♪ TONI: I AM TORI BEDFORD.

TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," ONCE DONALD TRUMP’S MAIN COMPETITOR, RON DESANTIS IS OUT OF THE RACE FOR PRESIDENT.

WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE NIKKI HALEY AND WHERE DOES DONALD TRUMP STAND NOW?

PLUS, NEWTON TEACHERS STRIKE FOR A SECOND DAY.

HOW DID WE GET HERE AND HOW LONG WILL THIS GO?

THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND ONE OF THE TEACHERS ON THE PICKET LINES WILL JOIN ME.

♪ NIKKI HALEY HAS BEEN GETTING FOR A ONE-ON-ONE RACE WITH DONALD TRUMP FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION, AND NOW THAT THE SENTENCE HAS DROPPED OUT TO FAMILY HAS ONE, WITH JUST A DAY TO GIRL BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSE FOR THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY.

BUT DONALD TRUMP IS STILL CLOSE TO 20 POINTS AHEAD OF HALEY.

AT THIS POINT, IS THERE ANY CHANCE YOU CAN CLOSE THE GAP?

JIM BRAUDE IN MARGERY EAGAN JOINING ME NOW 2:00 A.M..

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

GUEST: HAPPY TO BE HERE.

TONI: I HAVE BEEN THERE WITH YOU, YOU HAVE COVERED A MILLION OF THESE.

USUALLY IT IS CHAOTIC IN MANCHESTER.

I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE LIVE BLOGGING, PEOPLE IN COSTUMES, PROTESTS, RALLIES.

SO MUCH ENERGY.

WHAT IS IT LIKE THIS YEAR, IT’S KIND OF A WEIRD YEAR.

MARGERY: I WOULD SAY THE ENERGY LEVEL IS CUT IN HALF CONSIDERABLY.

THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE HERE TODAY BUT IT’S NOT LIKE BEFORE, YOU WOULD SEE CANDIDATES WALKING AROUND THE HALL, ALL THE FAMOUS NETWORK AND CURSE.

IT’S MORE SUBDUED.

JIM: WITH ONE EXCEPTION, YOU ARE OUTSIDE THE TRUMP EARLY THE OTHER NIGHT AND PEOPLE WERE IN LINE FOR FOUR HOURS IN TEEN TEMPERATURES TO GET TO SEE DONALD TRUMP.

I WOULD SAY THE ENERGY LEVEL FOR TRUMP APPEARS TO BE TYPICAL ENERGY LEVEL FOR TRUMP.

MARGERY: RIGHT.

I HAD FROSTBITE WAITING IN LINE WITH THEM FOR ONE HOUR AND THEY WERE OUT THERE FOR FOUR HOURS.

I DO KNOW HOW THEY DID IT.

TONI: FIRST YEAR I WENT I MET PEOPLE OUT IN FULL SNOW SUITS, INTENSE AND WITH PREPPING HEATERS.

SECOND YEAR I CAME BACK AND THEY OFFERED ME HER CHOCOLATE AND THERE WERE LIKE, YOU WERE HERE LAST YEAR.

TELL US ABOUT THE TRUMP EVENT.

.

YOU DIDN’T GO IN, BUT THAT IS THE REAL EVENT, I THINK, THE LINE AND THE ENERGY IN THE CROWD .

MARGERY: WELL, A COLLEAGUE WENT IN AND HE WAS PUTTING THE REPORTERS’ PEN.

HE HAD TO GO AT 3:30 AND EVEN STARTED AT 7:00 SO HE HAD A LONG WAIT.

HE SAID IT WAS HUGE.

.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

EVERY TIME THE FORMER PRESIDENT MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THE MEDIA, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WOULD TURN AROUND AND IT WOULD LOOK RIGHT AT THEM AND THE BOOT AND HISSED.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: BUT THERE ISN’T ENOUGH ATTENTION PAID TO WHAT TRUMP SAID AT THE RALLY, I THINK, THE NIGHT BEFORE WHEN DONALD TRUMP GOES OUT OF HIS WAY AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SAY JOE BIDEN IS TOO OLD, "CROOKED JOE BIDEN IS TOO OLD TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES."

