Ep. 62, Last Night @ School Committee: 5/25 Meeting Recap

Last Night At School Committee

What happens at each Boston 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 a discussion of the highly critical state review of Boston Public Schools, coming on the heels of a State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) hearing on the state report on Tuesday. District leaders highlighted the positives in the report while downplaying the criticisms. The Superintendent’s report last night also included discussion of BPS school safety measures, a new food contract with City Fresh, a bus drivers agreement, and the announcement of a Green New Deal for Boston Public Schools – positive developments awaiting further detail.

The meeting continued with an interesting conversation about what role the School Committee is meant to play in the state receivership discussions, and then a public comment period with heartbreaking testimony about the damning state report and the ways in which BPS has failed students with disabilities.

The meeting concluded with votes to refrain from joining the Massachusetts School Choice Plan and to reduce the number of school days at UP Academy from 185 to 180. Finally, we heard an update on the superintendent search process, which noted that approximately 8 of the 34 candidates will receive a first-round interview next week, with second-round interviews the following week, public sessions the week after that, and an offer by the end of June. This ambitious timeline led to a telling back-and-forth about the likelihood of appointing an interim superintendent.

The next School Committee meeting will take place Wednesday, June 8 at 5pm.

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