|
Heads up! We have scanned the upcoming agenda for Newington School District. We found 8 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 9) |
|
Board to Vote on Secret Teachers’ Union Contract
The Board is scheduled to vote on a new multi-year contract with the Newington Teachers’ Association (Item G.5). The contract itself will not be provided to the public until the meeting, preventing any review of its financial costs or policy changes before the vote.
Recommended Action Plan
PACK THE ROOM: This is an ambush vote on a major contract. Email the Board of Education (contact info on the district website) and attend the meeting. Demand the vote on Item G.5, the NTA Contract, be postponed until the full text of the agreement and a complete financial analysis are released to the public for at least two weeks of review.
💰 Impact: Taxpayer Liability
|
| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
|
Board to Vote on Unseen Changes to Its Own Rules
The Board is voting on a large package of changes to its own bylaws and operating policies (the 9000 series). The proposal includes striking entire policies on ‘Methods of Operation,’ but the text of the new or revised policies is not included in the agenda for public review.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND A DELAY: Email the Board of Education (contact info on the district website): ‘I demand the vote on Item G.2, the 9000 series policies, be postponed. The public cannot consent to changes we are not allowed to read. Release the full text of all proposed policy changes for public review before any vote.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Board Oversight
|
| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
|
District Expands 1:1 Chromebook Program
The Superintendent’s report confirms that 9th-grade students are receiving replacement Chromebooks, continuing the district’s 1:1 device program. The district has not provided evidence that these expensive programs improve academic outcomes or clarified how much daily instructional time is being replaced by screens.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND EVIDENCE: Email the Board of Education (contact info on the district website): ‘Regarding the Chromebook replacement program, please publish the independent, non-vendor-supplied evidence of academic gains from this program, and a report on the total daily screen time required of students, before any further funds are spent.’
💰 Impact: More Student Screen Time
|
| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
|
District Budget Shows Major Unexplained Overspending
The district’s own financial report shows significant budget overages in key academic areas. Spending for ‘Reading’ is at 153% of budget, ‘Social Studies’ is at 118%, and ‘Special Education’ is at 109%, with no explanation provided for the potential multi-million dollar deficit.
Recommended Action Plan
ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS: During public comment, ask the Board to explain the massive overspending in the Reading (1026), Social Studies (1030), and Special Education (1200) line items. ‘Where is this money going, and why wasn’t it budgeted for transparently?’
💰 Impact: Potential Deficit
|
| MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
|
District Piloting New Elementary Math Programs
The Superintendent’s report states the district is currently piloting new math programs in elementary schools to select a new curriculum for the 2027-2028 school year. Parents have not been informed what these pilot programs are or what criteria will be used to make the final selection.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND A SEAT AT THE TABLE: Email the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction (contact info on the district website): ‘Regarding the elementary math pilot, please publish the names of the programs being tested, the criteria for selection, and how parents can review the materials and provide input before a decision is made.’
💰 Impact: No Say in Core Curriculum
|
| MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
|
District Presentation on “Healthy Screen Time”
The Superintendent’s report includes a presentation titled ‘Mindful Innovation: Balancing District Technology Investments & Healthy Screen Time.’ This is a critical opportunity for parents to question the district’s reliance on screen-based learning and demand evidence of its effectiveness.
Recommended Action Plan
BE THERE AND ASK: Attend the meeting to hear Presentation E.2. During public comment, ask: ‘What independent, non-vendor data shows that the district’s technology investments are producing better academic results than traditional instruction? How many hours per day is a student expected to be on a screen for learning?’
💰 Impact: Effectiveness of EdTech
|
| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
|
District Promotes Expanded Role for School Psychologists
The Board is passing a resolution praising school psychologists for providing ‘interventions,’ improving ‘mental health,’ and developing students’ ‘social skills.’ This language normalizes school-based mental health services that can occur without full parental knowledge or consent.
Recommended Action Plan
OPT-OUT ALERT: This resolution signals a focus on in-school mental health services. Proactively email your principal now to state in writing that no psychological, social-emotional, or mental health screenings or services may be provided to your child without your express, written, prior consent for each specific instance.
💰 Impact: Your Child’s Privacy
|
| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
|
Vague Presentations on “Workforce” and “Strategic Plan”
The agenda lists presentations on ‘Preparing Students for the Workforce of Tomorrow’ (E.1) and an update on the ‘Strategic Plan 2024-2027’ (G.4). Titles like these are often used as cover for introducing ideological concepts like ‘Global Citizenship’ or ’21st Century Skills’ instead of focusing on core academics.
Recommended Action Plan
INVESTIGATE: Pay close attention to presentations E.1 and G.4 during the meeting. Listen for buzzwords like ‘social-emotional learning,’ ‘equity,’ or ‘global citizenship’ and be prepared to ask during public comment how these initiatives support academic excellence in reading, writing, and math.
💰 Impact: Shift from Academics
|
|
|
“We do not co-parent with the government.”
Moms for Liberty is the nation’s largest grassroots organization fighting for parental rights. Through national members and local chapters, our work ensures parents, not the government or radical activists, make the decisions concerning the upbringing and education of their children.
JOIN THE FIGHT
AWARE
|
