School closings in Boston

A three hour hearing last night in Boston around the potential closing of eight schools was lively, it sounds like.

It was loud and angry. Before the meeting started, a crowd was chanting, “Save our schools.” This chanting went on for about 20 minutes. Several hundred parents — some with their children — and teachers came with signs and T-shirts. When the meeting started, they charged the stage as school committee members started to take their seats. Boston school police had to get in front of the stage to keep them away.

 The School Committee--which is not an elected body, and so does not answer to these or any parents--votes next week on the plan. The superintendent claims (I can't find this online; I heard it yesterday on the radio) that the schools are not being closed only on the basis of MCAS scores, but then explained that the decision was based on...MCAS scores, crunched three ways (sound familiar?).