FYI from BSF, 11.5.21

Education 2021

Mayor-Elect Wu is not alone in starting behind last fall, only to produce a map-busting landslide this past Tuesday.

(Rich Parr)

The issue of education went from polling 5th in September, 2020 to being named the top issue across a series of polls in the past two months.

There is no clear data to explain what moved Boston voters. The pandemic? Concerns around the quality of the system? But a clear message was sent: prioritize education, which Mayor-Elect Wu did on the first day of her transition, attending Boston School Committee and then naming education as a top priority yesterday.

This was evident not just in public opinion polls, but also at the polls themselves. Question 3, the non-binding referendum to return Boston to an elected school committee, produced an even more lopsided result. Nearly 79% of voters selected “yes” to return to an elected school, but the result is even more stark when you count the vote by Boston’s 255 voting precincts.

Polling had well-predicted this outcome, as did common sense - what average voter, while voting, would indicate he or she does not want to vote for something?

So, now what?

There is some process work ahead. A home rule petition to be debated and approved by the City Council and Mayor, a bill must be passed by the state legislature, and finally signed by the Governor.

There are a range of technical issues to consider. How many members will there be? Will some members remain appointed, as Mayor-Elect Wu has supported? It is common for mayors to serve as Chair and attend all School Committee meetings - will Boston’s Mayor do so? What is the scope and role of elected members - salary, staff, etc.? What will be the role of current appointed members during this time?

Democracy isn’t simple. If it were, Americans would not have voted people into office who attacked our Capitol this past January. Don’t make the mistake of disregarding that as red state business: Braintree, which is three miles from Boston’s city boundaries, just elected a former teacher and January insurrectionist to its school committee. The old elected Boston School Committee structure would have likely resulted in Roy Owens (on the right, patient Councilor-Elect Anderson on the left) being a district representative.

Governance, even democracy, is not a panacea. Who sits on the dais in the hearing room at the Bolling Building years from now does nothing for the children and educators rushing to meet the morning bell right now. It does nothing about this week’s violent attack of a principal at a Boston schooland reports of other physical incidents, raising questions around student and staff safety.

All the while, there are pressing challenges, and much to do in the first 100 days and beyond.

Mayor-Elect Wu spoke eloquently on Tuesday night of the false choice between big systemic change and the execution of municipal services.

Boston’s schools provide that test. Boston families and voters will be grading.

Reopening Boston, MA and Beyond

School-based COVID cases have continued to slightly decline over time. More and more communities are qualifying for lifting mask mandates. What will accelerate these trends further? Vaccines. After Tuesday night’s approval of the Pfizer vaccines for 5-11 year-olds, the state rolled out a “mixed delivery” approach featuring mass vaccination sites in hard-hit areas, along with deployment through pediatricians and pharmacies.

Several cities around the country have taken swift action. Washington, DC is opening elementary schools after school and on weekends to any kid that shows up (no appointment needed). San Francisco is already moving toward a school mandate for 5-11 year-olds. Aside from the state/CIC run site at the Museum of Science, there are not yet announced plans for clinics or a mandate in Boston.

Other Matters

Boston School Committee met Wednesday. The meeting featured lengthy public comment and reports on advanced work classes, the Superintendent’s goals, academic vision, and air quality. Materials here.

Boston School Finder 4.0 is here. Forward along to anyone you know looking for a Boston school for their child.