a memberAlready a member? Sign inA 30-day free trial needs a payment method. After it, your membership renews at the price shown at checkout until you cancel, which you can do anytime from your account. Subscription terms
Share this story
Know someone in Newton who follows town government? Share Townbrief Newton: they can sign up free.