FORJ Elementary School Representative Collaborations
Your FORJ Representative, Lanni Isenberg, will meet with FORJ reps from other Newton Elementary Schools to map out steps for responding to incidents of racial injustice should they happen in our community. While Newton Police are poised to respond to any reports of discrimination or harassment, our goal is to have a network within the schools to provide support and educational resources to address the issue, whether it pertains to a family member, a local neighbor or school or student involvement.
Budget Cuts to Affect Most Recent NPS Hires
Newton Public Schools and Newton Mayor Fuller continue to release details on plans for necessary budget cuts. One major budget-cutting measure will involve eliminating some teaching staff. NPS has made a concerted effort to recruit diverse candidates including LGBTQIA+ and/or teachers of color for staff positions in the last few years. It is important to note that staff members who were hired over the past three years do not have professional status (tenure) yet; they are the most likely to be laid off. Be sure to attend local school committee meetings to let them know Lincoln-Eliot families are paying attention to all planning. There is a public hearing on Zoom on Monday, April 4th and another on Monday, April 11th. Click here to sign up for April 11th. Information about School Committee Meetings can be found here:·https://www.newton.k12.
Women’s History Month Feature: Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Albright (May 15, 1937 – March 23, 2022) was an American diplomat who served as the 64th United States secretary of state from 1997 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. She was the first female secretary of state in U.S. history. Albright immigrated with her family to the United States in 1948 from Czechoslovakia. She attended Wellesley College (right next to Newton) where she worked on the campus newspaper and studied political science. Then, she earned a PhD at Columbia University. Known as a bright, determined and bold person, Albright was skilled at making foreign policy easy to understand for people who aren’t in politics.
FAMILIES ORGANIZING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE (FORJ) is a group of diverse Newton families helping our children learn about issues of power and inequality and how to stand up for racial justice. We seek to generate understanding and curiosity about differences in our society, and to work together towards racial equity.
For more information about FORJ, contact Lincoln-Eliot FORJ PTO Liaison Lanni Isenberg, lanni_harris@yahoo.com.