The Board of Education meets today at nine: opening remarks

The agenda is here; the livestream is here
The agenda is all COVID--19 related, but my understanding is that some of the public comment may be on Boston
updating as we go


We...seem to have joined midstream here
first public comment on "true differentiated learning"
"the already wide range" of where students are will have increased
Just as medical professionals are performing heroically, so educators can, too

another: mother of two children at the Hale (in Boston)
strong stance against further evaluation of Boston Schools
strong stance against any state takeover of Boston Schools
and then the livestream froze
there are many ways DESE could "support, uplift, and transform the lives" of students
recommend DESE pressures the Legislature to fully fund needs of students in Boston
students "so much more than a test score"

Kim Janey, president of Boston City Council
frustrating that DESE hasn't frozen the MOU
Schools have other issues to deal with right now
"state has continually underfunded urban public schools for decades"
superintendent's plan is a "great place to start"
"our schools have been struggle for decades, there's no questions about that, but our city is best equipped to handle these problems"

Annissa Essaibi-George, chair of Education Committee, Boston City Council
"nothing in the report was surprising to me"
most are the result of decades of underfunding
"real meaningful partnership" is what is needed
don't need to be worrying about the state MOU now
"need to focus on today's issues"
"ask that you listen to and work with our students, our families," our teachers

Lydia Edwards, Boston City Council, represents East Boston, Charlestown, and the North End
COVID--19 is going to exacerbate the issues students are dealing with
"for the state to come in with this sense of urgency is completely out of tune"
have other issues to be dealing with now
"parents want to be here, they want to be here, they want to be at the table, as do the teachers"
passed landmark legislation last year, would ask that we let that go forward
"it's not the right time; it's a false sense of urgency; and it's insulting to many in the city right now"

Jessica Tang, BTU president
working on urgent issues of students during this pandemic
"the challenges are unprecedented"
"the state's record in Boston is terrible"
"state interventions have destroyed credibility and trust"
not surprising that underfunding, revolving door of leadership have resulted as seen
"have been well-aware of the challenges and we are well aware of the intervention" history
committed and experienced superintendent with a plan, a mayor committed to making investment
thousands more who would want to offer testimony
asks MOU be frozen

another: asks that everyone be able to be involved in process
there are more important issues to do deal with
sometimes families don't get involved in activities, so it seems like they don't care

Evelyn Reyes, student representative on the Boston School Committee
asks that the MOU be frozen
"in the midst of a public health crisis, we cannot hope to address the concerns in the MOU"
too vague
have little information about the Kaleidoscope network
report highlights many weak spots, weak spots that the community has been calling out for many years
important that action steps be shared with the community
"our young people have already been disenfranchised by lack of state funding"

another: asks that the MOU be frozen until the end of shutdown
essential workers, parents and grandparents who have to step into new roles
"everyone is overwhelmed right now" and not able to offer feedback right now
"if you really want to help the community, wouldn't you want to listen to the community?"
when Orchard Gardens went into turnaround, we lost our experienced Black and Latino teachers
"listening and collaboration: that's what works"
"we are essential in this process"

BPS teacher, parent:
dual language program that was launched at the Dever
following receivership, became part of team
had a community forum to fight against receivership
"unfortunately it seemed that all of this was protocol" because nothing was listened to
DESE eliminated the dual language program; families were given long lists of supplies, parents found it difficult to find someone to communicate with someone in their own language
breaks my heart every time I hear more of what is happening at the Dever
"we know we need to make things better"
hope we can consider a partnership rather than a takeover



Craven: appreciate all the work our teachers are doing during this time of uncertainty in the larger society, but also in education
the Board appreciates how difficult this time is
hope that some life, some innovations can arise out of these times

Secretary Peyser:
appreciate work of Commissioner and team, educators and staff in schools
a lot of work that's been going on, much of it a work in progress
acknowledge and thank all those in the field
"it is parents who are really on the front lines of this work"
Governor said "very clearly 'this is not a vacation'" and not only for enrichment opportunity
"make sure that April is a month of learning, not just a month of time off, if you will"
"we're not writing off this school year, we can't write off this school year"

Commissioner Riley: thank so many who have come together
update on various items across the state
March 15: issued order to close all schools til April 7
March 25: extended to May 4 for safety of staff and students
DESE has moved almost completely remotely: skeleton crew at building
recognize shutting schools down can be traumatic for students
want to get back in a routine, but first: get students fed
USDA has approved request for waiver of requirement of 50% F/R
reality is that many had decided to feed their children anyway "and I can't thank them enough"
over 1200 sites to feed our kids
last week strongly recommended that districts pay their hourly employees
consider alternative ways to perform work for us
want to make sure they coordinate with municipal side
also asked about contracted services; have provided guidance on that, especially for tuition agreements
school choice, charter, etc process with monthly funding
tuition payments for day and residential special programs to maintain essential system capacity
"most residential schools remain open at this time" and day programs have agreed to provide services
circuit breaker reimbursement remains for such funding
school day requirement: early on, guidance provided: no district must go beyond previously scheduled 185th day of school
April vacation? guidance either today or tomorrow
Student Opportunity Act: we do believe that relief will be coming on Wednesday
"which I recognize is late"
MCAS: process
state expects letter from fed later this week; also state law has requirement
state expected to give him authority to waive, change, otherwise shift requirement
relief on chronic absenteeism based on first 120 days of school
remote learning guidance:
safety is most important
disproportionally impacts most vulnerable students
maintain connections with students and staff: hear regularly from teachers
"remote learning is not necessarily synonymous with online learning"
want people to remain mindful of that
meaningful learning for approximately have the school day
combined teacher directed and student directed
have up by early April
licensure extended to up to 90 days after end of emergency closure
more info on path to licensure
SIMS extension from March 19 to the 26; nearly everyone has made it
reviewing if educator evaluation; not regulatory, but are in collective bargaining agreements
"a lot of communication with stakeholders, including letter to" families
graduation: will depend on going back
stimulus will update as we know
as well as FY21

BPS MOU: think there has been some misunderstanding
agreed early on that we'd push off 60 day provision until later in the spring
"this is not receivership; this is not a zone"
"there are specific targets in the next three years"
targeted support on lowest performing schools
improving buses and on time arrival
"Boston is currently one of the wealthiest per pupil spending districts in the state"
improving the bathrooms, something like that
PD, coaching, technical assistance
support in diversifying teaching corps
UPDATE: target setting may actually be early July, per Commissioner


offering thanks to Jeff Wulfson after 33 years on the job; today is his last day

Russell Johnston on special education
federal guidance has shifted in past few weeks
not providing any services, then not required to provide special ed
but if providing services, then FAPE in place
Massachusetts sits in the middle: recommend how districts could be in touch with families, provide continuity of learning, continuity of experience
"weren't in the situation of nothing or everything" were in the middle
questioning extent of providing
gather as much stakeholder input as quickly as possible
"very close communication with families"
materials sent home made more accessible, made more engaging
problem solving together
helping family members prioritize how students can be engaged
sent out idea of office hours
using a team approach; should a teacher need to tend to family, services to students can continue
teleinstruction, video based lessons, multiple models
pleased that it matches the joint statement put out last Thursday
more unique, specialized ways of supporting our most vulnerable students
calls with educators: what have we, what can we learn from each other
work to do better in a short period of time


Craven: changing situation; hope to see in April, though looking increasingly unlikely