FYI from BSF, 04.15.22
Capital City
Weighing in at 1,106 pages (approximately 11 pounds), the first draft of the city budget for FY23 was released by Mayor Wu this past Wednesday. Just shy of $4B, you can find a good rundown of the budget’s ups and downs here.
With the vote at Boston School Committee last month, the budget increase and investment areas for Boston Public Schools have already been proposed. But, buried on page 80 in the capital section of the budget, there is a significant piece of news for Boston schools: the promise of a significant number of new school buildings.
Here are some quick highlights.
In its annually updated five-year plan, the city is proposing a lot more capital investment, meaning more money for school buildings, but not a percentage increase.
This boldness is not profligate. The scale of these projects is made possible by the massive federal dollars directed to states, cities, and towns in response to the pandemic.
The majority of the capital dollars are flowing to infrastructure investments across many schools (e.g., water pipes without lead, libraries) or projects already underway (e.g., active construction like Boston Arts Academy or in the design phase like the Carter School).
Both the capital budget and narrative refer to funding for multiple studies, which could result in new or newly renovated buildings. Many of these projects have been referenced for years in BuildBPS planning, but this is the first time there is money behind them.
Allston Elementary School Study
Dorchester Elementary School Study
Horace Mann School (Permanent Location) Study
McKinley School Study
Roxbury Elementary School Study
Timilty Reconfiguration
West Roxbury Education Campus Study
The inclusion of the Horace Mann School serves as a warning. That project did not receive funding when the district applied for Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), so now the city must finance this work on its own. Given this track record, it is fair to be skeptical about the two projects for East Boston and the Blackstone School.
Three important caveats to consider.
First, these are allocations. Capital plans are five years in length, and updated annually. A study, or even a promise of dollars in this document, is not a guarantee any new project will actually happen. Case in point, the failed attempt to build a large, shared building for Quincy Upper School and Boston Arts Academy. Not even the three “model” projects presented in the Build BPS plan (McKay, Ellis, Young Achievers) ever happened.
Second, consider the scale. An increase of $45M sounds significant, but it would take 20 years for the current annual spend to meet the +$3B capital renewal required for Boston schools (not even accounting for inflation and additional deferred maintenance).
Lastly, school building quality is not a guarantee of school quality. In 2003, Mayor Menino drove the construction and launch of three new schools: Orchard Gardens (K-8), Mildred Avenue (originally 6-8), and the Lilla E Frederick (6-8).
These schools struggled out of the gate. All three schools opened with full enrollment, and could not maintain it, hampering budget and planning. From 2003-2010, the schools all had one consistent state assessment among them, the 8th grade MCAS. In that time, the schools averaged proficiency of 6.5 out of 100. When the state began to leverage its new intervention powers both Orchard Gardens and Mildred Ave were designated for turnaround. The Lilla E Frederick’s future is uncertain as the only remaining grade 6-8 BPS school.
This doesn’t mean new schools can’t or don’t eventually work. After a strong turnaround, we now support Mildred Avenue as a high-quality option for Boston families. Community design processes, a planning year for a school leader and founding team, and allowing new schools to grow their student body slowly are proven effective strategies for launching high-quality schools.
Buildings are important, they need to be prioritized, and construction needs to move quickly. We have a plan for that.
But a shovel in the ground does not mean a high-quality school will be built there.The desired characteristics of Boston’s new superintendent form a lengthy list, with but one short reference to special education.
Reopening Boston, MA, and Beyond
School-reported COVID cases continue to rise. Unclear whether next week's April break changes this trend line.
The Massachusetts House is proposing a big increase in early child care for its next budget. New York is considering an investment 70x greater.
Other Matters
It is official - Boston will be finalizing candidates for the superintendent as the state concludes its review of the district. The superintendent search firm is projecting interviews of candidates during the weeks of June 6 and June 13. At a City Council hearing on Monday, there was extensive testimony opposing state receivership, which may or may not be considered when review of the district is made public in late May. All of this has left little time for teacher contract negotiations.
The semifinalists for Massachusetts Teacher of the Year were released this week.