The PTO encourages you to learn more about the City Override Vote scheduled for March 14. We are sharing resources and information to keep our community informed about what the override vote is, what it means if it passes, and if it doesn’t. 

The School Committee meeting on January 23rd (6pm via Zoom) will outline two NPS budgets for next year: One that includes the $4.5M (if the override passes) and one without that $4.5M of funding.

What is an Override?  Massachusetts has a limit on the revenue a municipality can raise from property taxes.  Towns can only exceed this limit if a majority of the voters agree to “override” the limit.

Question 1 is an operating override. The money goes into the City’s operating budget. The tax increase would start on July 1, 2023. Funds will go to:

• • • Newton Public School student needs ($4.5M)
    • Street and sidewalk paving ($1.4M)
    • Tree planting and care ($500K)
    • Parks, fields, and playgrounds ($1M)
    • Improvements to Horace Mann ($775K)
    • Sustainability and climate resiliency ($500K)
    • Senior Services and Programming ($500K).

Funds are only required to be put into the named categories for the first year. However, the City Council will hold current administration and future Mayors accountable to allocate money as presented through the annual budget approval process.

Questions 2 and 3 are debt exclusion overrides. The tax increase would pay for the debt on the bonds for the school construction for Countryside and Franklin Elementary Schools. The increase would last until the bonds are paid off (30 years). If question 2 does not pass, Countryside also loses the $20MM granted by the state from being deemed one of the 15 worst in Massachusetts.

The full override proposal is on the City’s website. See how much your taxes would increase here (if the override passes). Newton’s last override was in 2013 and paid for the Newton Centre fire station, as well as Cabot, Zervas, and Angier Elementary Schools. Nearby towns have had many more overrides (since 2000: Newton: 1; Brookline: 5; Lexington: 9; Needham: 11; Wellesley: 14).

Find more information about the override from these sources:

•  The City of Newton website, meetings and presentations
•  Vote Yes for Newton (Instagram or Facebook)
•  Newton Beacon (“an independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan digital news organization reporting exclusively on Newton, Massachusetts”)
•   League of Women Voters

At the School Committee meeting tomorrow, Monday, January 23rd, the district will provide information on the 2023-24 school year budget. The presentation will include specific information on the proposed override and its impact on the district budget. The superintendent will describe how override funding will be utilized if approved, as well as the impact to students if the override is not approved and funding is not available. The meeting begins at 6:30pm, and the budget presentation will occur closer to 7pm.

I encourage you to consider attending this important meeting tomorrow to learn more. The meeting begins at 6:30pm, and login information is below:

• Zoom meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/390017072

• Call-in information:  1-646-558-8656

• Call-in meeting ID: 390 017 072

Show your New England spirit by walking, biking, rolling or taking the bus in the winter! Join students across Massachusetts in celebrating Winter Walk, Ride & Roll Day on February 1. Newton families, please do your part by keeping your sidewalks clear of snow and ice.”

FB Event: https://fb.me/e/2sVNZRJTC

Start the new year off with creativity by participating in the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School annual Yard Sign Design Contest! The contest, entering its seventh year, is open now. This year’s topic focuses on addressing speeding in school zones and on school property. The contest guidelines are available on the Encouragement page of the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School website. This is open to grades 2 – 8 and multilingual signs are highly encouraged! All submissions are due on Friday, February 17, 2023.

Hi Families,

Happy New Year! We want to give a huge thank you to all the Room Connectors who worked hard before break to present gifts to the teachers and staff on behalf of the whole class.

Also, thank you to all the volunteers who generously gave their time to help out with the Book Fair this year. From helping before or after school to the Cookies & PJ night, we had a tremendous amount of volunteers and hours put in to make the Book Fair a huge success. Thank you Tui Sutherland and Jenny Rosenthal, for once again, leading this great week of books! Beyond raising $2500 for the PTO, we were also able to purchase books for the holiday helper bags and for teachers and staff. If anyone has interest in leading this wonderful event next year, please contact secretary@lepto.org.

Important Dates

• January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School & Newton Celebration
• January 22: Lunar New Year (recognized)
• January 25: 4th Grade (5:45pm) and 5th Grade Concert (7:00pm) – LE Gym
• February 2: Early Release, 12:10 Dismissal

Lincoln-Eliot will be creating a School Council comprised of 2 teachers/staff, 2 parent/caregivers,1 community member, and the principal. Per state mandate, an official poll must be conducted to vote the parent members in. Below, you will find a link to vote for our 2 parent/caregiver members.

https://forms.gle/aHQEMABV3LKqboet5

A huge thank you to Carly Ruttner and Heather Hotchkiss for volunteering to be on this year’s council!

The PTO was able to provide funds to the 2nd grade team for their Critical Literacy Project, including The Colors of Us by Karen Katz, paints, and brushes. See their portraits below!

Hi LE Families,

We hope you had a wonderful break. Please join our upcoming PTO meeting this Wednesday, November 30th at 6:30 via Zoom. The link will be sent out Wednesday morning. It’s a busy December with the return of our Book Fair! Stay tuned for more details.

November 30th: 6:30pm, PTO Meeting (Zoom link to follow)
December 3rd: SEPAC Playground Meet-up at Cabot Elementary School Playground
December 8th: NPS Early Dismissal, 12:10 Dismissal
December 9th- December 15th: L-E Book Fair
December 14th: Dress Like a Book Character Day

Please join us for our next general PTO meeting on Wednesday, November 30th at 6:30pm.

This meeting will be virtual via Zoom and the link will be sent out the morning of. We will be discussing the NPS gift policy for teachers and staff, as well as possible future events.