FYI from BSF, 09.16.22
Infrastructure (Weak)
Serious question: if something isn’t new, can it still be news?
If they did not create so much uncertainty and danger, talking about buses is such a part of the local vernacular it could make a pretty good Matt Shearer segment.
We care a lot about buses in Boston. Buses are a physical symbol of the city’s racial reckoning. We spend a lot on them (most in the country). Late buses cause lost instructional time for children and ulcers for adults. Until 2030, Boston yellow buses are responsible for a lot of carbon.
The cost and complexity of urban school bus transportation resulted in many cities eliminating them altogether over the past fifty years. Boston pressed on, offering a challenging service in spite of the inevitable curveballs thrown its way.
It’s great that kindergarten gets its own day one; the price of those cute pictures is later buses, as thrilled, confused, stunned, and/or sobbing children spike route times. By the way, part of the T is closed. Bus drivers just called - they are striking. Good job getting the kids to school - now get them safely home during this freak snowstorm. Heads up for that explosion of cement dust.
Have buses in Boston improved over time? Within a year, yes; daily data clearly shows day-by-day improvement. Over time; it’s very hard to tell. The state improvement plan requires buses to arrive on time 95% of the time.
Which is brings us to the point. Despite massive financial investment. Despite pressure from families, City Councilors, the media, and now the Commonwealth. Despite best intentions and hard work by many. Each and every year, there is public outcry about the performance of buses.
We can either (1) accept a system that is fundamentally limited. Or, we can (2) choose to fundamentally rethink what schools kids go to and how they get there.
We just can’t choose to pretend that this is new each September.
Notes in the Margin
Boston School Committee met on Wednesday. Full materials here. Discussion covered back-to-school issues, including remaining job vacancies, but the potential reasons for that are market-driven and complicated. It is not for want of incentives here; the Boston Teachers Union voted to ratify a new contract that results in changes in working conditions and nearly a 10% raise (the School Committee could vote to finalize at their next meeting).
The meeting’s executive session covered the continued fallout from the unchecked child abuse that occurred at the now closed Mission Hill K-8 School. With another federal lawsuit filed, are we any closer to the accountability and policy changes needed to bring closure and provide future prevention?
CRPE has created a pretty sobering summary of the impact of the pandemic on children in schools.
What to do about it? There is still plenty of money left. The Massachusetts Educational Equity Partnership (we are a member) has some ideas for the Commonwealth (report here). Urgency and collaboration with families will be critical; data implies that the average family does not have the information or realization that their children’s academic development was arrested.
Washington, DC is the most recent school system to go all-in on evidence-based literacy practices.
Other Matters
Boston is attempting to address stalled vaccination and booster rates amongst children with clinics and incentives. Info here.
If you are still upset about the final sweep of the Sox by the Yankees, we did claim a victory this week: our kids still get snow days, and theirs don’t.