DONALD TRUMP CONFUSED NANCY PELOSI AND NIKKI HALEY, WHEN HE WAS SAYING HE OFFERED 10,000 TROOPS -- WHICH IS ALSO NOT TRUE.

HE MEANT TO SAY NANCY PELOSI, BUT HE SAID NIKKI HALEY.

THAT IS REALLY TROUBLING FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE AGE OF JOE BIDEN.

I WOULD SUGGEST THEY LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES THERE.

TONI: THAT IS SOMETHING NIKKI HALEY HAS BEEN EMPHASIZING, TOO, TALKING ABOUT HIS AGE.

I THINK WHAT HAS BEEN SURPRISING.

JIM: BOTH OF THEIR AGE.

TONI: WRIGHT, BOTH OF THEIR AGE.

WHAT IS YOUR PERCEPTION OF HER?

SHE KIND OF SNUCK UP.

YOU MENTIONED THIS ON "TALKING POLITICS," THAT IT’S HARD TO MAKE PREDICTIONS RIGHT NOW, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE SHE IS DOING REALLY WELL, AT LEAST IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

JIM: THE POLLS SUGGEST SHE IS NOT.

THE POST SUGGEST, THE MOST RECENT ONE WITH ONE OUTLYING POLL WHICH HAD HER TIED LAST WEEK THE AMERICAN RESEARCH GROUP,40-40 IT HAD HER 19 POINTS DOWN.

I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WOULD SAY I WAS NEVER POLLED, SO THAT IS ILLEGITIMATE.

HOWEVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS ARE PRETTY CONTRARIAN TYPES.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE AGREE THAT IF TRUMP WINS BY MORE THAN A LITTLE HERE, THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IS OVER AFTER IOM NEW HAMPSHIRE.

I AM NOT SURE THAT NEW HAMPSHIREITES WANT TO BE PART OF BE DEAD WRONG, BUT I THINK THAT MAY BE HALEY’S BEST CHOICE.

DO YOU BUY THAT OR NO?

JIM: IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ENERGY LEVELS?

MARGERY: IF YOU -- PEOPLE AT THE NIKKI HALEY RALLY, IT WAS KIND OF CALM, THE ROOM WAS ABOUT A FEW HUNDRED PEOPLE.

I DIDN’T SEE ANY PROPANE TANKS YESTERDAY, BUT THERE WERE PEOPLE BY THE THOUSANDS OUTSIDE WAITING AT ALL THESE HOURS.

YOU ASKED THEM ABOUT THE INDICTMENTS, THE E. JEAN CARROLL CIVIL LIABILITY FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT, THEY DON’T BELIEVE THAT IS TRUE.

JIM: OR THEY DON’T CARE.

MARGERY: MOST OF THEM SAID THEY DIDN’T BELIEVE IT WAS TRUE.

BUT THAT THE ELECTION WAS WON BY BIDEN.

SO YOU HAVE A VERY CULTLIKE FOLLOWING FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

WITH INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF DEVOTION AND ENTHUSIASM.

TONI: THERE WERE STUDIES THAT CAME OUT DURING THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY THAT SHOWED THAT WHEN YOU PRESENT PEOPLE WITH FACTS, OFTEN PEOPLE BECOME MORE REINFORCED IN THEIR BELIEFS ANYTHING THAT WAS SHOWN -- I MEAN, THAT IS AN ENERGY AND AN ENVIRONMENT, YOU CAN ASK ABOUT IT, BUT HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FACTS NEVER REALLY SEEMS TO GO ANYWHERE.

IT IS STRANGE, I DON’T KNOW.

DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU COULD BE RIGHT NOW, WE TALK ABOUT THE ENERGY OF THIS EVENT, BUT DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT COULD BE AT THE LAST EVER NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY?

I MEAN, THE DNC HAS MADE THEIR DECISION.

IS THIS IT JIM: DOESN’T MEAN THE END OF DEMOCRACY.

THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE LAUGHING.

MARGERY: SOME SAY IF TRUMP WINS, THIS WOULD BE THE LAST PRIMARY EVER.

JIM: ANYWHERE.

[LAUGHTER] WHO MADE THIS POINT?

