Newton school district shares anti-strike posts on official social media

Teachers on strike in Newton are crying foul over a series of posts on the Newton Public Schools official Facebook account criticizing the Newton Teachers Association. The 10 messages appeared just after 7 p.m. Tuesday night.

"The NTA can end this strike today and return kids to classrooms tomorrow," one post read. Another highlighted that the start of summer break will be delayed each day the strike continues. Multiple posts, deleted after WBUR first reported on them, included details about the ongoing negotiations.

Officials with Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller's office said they did not know who authored the posts and referred WBUR to the school district. Superintendent Anna Nolin did not respond to a request for comment.

"That misinformation was actively being spread through official channels is really appalling," said David Bedar, a history teacher at Newton North High School and a union spokesperson. "It seemed to us wildly inappropriate."

The Facebook account is widely viewed by parents and the community, with more than 5,000 followers.

Meanwhile, there was some progress Wednesday in the negotiations that have kept schools closed for five days for more than 11,000 Newton students. The School Committee sent the union a counterproposal on cost-of-living salary adjustments, according to Bedar. While he did not share details of the offer, Bedar said any discussion between sides is a step forward.

News of the counterproposal came shortly after the teachers union held its daily rally Wednesday outside Newton City Hall, where Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley appeared and shared her support for the strike effort.

"Your labor is essential and I care about it," Pressley told the crowd. "But I'm not here simply because I value your labor. I'm here because I give a damn about your lives."

She said Newton city leaders and residents can't call education a public good unless they support investing in area educators.

"This is a temporary disruption for what will be a long term benefit," Pressley said.

The mayor continued her push Wednesday to encourage teachers to end the strike and re-open schools. It's illegal for teachers to strike in Massachusetts and the Newton Teachers Association is facing an escalating series of fines for breaking the law. On Monday, a judge imposed a $25,000 fine that would double each day the strike continued. As of Thursday morning, the fines racked up to a total of $175,000.

"The School Committee negotiating team will continue to bargain in good faith and I will continue to support our terrific teachers with the funding for a competitive and sustainable contract," Fuller said in a written statement posted to the city's website. She added that the school committee and the district's negotiating team are working hard to make progress at the negotiating table.

Editor's note: This story was updated to report that the Facebook posts had been removed and to include the latest tally of fines.