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The News Site of Boston College

The Heights
The News Site of Boston College

The Heights
Brodt is running against fellow first-time candidate Jonathan Greene. (Image Courtesy of Mali Brodt)

Ward 6 School Committee Candidate Mali Brodt Wants To Rebuild Community Trust in NPS

Patrick Lundregan • October 5, 2025
With a background in education, Ward 6 Newton School Committee candidate Mali Brodt hopes to use her experience to repair what she sees as a damaged relationship between teachers, parents, and the school committee.
Miara faces Ben Schlesinger in the race for the Ward 5 seat. (Image Courtesy of Jenna Miara)

Jenna Miara Hopes To Bring Legal Experience to Ward 5 Newton School Committee Seat

Sophia Gallon • September 28, 2025
Newton resident, Newton Public Schools (NPS) alumna, and mother Jenna Miara, running for the Ward 5 seat on the Newton School Committee, hopes for the opportunity to provide strong leadership for NPS.
Newton Teachers Association President Mike Zilles confirmed that the quote was true but missing context. (Genevieve Morrison / Heights Editor)

Out-of-Context Comment From NTA President Sparks Outcry Among Newton Parents

Genevieve Morrison • September 19, 2025
Contrarian Boston, a Substack blog, reported a secondhand quote by Newton Teachers Association (NTA) President Mike Zilles from his speech at the district’s convocation, saying that students should be “in the mix” but not put first. Zilles confirmed that the quote was true, but missing context.
A first-time candidate, Kazakoff-Eigen challenged incumbent Maria Greenberg. (Genevieve Morrison / Heights Editor)

JJ Kazakoff-Eigen Drops Out of Ward 1 City Council Race

Laney McAden • September 16, 2025
Jonathan “JJ” Kazakoff-Eigen announced Monday that he is suspending his campaign, leaving Ward 1 incumbent Maria Greenberg with an unopposed track to the Ward 1 Newton City Council seat.
Current School Committee Ward 2 chair Chris Brezski announced in June that he would not be seeking reelection and endorsed Swain for his seat. (Photo Courtesy of Linda Swain)

Linda Swain Runs for Newton School Committee Ward 2 Seat, Pledging Budget Efficiency and Student Support

Sophia Gallon • September 14, 2025
Swain plans to advocate for a more efficient NPS budget—one that would ease the challenges the district faces in providing each student with the best education possible.
As a parent to two current NPS students, Fisher expressed her delight in discovering that Newton’s reputation as a center of education matches reality. (Photo Courtesy of Christine Fisher for School Committee)

Christine Fisher Brings an Optimized, Tech-First Approach to School Committee Run

Laney McAden • September 14, 2025
Candidate Christine Fisher believes that a focus on resource optimization and commitment to student outcomes make her the ideal candidate for the seat. 
The plan will go into effect this school year, according to Superintendent Anna Nolin. (Genevieve Morrison / Heights Editor)

Newton Public Schools Launches New, Tiered Approach to Parent-Teacher Conferences

Genevieve Morrison • September 10, 2025
The Newton Public Schools Teaching and Learning Department is launching a new, tiered model for middle school parent-teacher conferences this school year, it announced at a Newton School Committee meeting on Monday.
According to the Newton school district’s attorney, the nature of the liability is not clearly defined. (Genevieve Morrison / Heights Editor)

Newton School Committee Could Face Legal Penalties as Funding Cuts Loom

Matthew Antonecchia • May 4, 2025
Newton School Committee warned that it will either risk legal penalties for moving forward with an unbalanced budget or cut the difference.
The motion passed in a 6–3 vote. (Genevieve Morrison / Heights Editor)

Newton School Committee Approves Superintendent’s “Level Services Plus” Budget

Matthew Antonecchia • April 4, 2025
The Newton School Committee voted to approve the $296.7 million “level services plus” budget submitted by Superintendent Anna Nolin Wednesday.
Parents and teachers in the district urged the NSC to approve the budget. (Genevieve Morrison / Heights Editor)

Newton Parents and Teachers Call For More School Funding At Budget Hearing

Matthew Antonecchia • March 21, 2025
Parents and teachers urged the Newton School Committee to approve a 14.9 million increase to next year's school district budget.
The special election was arranged after the previous school committee member, Amy Davenport, moved from the city. (Image Courtesy of Alicia Piedalue)

Alicia Piedalue Wins School Committee Seat in Uncontested Special Election

Laney McAden • March 21, 2025
Alicia Piedalue was elected to the open Ward 7 Newton School Committee seat in a special municipal election held on March 18.
Ballot question two passed in Massachusetts last fall, prompting districts to review their graduation policies. (Genevieve Morrison / Heights Editor)

Newton School Committee Mulls Graduation Policy Without MCAS

Genevieve Morrison • January 29, 2025
The committee discussed a new graduation standard following a ballot initiative that removed the state standardized test as a requirement.
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