IT WAS CHUCK TODD FROM NBC, THE POLITICAL DIVISION.

HE WAS WITH US AND HE MENTIONED, HE SAID IT MIGHT BE THE LAST PRIMARY HERE, NOT FOR THE REASONS OF THE END OF DEMOCRACY, HOPEFULLY, BUT BECAUSE OF BOTH IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE WHICH ASSUMEDLY IF TRUMP WINS, REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS IN THOSE STATES ENDORSED OTHER PEOPLE.

DESANTIS IN IOWA, HALEY HERE, WHERE WOULD HE WANT TO DEAL WITH THESE PLACES?

TO CHUCK TODD’S POINT, IT IS HOW ABOUT ALABAMA?

HOW ABOUT A DEEP RED STATE WHERE TRUMP IS BELOVED?

?

SORT OF LIKE HOW JOE BIDEN IS BELOVED IN THE FIRST PRIMARY STATE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

SO I WOULD SAY THE FUTURE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE IS -- IT HAS ALREADY LOST THE DEMOCRATIC FIRST IN THE NATION.

I WOULD SAY THE LIKELIHOOD OF IT BECOMING THE REPUBLICAN FIRST IN THE NATION EVER AGAIN IS PROBABLY NIL.

TONI: I WANT TO GET BACK TO RON DESANTIS DROPPING OUT.

WE HAVE A CLIP FROM DESANTIS ON NBC NEWS.

HE WAS TALKING -- CRITICIZING TRUMP AND TALKING ABOUT HOW HE WOULD ACCEPT ANYONE WHO KISSED THE RING.

>> IT’S ALMOST LIKE WITH DONALD TRUMP, IF YOU DON’T KISS THE RING -- YOU COULD BE THE BEST GOVERNOR EVER AND HE WILL TRASH YOU.

YOU COULD BE A TERRIBLE, CORRUPT POLITICIAN BUT IF YOU KISS HIS RING, ALL OF A SUDDEN HE WILL PRAISE YOU.

TONI: HE HAS TURNED AROUND AND ENDORSED TRUMP.

DO YOU SEE A SIMILAR PATH FOR NIKKI HALEY?

>> WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING ABOUT THAT?

JIM: WELL, NOT ONLY HALEY BUT SOONER NEW, WHO HAS BEEN OUTWARDLY CRITICAL OF TRUMP INCREDIBLY BOTH HALEY AND CHRIS SUNUNU HAVE SAID IF TRUMP IS THE NOMINEE, THEY WILL VOTE FOR HIM.

SO MUCH FOR DONALD TRUMP BEING UNFIT TO BE PRESIDENT IN THEIR ESTIMATION.

THEY ARE LOYAL TO THEIR PARTY CANDIDATE EVEN IF THE GUY IS ACCUSED IN 91 FELONIES, FOUND LIABLE FOR SEXUAL ABUSE FOUND, TO BE A PERPETRATOR OF FRAUD.

APPARENTLY THAT DOESN’T MATTER EVEN TO THOSE WHO ARE RUNNING AGAINST HIM.

JIM: THEY SAID THEY THOUGHT SHE WOULD HANG IN BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH INDICTMENTS, AND IF THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS FOUND GUILTY OF SOME OF THESE, THAT MIGHT CHANGE THE VOTE AND SHE COULD BE WAITING IN THE WINGS AND HOPING SOMETHING HAPPENS.

BAD FOR THE PRESIDENT IN ONE OF THESE, CASES.

JIM: BY THE WAY, THE RUMOR, WENT DESANTIS DID KISS THE RING, HE KISSED HER RING IN THOSE WHITE RUBBER BOOTS OF HIS THAT ARE SO APPEALING.

[LAUGHTER] TONI: THE POLICE HAS THE HEEL.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SUBJECT.

MARGERY EXPERIENCED A BIT OF A MOMENT OF SHOCK -- WE HAVE A CLIP.

♪ [LAUGHTER] JIM: GO AHEAD.

MARGERY: THAT WAS I BANGING INTO THE WALL.

I WAS CONFUSED.

THE GLASS WALLS ARE SO WELL CLEANED.

I THOUGHT I WAS WALKING, IT WAS NOT THE CASE.

