FYI from BSF, 4.17.20
Some things we have read through recently...
Paying Now, And Later
We are now living in an age of grim milestones and “firsts.”
Randolph announced the first furloughs/reductions in staff by a school district since mandatory school closures about a month ago. There is some debate about the degree to which COVID-19 prompted this decision.
One Randolph educator asked why cuts were needed when costs were “already budgeted in.”
That is a fair question, and one with a surprisingly recent historical basis.
Although it started one year before, the Great Recession was officially named on December 1, 2008. Over 11 trillion dollars of household net worth was lost, and unemployment reached 10%. Massive government intervention followed. This included the stimulus package, with $100B for public education, saving a quarter of a million jobs.
The recession, by definition, lasted through 2009.
School budgets (including BPS) actually increased during the recession.
It was only 2 years after the economic shock that you saw a significant decline in school budgets (in 2010). Several flat years follow, finally reaching pre-recession levels in 2014.
In short, the public sector lags behind the private sector in absorbing economic loss.
Unemployment is now projected toward 18%, and in time economists will account for the wealth lost due to COVID-19. The federal CARES Act included $13.5B for education, a fraction of the investment in Obama’s stimulus package.
Many school districts, including Boston, are pushing forward with their plans and budgets for next year. That may be feasible, if things were “budgeted in” already.
But we are looking at a potentially worse economic crisis, paired with a lower allocation toward public education. It is hard not to predict another spike down in budgets like we did in 2010. This will coincide with our children having significant learning and socioemotional needs.
We need our leaders to be smart about what we can pay for now, and later.
Notes in the Margin
The NY Times editorial board rings the alarm bell for American children.
New Hampshire has now closed school for the remainder of the year. That means the majority of American school children (26 states, 25M children), will not return to school until August/September at the earliest.
Another arresting profile of a Boston student experience in the Globe.
Even though schools are closed, school bus drivers are essential, frontline workers.
4 parents express concerns about schools’ expectations for remote learning.
City Councilors Campbell and Janey filed a hearing order for more information on BPS and remote learning. As of this morning, there was still no agreement announced between the city and teachers on remote learning guidelines.
By the fall, the SAT and ACT may be available to be taken online at home. What could go wrong?
Boston School Committee met Wednesday, discussing the BPS strategic plan, the plan for an MOU with the state to support district-wide improvement and reform, and COVID-19 responses.
Old news now, but there will be no MCAS this year.
School Matters
Many thanks to our friends at the Shah Family Foundation for the chance to talk about Boston education, equity, and the response to COVID-19. Full podcast here.
