FYI from BSF, 09.08.22

Today is the first day of school for Boston Public Schools, and with that comes new opportunities and changes.

Interim Superintendent Drew Echelson will continue his service to the district and lead BPS until we welcome Mary Skipper, Superintendent of Somerville Public Schools, as the new BPS Superintendent. The entire Boston Schools Fund staff and Board are excited to support this transition and the district’s success.

This is the first time in three years that students and educators enter classrooms without most COVID restrictions, while schools are still working to keep their communities safe and hoping for a year of less disrupted in-school learning.

Mayor Wu has laid out an ambitious plan to revitalize BPS buildings. The Green New Deal for BPS that the administration rolled out last March seeks to transform the district's buildings in the next ten years. Where prior efforts missed the mark, the future of BPS looks bright with new and updated buildings on the horizon city officials hope will produce school environments ripe for learning and opportunities for academic success.

Today, students at Boston Arts Academy this year, the city’s only public arts school, will walk through doors to a brand new building. Complete with new amphitheaters, state of the art instructional rooms, a black box theater and new technology tools throughout, the new B.A.A. building is an example of what can happen when we all work together on behalf of our kids' future. As our organization’s first grant, Boston Schools Fund (BSF) was there at the beginning, in 2015, when this project began.

Assessments of 9 year-olds showed the largest decline in literacy in a generation.

At BSF, September is New Year’s. Anything is possible at the start of a new school year, and our team is inspired by the city’s leaders, and a renewed sense of commitment to the values of our work.

Here are notes from a few.

"This summer we expanded our team significantly. I feel so grateful to be working alongside such a talented group of individuals, and am so excited to expand our vision for Mission Grammar and the opportunities available to our scholars and families." – Aliece M. Dutson, President, Mission Grammar School

“I’m entering this school year deeply inspired by the infinite possibility presented by our students and staff. I am continuously inspired by the tenacity demonstrated by our staff who are ready to tackle a new year. I am inspired by the deep trust that our parents have in our school community. And as a collective, we are inspired to create a community that is worthy of our students’ brilliance.” – Meekerley Sanon, Principal Boston Prep

“Partnering with families to ensure that our students continue to thrive and experience joy while engaging in higher-order thinking and learning. Channing relies on families’ voices as a compass to help drive and steer our mission and work towards rigorous instruction and empowering our students, so they shine in school and beyond.” - Carline Pignato, Principal, William E. Channing Elementary School

“I am excited to see a building full of eager students who are healthy, happy, and ready to learn. The pandemic has made it possible to reimagine new ways of serving our students and families. I am eager to continue to find creative and innovative ways to provide students with what they need collectively and individually.” – William Thomas, Head of School, New Mission High School

In a constantly changing world, our mission endures. The BSF team wakes up every day with one goal: increase the number of children in Boston attending a high-quality school.

The children and families of Boston have put their trust in schools; let’s earn and keep that trust today and for the school days to follow.

Will Austin
Chief Executive Officer