JIM: BUT LOOK AT HER.

SHE IS FINE.

MARGERY: I SURVIVED.

JIM: NO HARM, NO FOUL, THAT IS WHAT WE SAY HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIREM IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO SEE THINGS EVEN WHEN THEY ARE IN FRONT OF YOU.

[LAUGHTER] JIM, YOU HAVE BEEN RAGGING ON MARGERY ON THIS ALL DAY, BUT ISN’T IT TRUE THAT YOU DROVE ON INTERSTATE TRAVEL BECAUSE YOUR HOTEL NEGLECTED TO REFILL YOUR COFFEE, SO YOU CAME ALL THE WAY HOME AND WENT BACK TO NEW HAMPSHIRE IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD?

JIM: I WILL NEVER CONFIRM OR DENY THE TRUTH.

NICE TRY.

[LAUGHTER] MARGERY: IT WORKED OUT VERY WELL.

TONI: .

WORKED OUT.

YOU GOT YOUR COFFEE POTS.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: GREAT TO SEE YOU.

MARGERY: THANK YOU.

TONI: FINALLY TONIGHT, NEWTON SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED AGAIN TODAY, AS PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER STRIKE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN BENEFITS AND WORKING CONDITIONS AND HIGHER PAY.

WE DISCUSS HOW LONG THE STRIKE MIGHT LAST AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

I AM JOINED BY DAVID BEDAR, HE HAS TAUGHT HISTORY AT NUTE HIGH SCHOOL FOR YEARS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS HAVING A HUGE IMPACT.

WE’RE TALKING NEARLY 2000 EDUCATORS PERMIT YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITHOUT A CONTRACT SINCE AUGUST.

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

WHY HAS THIS TAKEN SOLARTE AND WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST STICKING POINTS THAT ARE DELETING THESE NEGOTIATIONS?

-- DELAY THESE NEGOTIATIONS DAVID: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

NOT ONLY HAVE WE HAD A CONTRACT SINCE IT EXPIRED, WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE SINCE OCTOBER OF 2022 FROM JUST TO MAKE SURE THE YEAR IS PICKED UP CORRECTLY.

IT IS 2024.

SO THAT’S NOT GOOD.

ONE OF THE MAJOR STICKING POINTS , I WOULD SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS MAYOR RUTHANNE FULLER IS THE BIGGEST STICKING POINT.

I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT OUR PRIOR NEEDS AND WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR, THEY REALLY HAVE NOT CHANGED AT ALL IN THE LAST 16 MONTHS.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE FOLLOWING.

WE ARE THINKING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.

OUR STUDENTS ARE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND WE ARE LOOKING TO GET A SOCIAL WORKER IN EVERY ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM.

WE ARE LOOKING AT GETTING A REASONABLE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.

SOME OF THE DISCOURSE YOU MENTIONED RIGHT OFF THE BAT IS THE MAIN THING, AND THAT IS HOW IT IS OFTEN DEPICTED, IS THAT THIS IS ABOUT PAY.

IT’S ABOUT PAY AND, IN PART, AS FAR AS REASONABLE COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS WITH INFLATION.

BUT THAT IS BY NO MEANS THE ENTIRETY.

IF FOLKS ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE NEWS AND BEING CRITICAL CONSUMERS OF INFORMATION, HOPEFULLY THEY ARE SIFTING THROUGH SOME OF THE RHETORIC COMING FROM THE MAYORS’S OFFICE AND THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE TO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT EVENTS LIKE THE BIG RALLY WE HAD TODAY.

HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AT 1:00.

IT’S A LOT MORE THAN THE COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS, THOSE ARE IMPORTANT, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT A LIVING WAGE FOR UNIT C MEMBERS, SOMETIMES CALLED PARA-PROFESSIONALS OR EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS.

$27,000 IS NOT A LIVING WAGE.

THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE BY REJECTED THAT COUNTEROFFER OF RAISING PAY FOR UNIT C FOLKS, THEY DIDN’T OFFER A COUNTER PROPOSAL.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR PARENTAL LEAVE THAT IS MORE IN STEP WITH WHAT IT SHOULD BE IN 2024, MORE HUMANE, MODERN FAMILY LEAVE POLICIES.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR INCREASED STUDENT LEARNING SUPPORTS.

