YOUR LOCAL NEWS & SPORTS ONLINE. SCAN HERE! Vol. 34, No.47 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Free Every Friday Revere School Committee and Revere Teachers Association Reach Tentative Agreement on Union Contract Special to Th e Advocate T he Revere School Committee and Revere Teachers Association have reached a tentative agreement on a mutually beneficial four year contract. The proposed union contract includes an increase in wages for all teachers districtwide, paid parental leave, and school safety initiatives. The Revere School Committee and Revere Teachers Association are pleased to share that the tentative agreement prioritizes the needs of educators and students, and protects taxpayers. Mayor Patrick M. Keefe Jr. stated, “This proposed contract speaks to the power of listening to one another, and mutual respect for each other’s roles. I take pride in the strength of our ongoing relationship with the Revere Teachers Association, as we navigated an eff ective deal that safeguards the quality of education Revere Public Schools is known for.” Dr. Dianne Kelly, Superintendent of Schools, commented, “We remain incredibly grateful for the hard work our teachers and all of our staff members do every day. I think we all know that teachers are the backbone of our public school systems and our schools can only thrive when the relationships between staff and district leadership are thriving. I am thankful to the RTA leadership and to the Revere School Committee for supporting the district through these negotiations and for centering the needs of children as we found our common ground.” Jane Chapin and Michelle Ervin, Co-Presidents of the RTA, said, “This agreement represents a meaningful step in the right direction for our students and educators. UNION CONTRACT | SEE Page 8 781-286-8500 Friday, November 22, 2024 Solving student conflict through RPS’ restorative justice program By Barbara Taormina L ike a lot of people of his generation, Mayor Patrick Keefe recalls his parents advising him that should anyone at school hit him, he should hit back. Keefe shared that memory of an old-school solution after a presentation by the restorative justice team at this week’s School Committee meeting. Restorative justice coach Linda Barber and a team of restorative justice practitioners met with the committee to explain Revere’s program and its benefi ts for students and educators. Barber and the team described the core components for restorative justice in Revere public schools. It begins with classroom circles, which involve all students. Circle discussions give students the chance to understand the diff erent values and backgrounds they and their peers are bringing to the table. As one team member explained, circle builds authentic understanding among students and creates relationships they want to maintain. “Circles are meant to create a sense of belonging,” said one restorative justice team member. “It’s where most of our time is spent,” said Barber. “The more time we spend developing relationships, the less time we spend cleaning up.” The other pieces of the restorRevere Teachers Association (RTA) Copresidents Jane Chapin and Michelle Ervin are shown with teachers and supporters outside City Hall demanding contract negotiations with school offi cials recently. It was announced this week that the RTA and the city have reached a tentative agreement. (Courtesy photo) ative justice program involve working with smaller groups of students who need more help making connections with peers. There is also work on rebuilding relationships, repairing harm and strategies to remain positive. Along the way, students learn valuable skills, such as conDr. Dianne Kelly RPS Supt. of Schools cise and direct expression of ideas, listening to others without judgement, learning to ask questions to best understand the perspective of others and understanding boundaries. School Superintendent Dianne Kelly said the restorative justice program at the high school has successfully logged 82 confl ict resolutions. “Those were things that could have become fi ghts, but didn’t because students could use the resources they got through restorative justice,” she said. Kelly added that there have been, conservatively, a couple of hundred issues that could have become fi ghts resolved at the district’s middle schools. “It’s avoided kids being removed from school or suspended,” said Kelly, adding that the restorative justice staff meets students when they are most vulnerable and upset. Although the School Committee wanted to see more data and results from the program, they were supportive and interested in attending a circle to better understand how restorative justice works. Kelly stressed it does work and it gives students skills they can use throughout their lives.
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