Jan 26 2022 · Last Night @ School Committee Recap · Ep. 47

Written By Josh Block

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 introduction of the newest School Committee member, Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, to round out the seven-member committee. A former advisor to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Cardet-Hernandez is currently the Executive Director of the Ivy Street School, a private program serving students with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and other learning disabilities. Cardet-Hernandez joins Dr. Stephen Alkins as the two newest members appointed by Mayor Wu this month.

The meeting began with the Superintendent’s Report that first celebrated this year’s Educators of the Year. The report focused on COVID rates and updates to testing options, and concluded with a preview of the only report of the night on high school redesign. After thoughtful questions asked by committee members, the School Committee heard public comments primarily from two school communities: the P.A. Shaw School, with numerous students and parents asking for the district to keep their promise of adding a fourth and fifth grade, and the Manning Elementary School, with parents expressing concern with the new exam school policy that denies students assigned to their school the ten bonus points.

After a vote on approving a revised Code of Conduct, the School Committee then heard the only report of the night on high school redesign. The Superintendent and her team provided a high-level vision for schools that was lacking in details, metrics, or timelines. One of the more notable points of the presentation was the plan to convert the King K-8 and Trotter K-8 into K-6 schools that would have a guaranteed pathway to the Burke High School in the Grove Hall section of Roxbury. The School Committee asked targeted questions about implementation and timeline for the redesign.

The next committee meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 2nd at 5pm on Zoom, and the Superintendent and her team will present a preliminary budget for FY2023.

Here are some of the questions that we think are worth asking:

  • Dr. Drew Echelson mentioned a new RFP last night during the high school redesign presentation on collecting and evaluating data. When will this RFP be posted?

  • What is the long term plan for BPS school buildings? School Committee members continue to ask this question. The Superintendent last year mentioned an RFP to create a campus master plan, which we still have not seen. Will there be a master campus planning process?

  • A first draft of next year’s budget will be presented at the next School Committee meeting. With the District entering next year with more money than ever, where will the Superintendent invest these resources? 

Ways to Engage and Resources:

  • Join your school’s School Parent Council and Site Council, and talk to your school leader about the needs of your school and any potential changes for the upcoming year. 

  • Testify at the next school committee meeting and share your thoughts on how to address the issues facing your school.

  • Reach out to Mayor Wu and the City Council to discuss your priorities for BPS.

  • 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. 

Josh Block
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Feb 2 2022 · Last Night @ School Committee Recap · Ep. 48
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Jan 12 2022 · Last Night @ School Committee Recap · Ep. 46