EVERYTHING WE HAVE BEEN SAYING, IT FEELS LIKE SOMETIMES OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, AT LEAST TO OUR ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP AT THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND MAYOR DON’T KNOW IF THERE IS A STRIKE HAPPENING AND DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE IN A CRISIS.

AND THIS DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THE CASE.

WE ALL WANT TO GET BACK TO THE CLASSROOMS AS SOON POSSIBLE, BUT THAT IS UP TO THE MAYOR.

SHE HAS THE MONEY AND NEEDS TO FUND THE SCHOOLS FULLY.

TONI: YOU MENTIONED THOSE PARA-PROFESSIONALS.

THAT INCLUDES BEHAVIORAL THERAPIST?

THE STARTING WAGE IS $27,000.

SO THERE ARE BEHAVIORAL THERAPISTS, BUT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC PROFESSIONALS AND PAYING THOSE AS WELL, THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN STICKING POINT IN THE CONTRACT?

DAVID: RIGHT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LIVING WAGE FOR FOLKS WHO WORK WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES, BEHAVIORAL THERAPISTS, IN ADDITION TO HOPEFULLY GETTING A SOCIAL WORKER.

THAT IS VERY NEEDED IN OUR SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY AMONG OUR YOUNGEST AND MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.

THESE ARE FOLKS THAT WORK REALLY, REALLY HARD AND HAVE AN OFTEN THANKLESS TASK, AND ARE VITAL TO THE OPERATION OF OUR SCHOOLS AND REALLY MAKE THE SCHOOLS RUN IN MANY WAYS.

AND IN A CITY LIKE NEWTON THAT IS AFFLUENT, THAT HAS THE MONEY TO PAY FOR FOLKS AND THE MAYOR CLAIMS THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE HER TOP PRIORITY, WELL, SHE HAS TO ACT LIKE IT.

FRANKLY, THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE CAN ONLY DO -- I FEEL FOR THEM SOMETIMES IN THE SENSE THAT THEY ARE HAMSTRUNG BY THE MAYOR.

THEY SHOULD BE STANDING UP TO HER.

NOT PUSHING BACK ON THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE GOOD FOR KIDS.

WE SAY IT ALL THE TIME, AND IT’S NOT JUST TO SAY IT, THAT STUDENT LEARNING CONDITIONS ARE THE SAME AS OUR WORKING CONDITIONS.

THIS IS WHAT WE’RE FIGHTING FOR.

THERE IS A REASON WHY STUDENTS ARE OUT THERE.

I HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM ALUMNI THAT I TAUGHT 10 YEARS AGO, 12 YEARS AGO REACHING OUT AND OFFERING EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT THAT THIS WILL GET RESOLVED QUICKLY.

AND I AM RIGHT THERE WITH THEM.

TONI: SO IT IS ILLEGAL FOR TEACHERS IN MASSACHUSETTS TO STRIKE.

ON FRIDAY, A MIDDLESEX SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE SAID THERE WOULD BE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS IF YOU DIDN’T STOP.

IT HAS CONTINUED.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

DAVID: YEAH.

IT HAS CONCLUDED BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT BY OUR STUDENTS AND FOR EDUCATION IN THE CITY OF NEWTON.

THE MAYOR CAN END THIS RIGHT NOW IF SHE WANTED TO BUY FULLY FUNDING THE SCHOOLS.

WE ARE PREPARED TO PAY FINES.

WE BELIEVE WHAT WE ARE DOING IS RIGHT.

WE BELIEVE WE ARE DOING RIGHT BY THE STUDENTS OF NEWTON.

YEAH, IT’S ILLEGAL.

IT’S AN ACT OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.

BUT WE ARE PROUD TO STAND UP FOR OUR STUDENTS, ARE FAMILIES.

THE COMMUNITY IS BEHIND US, WE HAVE SEEN THAT AT THE RALLIES, AT THE STANDOUTS.

THEY HAVE BEEN WITH US.

