FYI from BSF, 06.24.22
Finals
It's official: there are two finalists for Boston superintendent, Mary Skipper and Tommy Welch. Both candidates are former teachers, founded well-regarded autonomous secondary schools, and served as assistant superintendents in Boston Public Schools. Both have deep ties in and an understanding of the Boston Public Schools. More time will reveal more of their similarities and differences. Neither candidate is Black or Latino, a detail not missed by Boston School Committee members or public commenters at Tuesday night’s meeting.
Even if questions remain about process, there can be no question about the volume of material generated in the process. Multiple public hearings. A search committee. A search firm. A lengthy job description. A community survey. Expect a lot of press coverage, too.
Pulling from all those disparate sources, we did our best to synthesize/summarize all of this information into a rubric of sorts (download if you like).
If you watched Skipper’s interviews yesterday, plan to watch Welch’s today, or plan to share your opinion with the Boston School Committee before next Wednesday, consider this a resource.
Next Wednesday, Boston School Committee will vote to hire a permanent superintendent for the third time in the span of 7 years. Pandemic recovery, an organization in need of rebuilding (Skipper: “very difficult time in its history;” Welch: “shortcomings”), and significant operational obstacles await. But so do motivated and talented educators, students, and families, hundreds of millions of dollars in federal, state, and city resources, and a $2B facilities investment.
The opportunity for leadership is here now, but the work ahead is long, results lagging.
Only time will tell if the right leader was chosen.
Notes in the Margin
A special groundbreaking at the Carter School this week.
The Boston School Committee meeting covered more than the superintendent search. Materials here, including updates on exam school admissions and autonomous schools. Drew Echelson is officially acting superintendent, starting July 1 through the start date of Skipper or Welch. Lots of public comment on proposed elementary school mergers.
Boston and DESE don’t appear to agree on the definition of “partnership.”
Teachers’ perspectives on the long school year that was 2021-2022.
Literacy interventions are profiled.
The pandemic stalled a plan to increase rigor and passing scores for the 10th grade MCAS. When/how should this resume? Some state legislators have questions.
The annual Boston Opportunity Agenda report card provides its usual data scan of city schools, and an additional reference point for student outcomes affected (or not) by the pandemic. Full report here.
Other Matters
In this year's penultimate COVID-19 schools report, cases are down (60% across Massachusetts, 42% in Boston). Children below the age of five are officially vaccine eligible.
In a narrow ruling, the Supreme Court held that it is constitutional for a state to provide funding for religious schools under specific circumstances.
Two quick corrections. First, the last day of school for Boston Public Schools is this coming Monday (last week’s email implied school formally ended this week, notwithstanding the informal end for many students once grades have closed). Second, apologies for the errant, older newsletter you may have received last Saturday night. Mass communication is easier than ever, which means it is also very easy to hit the wrong button.