Board of Ed, regular January meeting, opening remarks...and City on a Hill

Alma del Mar brought a bus up from New Bedford, and I see MTA shirts coming in, so I assume we'll have a crowd today. Alma's proposed expansion is the first item on the agenda, though, so I imagine it will clear out a bit afterward. I've already heard several people say that they are signed up to speak, so no doubt we'll hear speakers from various sides. 
The agenda is posted here.
Posting as we go...
Member Katherine Craven is participating remotely. Several members still missing this morning. 

Sagan calls the meeting to order at 8:37
Peyser, Mathew, McKenna, Doherty still missing, but expected

Riley thanks Board for coming to meeting last week. Work on family engagement in coming weeks. Looking deeper at LOOK act with update on implementation.

Sagan says that cheering will take from speakers' time
"we're going to practice good listening, because they can start all over again, or two times, or three times"


City on a Hill Charter speakers coming first
member of Board of Trustees speaking
"I've seen our schools flourish and face challenges" during time involved
changes in leadership
"confident now on right path in leadership"
Board has been reflective about our past decisions and how we've contributed
hired a partner "to improve our Board processes"
have former parent and student on Board
Chief of Staff and General Counsel of City on a Hill
"honesty of what needs to change" with no sacred cows
need to find strong partners in work
"as thoughtfully but as expeditiously as possible" in making change
hope that we will be successful, because "we are on the right path" as what is discussed in state's report
all students deserve an excellent education, acknowledge that we have not yet met that bar
Chief Executive Officer, who came on in July 2018
has talked to public district "committing to a partnership to achieve our goals"
"the steps we have taken are the right ones" per report
thankful for the  Commissioner's report and recommendation
"humbly accept the conditions of our probation"
confident that City on a Hill "will rise to the challenge"
Member Moriarty asks about chronic absenteeism rate

Sagan takes City on a Hill item out of order on the agenda
Alison Bagg of DESE notes concerns of Department (absenteeism, MCAS performance, dropout rate)
Riley notes that probation requires Board action
Sagan "this is for the Board the yellow flag...we almost have no choice at this point but to vote yes"
either they improve and they come off probation or the Board has to decide about revoking the charter
"if we see you back again it's not a good day"
Motion carries,Fernández recusing herself

Mayor of Lawrence's chief of staff opposing Equity lab proposal
"nothing unique about proposal before you"and nothing specific to Lawrence
person proposing has had proposal refused multiple times
"thwarted in Lynn, he submitted his proposal in Lawrence"
shopping it around and Lawrence is his next stop
no parents or community members supporting proposal>br/> new superintendent in Lawrence, just getting feet under her

McKenna now here
Doherty and Mathews now here, both blaming Orange line

Alma del Mar Charter parent of three sons
"what kind of education they get for the city, and in general for the country"
sons in 1st, 4th, 5th
started in district schools and "were not doing that great"
"make sure their kids will succeed in education and life"
"struggled to get through Alma del Mar with our kids"
"have seen such great success and progress"
parent of one student in Alma del Mar, and one in district school "that I attended myself"
excited about expansion
"challenges facing our urban public schools are multi-faceted and not just financial"
support reworking of funding formula
daughter of type that would be described as among those counseled out
"thriving in her own unique little way"
"no redoes on this journey...if it's good for the children of New Bedford, it's good for the future of New Bedford"
attorneys from the justice center of South Massachusetts
Education law task force
raise ongoing concerns about Alma's ability to serve high need students
"has very high rates of in school and out of school discipline"
rate of suspension high, "exceptionally high" rates for students
Sagan asks "compared to what" "have you equalized" "did you give us this"
"urge Commissioner...specifically on Alma del Mar presenting an action plan on issues raised"
attorney from Youth Advocacy foundation
ch.222 subcommittee
suspension rates fell after Ch. 222 was adopted, but now have plateaued, particularly an issue for charter schools
suspension last year "double district average"
category 18 offenses were most (these are minor offenses)
Commissioner did note issue in his memo; school says will hire social worker
"we do not feel that this is enough"
encourage Board to condition expansion on plan
Max Page, VP of MTA
"the number of new charter seats should be zero"
calls the deal "extortion"
"you have weaponized the charter expansion process"
Alma del Mar does no better, in some cases worse, with fewer students who are English language learners and special education needs
those students it does not want "it recycles back to the public schools, which take them" as public schools serve all students responsible to a publicly elected board

end of public comment