WE ARE TRYING TO STAND UP FOR THE RIGHT THING IN A WAY THAT ELECTED LEADERSHIP IN NEWTON EITHER DOESN’T HAVE THE WILL TO DO OR IS TOO AFRAID TO DO -- YOU WILL HAVE TO ASK THEM THAT -- BUT WE WILL HOLD OUT LONGER, ONE DAY LONGER THAN THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE WILL.

TONI: YOU MENTIONED HOW NEWTON IS VERY WELL-FUNDED.

AS A TOWNM THE TEACHERS ARE SOME OF THE HIGHEST PAID IN THE STATE.

I THINK THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE’S REACTION.

IN 30 SECONDS, TELL ME, WHEN PEOPLE TELL YOU WHAT IS NOT ENOUGH, WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY BE STRIKING OVER?

WHAT IS THE MISSION HERE?

DAVID: AS I SAID BEFORE, I WOULD SAY TO THOSE FOLKS THAT EDUCATION SUPPORT OFFICIALS AREN’T ACTUALLY BEING PAID A LIVING WAGE THAT SHOWS ANY LEVEL OF RESPECT AND VALUE FOR THE REALLY REALLY HARD WORK THAT THEY DO.

INFLATION HAS HIT EVERYONE, OF COURSE, AND WE ARE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, ASKING FOR REASONABLE -- THESE ARE CERTAINLY NOT OUTRAGEOUS PROPOSALS, BUT REASONABLE COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.

$28 MILLION IN SURPLUS, FREE CASH.

THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN CUTTING PROGRAMS.

MAYOR FULLER HAS CUT PROGRAMS THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THEY ARE TRYING TO HAVE US SUBSIDIZE EDUCATION IN NEWTON AND WE ARE SAYING, NO, YOU NEED TO FULLY FUND THE SCHOOL.

THAT IS YOUR JOB.

YOU ARE ELECTED TO LEAD, SO LEAD.

TONI: GREAT.

THIS IS AN ONGOING STORY, WE WILL BE ON TOP OF IT.

KEEP IN TOUCH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

DAVID: THANK YOU.

TONI: NOW TO BREAK DOWN HOW THE NEWTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE IS RESPONDING I AM JOINED BY THEIR CHAIRMAN, CHRIS BREZSKI.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

THIS ISN’T HAPPENING IN A VACUUM , OBVIOUSLY, THESE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN GOING ON OVER A YEAR, TEACHERS HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CONTRACT SINCE AUGUST.

NOW THE STRIKE HAS COME TO A HEAD AND YOU ARE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

WHAT IS THE HOLDUP?

WHAT IS KEEPING STUDENTS OUT OF SCHOOL AND WHAT ARE THE STICKING POINTS HERE IN TERMS OF NEGOTIATIONS?

CHRIS: YEAH.

, AS YOU SAID, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR WELL OVER A YEAR.

THE PACE OF NEGOTIATIONS HAS BEEN SLOW THROUGH MUCH OF THAT TIME.

WE DID ENTER INTO A MEDIATION BACK IN THE SUMMER, WHICH IS A PROCESS YOU ENTER INTO WHEN YOU REACH AN IMPASSE.

IT’S A SORT OF WELL-KNOWN PROCESS THAT IS INTENDED TO BRING THE TWO SIDES TOGETHER AND REACH A CONCLUSION AND AVOID SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING.

I MEAN, THAT IS NOT TO BE LOCKED HERE.

WHAT THE IMPACT OF THIS IS.

THIS IS KIDS BEING SHUT OUT OF SCHOOLS AGAIN AFTER ONLY A COUPLE OF YEARS REMOVED FROM THE PANDEMIC.

I HAVE TWO KIDS IN THE NEWTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ELEMENTARY STUDENT AND A MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENT.

I MEAN, THIS IS DEVASTATING TO GO THROUGH AS A PARENT.

SO IN TERMS OF THE ISSUES, THERE IS REALLY FOUR MAJOR VARIABLES IN THE NEGOTIATION, WHICH ARE COMPENSATION AND A COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT THAT OUR TEACHERS WILL GET.

IT IS BENEFITS, IT IS PARENTAL LEAVE, AND IT IS THE NEED FOR THE DISTRICT TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT OUR STUDENTS REQUIRE IN THE WAY THEY NEED TO RECEIVE THEM.

