Board of Ed for February: Opening comments

We're in a fairly crowded Board meeting which we've been told will be starting at 9 rather than 8:30. The crowding is largely a busload of KIPP Lynn supporters, here, one assumes, to testify in opposition to the recommendation their charter not being put forward (recall that this had to do BOTH with Lynn's improved MCAS performance AND with concerns about KIPP elsewhere in Massachusetts). 
The agenda is here. Updating as we go.
Sagan comments that the late start was "unavoidable on my part," so it appears he's why we're starting late.
Sagan "some request to Jeff to walk us through safety preparedness in our schools"
initial restraint data and the graduation rate, "worth noting"

Wulfson: three significant data releases in the last week or so
Graduation data
College Board released AP test results; "Massachusetts was number one in the nation" of percent of graduating class that scored 3 or higher
"we applaud our schools for those efforts"
restraint data was issued earlier this week "we obviously believe this data is important" but caution from jumping to too many conclusions on a first report
"wide variations in schools and the populations that they serve"
seeking panel members for revision of arts standards
"send a strong signal to the field that arts are an important part of the curriculum"
$15M for schools in this fiscal year; sending instructions to districts on how to report exact number of students and their attendance; two payments (one in April for those by March 1; supplemental later in the year); also federal government approve additional funding
working with Puerto Rico to exchange data to get seniors diplomas from Puerto Rico
allow high school guidance counselors to monitor if students have completed their FAFSA
"using data to improve student outcomes"
some conversations with Tom Scott of superintendent
Department providing links on school safety issues
state requirement for multi-hazard plan, requiring plans for all sorts of situation
"confident that local administrators and teachers are working with their public safety on their plans"
great deal of variation among towns: "not clear to me that additional state mandates at this time would be useful"
in prevention: work we are already doing: social emotional learning, early warning, pathways
"keep students engaged and try to catch those who might be falling through the cracks"
speaking only for himself: "the notion of arming our teachers...strikes me as an incredibly bad idea"
only result that innocent people will get caught in the crossfire
"pleased to see Massachusetts educators speaking out strongly against the idea"
walkouts: "confident that administrators will handle matters sensitively"
We have spoken about civic involvement: "this is it: this is as real as it gets. If this is not a teachable moment, I don't know what is."
Peyser: very much on point
underline remarks on school cultures
"a lot of great work going on in the Commonwealth right now...how we can do more and do better"
McKenna: asks about liability for students walking out: Q&A
"here are some of the things you might want to think about"
Wulfson: will have that conversation with superintendents

Public comment
Phoenix Academy in Lawrence: new head of school speaking in support of approval of charter
Phoenix was running an alternative school within the district of Lawrence; now it will spin out
"believe that college is the path for every student...want to provide them that choice"
another: "I believe that education is an equalizer"
"I believe in the relentless support we provide to our students"
student: "to be able to give this wonderful opportunity to other students"
Doherty: current staff is employees of the Lawrence Public Schools and members of the teachers' union
assume they'll need to resign from Lawrence schools; what about those who aren't selected to remain or want to stay with Lawrence? Will they be absorbed back into Lawrence?
head says application is with district; teachers and students will be absorbed back if that is their choice

Veritas Prep in Springfield (requesting an expansion)
"open Veritas to be a proof point for our city"
adding an additional classroom per grade level
add more staffing and more supports, particularly for those who struggle and those with special needs
mother "teaches our students to excel and to develop great study habits"
head of Mass Charter Board
no new seats in Lynn "shared at the last minute"
lost creditably
asks for review of charter cap process so that movement is predictable

Davis Leadership Academy with probation
"some fundamental differences of opinion on what the data says and what the data speaks to"
particularly around governance and finance
asks Board to review data and renew charter unconditionally
former Marlborough finance: school "got a clean opinion"
see what the bottom line was: they budgeted a loss of $100K, it came in at $99,011
"accountants develop their own language, too"
"any cost can be determined to have a negative impact on the budget...but that doesn't mean the decision to have [that cost] is a negative thing"
Moriarty: had packet this morning and it's coming to a vote today
"I don't know that there's a feasible option to the delay the vote"
"how much of a financial burden is being imposed on you?" for an escrow account
response: one of the smaller schools in the Commonwealth
"I can't speak right now directly what that impact would be on the budget...but it's not an ideal situation"
McKenna: there is no amount determine
Sagan: "if you want to make a counter argument...this is not a surprise item...we are talking apples and oranges..the report I got spoke to duty of care...with all of that on the record, you chose to speak to ancilliary items"
"I still think one seems to be missing"

KIPP Lynn
parent: student is a currently a freshman at the University of San Francisco
three children still at KIPP
"this school is different than any other school I have been a part of"
support expansion so more children can be given the opportunity my children would be given
"I also learned that because of fourteen words written into the law, children will not have this opportunity"
hundreds of families waiting for a change
"families being served by the charter public schools must suffer now"
her nieces chances of getting a seat next year is very slim
"you are sending a message to the kids of Lynn that their education doesn't matter"
someone else (employee?)
has impacted this family and so many more
only 33% of middle school students will have chance to attend high school
"the restriction of school choice" impacts historic disadvantaged children of color
as a daughter of West African immigrants "my family did not move across the Atlantic Ocean" to a country that historically oppresses people who look like me to settle for anything less than an excellent education
"please consider the impact on our current families"


Tom Gosnell, AFT MA
here on the issue of arming faculty
"I don't think that I need to go over the fifty or so reasons against something as insane as arming teachers"
could create more murders in the school
access to weapons that they don't know
"changes culture of the school..that is massively important"
"it appears that the President of the United States is not backing down from this"
"the American Federation of Teachers will vigorously oppose this insane proposal"
"would strongly urge you...to take a formal position" opposing such a proposal