Dec 15 2021 · Last Night @ School Committee Recap · Ep. 45
What happens at each Boston Public Schools School Committee meeting has big implications for our students and our city. In “Last Night @ School Committee,” Jill Shah and Ross Wilson recap the highlights of each meeting, provide commentary and context, and shine a light on the decisions our leaders are making.
Last night’s meeting began with the announcement that two current Committee members, Hardin Coleman and Ernani DeAraujo, would not be seeking reappointment to the School Committee after their term ends. After this announcement, the Superintendent provided a brief Superintendent’s Report that touched on a few subjects, including COVID-19 testing updates and an experiential learning competition, where a BINCA student designed artwork for a new sneaker that is available for purchase. After a quick presentation on charter amendments for the Edward M. Kennedy (EMK) Academy, the meeting shifted to public comment, where there were numerous public comments regarding the prospectus for the Charlestown Innovation and Inclusive High School, as well as comments on COVID-19 testing and the exam schools.
The School Committee took three votes last night, voting on two charter amendments for the EMK Academy and the Boston Day and Evening Academy, and finally voted to close the Irving Middle School, Jackson/Mann School, and Timilty Middle School – a vote that had been put off several weeks ago. After voting, the School Committee heard two reports last night: the first was a detailed report from the Office of Equity, and the second a financial update on the district’s budget and ESSER funding. During this report, we heard that much of the federal recovery funding granted to BPS still has not reached schools, and there was also a discussion about the budget impact of continuously declining enrollment numbers across the district.
After the final meeting of 2021, we are still left with the following questions:
Will the Superintendent and her team transparently share the details of how ESSER funding is being spent at each school and at the Central Office?
What is the long-term plan for BPS school buildings? School Committee members continue to ask this question. The Superintendent mentioned an RFP to create a campus master plan. Will there be a master campus planning process?
A waitlist has been added to the new Exam School Admissions policy. Does this addition by the Superintendent need the School Committee’s vote?
What is the schedule for School Committee meetings in the Spring of 2022?
Ways to Engage and Resources:
Testify at the next school committee meeting in the new year and share your thoughts on how to address the issues facing your school
Reach out to the new mayor and new city councilors to discuss your priorities for BPS
BPS has proposed a community conversation about goals for our schools. Email Miriam Rubin in the Finance Office at BPS to join the conversation: mrubin3@bostonpublicschools.org
Sign up for our email list at ShahFoundation.org to provide feedback on this podcast, receive updates on our work, and be notified when new podcast episodes are available.
Advocate to the School Committee members to increase their accountability of the Superintendent and her team.
Chair Jeri Robinson: grobinson@bostonpublicschools.org
Vice Chair Michael O’Neill: moneill2@bostonpublicschools.org
Dr. Hardin Coleman: hcoleman2@bostonpublicschools.org
Ernani DeAraujo: edearaujo@bostonpublicschools.org
Quoc Tran: qtran2@bostonpublicschools.org
Bill Walczak December 9th Article in the Dorchester Reporter
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