WE ARE STILL NEGOTIATING ON ALL FOUR OF THOSE POINTS, UNFORTUNATELYM WE SPOKE TO DAVID BEDAR OF THE NEWTON TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.

HE MENTIONED HOW HE SAID TEACHERS REALLY WANT TO BE WITH THEIR STUDENTS.

A STRIKE IS A LAST RESORT TO GET TO THIS POINT.

A COUPLE OF THE STICKING POINTS, WHICH YOU ALSO JUST MENTIONED, HAVE BEEN REJECTED, INCLUDING RAISING THE STARTING WAGE FOR UNIT C EMPLOYEES, PARAPROFESSIONAL TO HELP WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT WAS REJECTED.

HE SAID, THE COST-OF-LIVING RAISES HAVEN’T BEEN COMMENSURATE WITH THE COST OF LIVING IN NEWTON OR IN THE NEARBY AREA.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A BACK-AND-FORTH.

DESPITE THE MEDIATION, YOU HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT, END WHAT IS THE THINKING BEHIND THE REJECTION OF THOSE PROPOSALS?

CHRIS: SO, IN TERMS OF THE COST-OF-LIVING -- -- I WILL ADDRESS THAT FIRST BECAUSE THAT IS A VERY BIG-PICTURE ISSUE.

LOOK, I WILL NOT DISPUTE THAT THE INCREASE IN COMPENSATION FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ONLY RECEIVE A COLA, NOT THIS IS REALLY FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE STILL WORKING THEIR WAY UP THE SALARY TABLE, BUT ONLY FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ONLY RECEIVE A COLA, IT HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH INFLATION FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THAT’S THE REALITY.

THAT IS TRUE FOR MOST EVERYBODY IN AMERICA.

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS AREN’T BILLED FOR 8% INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENTS.

THAT IS WHAT IT IS.

WE DON’T DISPUTE THAT.

BUT IF YOU LOOK BACK ACROSS THE AVERAGE TENURE OF AN NPS EMPLOYEE, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE KEPT PACE EMPLOYEE.

THEY HAVE KEPT PACE WITH INFLATION AND THAT IS BECAUSE THEY WERE RECEIVING COLA ADJUSTMENTS OF 2%-PLUS OVER MANY YEARS EVEN WHEN INFLATION WAS PRACTICALLY ZERO.

THERE HAVEN’T BEEN THIS CATCH UP, AND THAT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO GO THROUGH.

WE DON’T DENY THAT.

THAT’S A REAL IMPACT ON OUR FOLKS WHO WORK FOR OUR KIDS.

IN TERMS OF THE UNIT C FOLKS YOU REFERENCED, I MEAN, MY FAMILY LIVES -- WE HAVE A LOT OF CONTACT WITH THOSE FOLKS IS APPARENT.

THEY DO, HONESTLY, AMAZING WORK FOR OUR KIDS.

I SAID THE OTHER NIGHT IN THE NEGOTIATING ROOM, YOU GO INTO A MEETING WITH 12 PEOPLE AND YOU ARE DOING 90 MINUTE JUST DOING NOTHING BUT TALKING ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF YOUR KIDS.

IT’S HEARTBREAKING TO SEE THIS HAPPENING NOW.

BUT WE CAME INTO THE NEGOTIATION AS A COMMITTEE, SAYING YOU KNOW WHAT, WE NEED TO DO BETTER ON THAT BOTTOM ENTRY LEVEL FOR THOSE FOLKS.

THAT WAS A STRATEGIC GOAL.

WE CAME TO THE AGREEMENT TO DROP THE BOTTOM TWO STEPS OFF THE CHART, SO TO SPEAK SO THAT PEOPLE COMING IN WILL HAVE A SORT OF STEP-FUNCTION HIGHER RATE THAN OTHERWISE WOULD BE.

I WOULD ALSO SAY, WHERE WE ARE NOW MOVING BACK INTO THE COMPETITIVE REALM -- WE WERE LOW -- >> $27,000 TO START IS RELATIVELY LOW FOR NEWTON.

SO WHAT DID YOU PROPOSE AS A HIGHER WAGE?

