Massachusetts
Massachusetts students return to school after lengthy teacher strike
Students in Newton, Massachusetts, were finally able to return to class on Monday after a historically long teachers union strike that kept the schoolhouse doors shuttered for more than two weeks.
The strike ended on Friday night after 15 days of protest and 11 missed school days, allowing students to come back to class Monday morning. The Newton Teachers Association reached a contract agreement with the school district Friday and voted to ratify it late Sunday evening.
Ninety-seven percent of the union voted to affirm a four-year contract that accounts for 13% cost-of-living increases, pay increases for classroom aides and behavioral therapists, and 60 days of parental leave, among other things. The school district will hold a public vote to approve the contract on Wednesday.
Union negotiator Ryan Normandin said the deal was a victory, saying closing schools to reach the new contract terms sent a powerful message to the students who could not go to class.
“We taught our students not to be afraid that when those in power try to take away your rights, that they should stand up for themselves, that they should not do it alone, but together,” he said at a press conference. “We taught every other district in this state what will happen if they try to balance their budgets on the backs of our students and educators.”
Newton parent Trevor Mack, a father of an eight-year-old girl, struck a different tone, telling the Boston Globe that the contentiousness was “long overdue” and “avoidable,” adding, “I don’t think there’s a single party that won in this strike.”
Both the district and the union “lost my trust very early on in their very negative tone and rhetoric,” Mack continued.
The Newton controversy unfolded against the backdrop of a wealthy district with favorable student-to-teacher ratios, as well as higher-than-average teacher salaries and spending per pupil.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, teacher salaries increased considerably in Newton from 2018’s $82,045 to $96,810 in 2022. By contrast, the average teacher salary in Massachusetts was $80,204 in 2018 and $89,889 in 2022. Similarly, Newton’s per-pupil spending is higher than the state average, clocking in at about $24,521, where the state average is $20,133, as of Jan. 18.
The district and the union incurred significant costs over the course of the strike, which started with a walkout on Jan. 19. In total, 2,000 teachers from roughly two dozen schools were affected, but roughly 12,000 students took the brunt of the strike in the affluent suburb of around 87,000 locals.
Since striking is illegal for public sector union members in Massachusetts, a judge continuously increased the fines on the teachers union, reaching $600,000 and threatening to double fines to $100,000 per day if a deal was not reached by Sunday evening.
The school district, on the other hand, is now expected to spend an added $53 million over the course of the new contract.
The strike, which was the longest of its kind in 30 years, was roiled in controversy, and some in Massachusetts see it as a flashpoint that could invite more during contract negotiations in other school districts.
Around 15 to 20 districts in the state are concerned about upcoming negotiations, Massachusetts Association of School Committees Executive Director Glenn Koocher told the Boston Globe.
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“A lot of districts that have contracts coming up are thinking about what this means if the unions are becoming more militant, if they’re not afraid of a judge, if they’re not afraid of being held in contempt, and if they think it can get them more,” Koocher explained.
Teacher strikes have increased in the Bay State since 2022, with unions showing a willingness to weather fines for long periods of time.
Life Care Center of Raynham has received a deficiency‑free inspection result from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, a distinction awarded to a small share of the state’s licensed nursing homes, according to a community announcement.
The inspection was conducted as part of the state’s routine, unannounced nursing home survey process overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These comprehensive, multi‑day inspections evaluate multiple aspects of facility operations, including staffing levels, quality of care, medication management, cleanliness, food service and resident rights.
State survey records show that Life Care Center of Raynham met required standards during its most recent standard survey, with no deficiencies cited, based on publicly available state data.
The announcement states that fewer than 8% of Massachusetts nursing homes achieve deficiency‑free survey results. That figure could not be independently verified through state or federal data and is attributed to the announcement.
In addition to the state survey outcome, the facility is listed as a five‑star provider for quality measures on the federal Medicare Care Compare website. The five‑star quality measure rating reflects above‑average performance compared with other nursing homes nationwide, according to federal rating methodology.
Officials said the inspection results reflect ongoing compliance with state and federal standards designed to protect resident health and safety. According to the announcement, the outcome is attributed to staff performance and internal quality practices.
This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
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Massachusetts residents love their beach towns.
And Condé Nast Magazine loves two particular beach towns in the Bay State, but surprisingly didn’t pick a beach on Cape Cod.
That’s why the towns were included on the magazine’s 2025 list of the 17 best beach towns on the East Coast.
“Whether you’re looking to lay out on the sand in summer or prefer walking along the water spotting wildlife and collecting rocks, the shores of the East Coast have a little something for everyone,” Condé Nast stated on its website.
Here’s more about the magazine’s favorite beach towns in Massachusetts.
Oak Bluffs ranked No. 5 on the list
Coming in at number 5 is one of the most popular spots on Martha’s Vineyard – Oak Bluffs.
What they said: “The colorful gingerbread houses for which Oak Bluffs is known are straight out of a storybook. Visitors walk straight off their boats into Ocean Park, a circular green overlooking the sea, encircled by said houses, with a frothy, delicate gazebo sitting in the center. Oak Bluffs has a long history of welcoming Black visitors, and today it is home to the annual African-American Film Festival.”
Rockport ranked No. 4 on the list
Rockport is a town on the North Shore of the Bay State.
What they said: “The coastal region is known for its excellent seafood, beautiful beaches, and historic landmarks. Many a good film has been filmed here as well, such as Martin Scorsese’s ‘Shutter Island’ and Kenneth Lonergan’s ‘Manchester-by-the-Sea.’
“Forty miles north of Boston, (Rockport) has a can’t-miss natural gem in Halibut Point State Park, from which visitors can spot Maine in the distance 80 miles away. Rockport is also beloved by art history buffs: it is home to Motif Number 1, a fishing shack with the superlative ‘the most-often painted building in America.’ It was built in 1840, and was a popular subject because it represented New England’s nautical character.”
What other regions of New England are on the list?
According to Condé Nast, they include:
- Bar Harbor, Maine
- Kennebunkport, Maine
- Newport, Rhode Island
- Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
- Madison, Connecticut
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