CHRIS: IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL NUMBERS, I DON’T HAVE THAT HANDY, I CAN CERTAINLY GET THAT FOR YOU.

BUT WE ARE HYPER COMPETITIVE AT THE TOP END OF UNIT C. WE PAY THE BEST WAGES -- CERTAINLY AMONGST OUR PEERS, IT MIGHT BE IN THE STATE, I AM NOT SURE.

IF THERE IS A RESTRUCTURING OF THAT TO LEVEL THAT SOMEHOW, I DON’T KNOW, WE HAVEN’T HEARD THEM BRING THAT FORTH OF THE PROPOSAL.

SO IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE CONTRACT AS A WHOLE, THOUGH, IT’S HARD TO SAY WHAT IS ON THE TABLE ISN’T COMPETITIVE.

WE HAVE LOOKED AT THEIR SELECTED PEER GROUPS AND USED THEIR METHODOLOGIES THAT THEY HAVE PUBLISHED.

THERE ARE GROUPS ARE MUCH SMALLER TOWNS, LESS DIVERSE, WEALTHIER IN MANY CASES, AND WE ARE THE MEDIAN OF THOSE GROUPS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR SELECTED METRICS.

SO IT IS HARD FOR ME TO SAY THAT AN OFFER THAT MAKES YOU THE MEDIAN ISN’T COMPETITIVE.

TONI: YOU MENTIONED THE PANDEMIC.

IT HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING A LOT OF DIFFICULTIES THAT EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONAL S FACE, AND IT CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN NEED MORE SUPPORT.

YOU NEED MORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT UNIT SOCIAL WORKERS PERHAPS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THEY ARE ASKING FOR IN THE CONTRACT.

DO YOU THINK NEWTON HAS THE ABILITY TO STEP UP AND PROVIDE THESE THINGS, TO MEET AT THE TABLE AT THIS TIME WHEN TEACHERS ARE SAYING, HEY, WE NEED MORE?

CHRIS: WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS CORRECT IN THE SENSE THAT IT IS DIFFERENT.

IT IS JUST DIFFERENT.

SCHOOLS ARE NOT EVEN RECOGNIZABLE TO WHAT THEY WERE 10 OR 15 YEARS AGO.

EVEN FIVE YEARS AGO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THINGS ARE DIFFERENT.

THE LEVEL OF NEED OF KIDS IS SO MUCH HIGHER.

I LIVE THAT EVERYDAY IS APPARENT -- AS A PARENT.

THE PROPOSALS AROUND FOR NEGLECT SOCIAL WORKERS ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING.

-- NEED FOR SOCIAL WORKERS ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING.

WHEN THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS HIRED, IN JULY THE FIRST THING SHE SAID IS I NEED TO TAKE AN AUDIT OF THE DISTRICT.

I NEED TO TAKE A LOOK WITH FRESH EYES AT WHAT ARE THE MOST CRITICAL NEEDS OF THIS DISTRICT?

SHE IDENTIFIED A COUPLE OF THINGS.

WE NEED TO BRING OUR CLASS SIZES DOWN IN SOME OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL MATH AND S.T.E.M.

CLASSES.

ANOTHER PRIORITY WAS, WE NEED TO PUT IN INCREMENTAL SUPPORTS, INCLUDING SOCIAL WORKERS, AT FIVE OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT NEED IT THE ABSOLUTE MOST.

THOSE WERE HER TWO BIGGEST PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO INVEST IN THIS DISTRICT GOING FORWARD.

SO THAT PLAN INCLUDED ADDING FIVE SOCIAL WORKERS ON TOP OF THE 105 SOCIAL WORKERS, COUNSELORS, PSYCHOLOGISTSS ET CETERA THAT ARE ALREADY AT OUR SCHOOLS DOING THAT WORK.

TONI: CHRIS, I AM SORRY.

WISH WE HAD MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I KNOW THE STORY IS ONGOING, THESE ISSUES STILL VERY MUCH HAPPENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND KEEP US POSTED.

CHRIS: THANK YOU.

TONI: THANKS, CHRIS.

SATZ TONIGHT.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY.

I AM TORI BEDFORD.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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