September Board of Ed: opening comments

 The agenda is here. The livestream will be here. 

updating as we go

opening introductions
Will be moving into public comment first

Sen. Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the education committee: "strong support" for revised framework
"This update is long overdue"
Baker admin "did a disservice..by not allowing the revised standards to be released"
Pleased Healey admin did in first six months
note Senate on bipartisan basis has passed "Healthy Youth Act"; hopes Healey can sign into law
urges as much PD and technical assistance as possible to ensure strong implementation
Rep. Jim O'Day: "truly elated to be here this morning to speak on this topic"
Lead sponsor of Healthy Youth Act
notes Worcester implemented comprehensive curriculum two years ago
"and to my knowledge, the sky has not fallen in!"
Notes what is happening in other parts of the country: "That is not going to happen in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts!"
"respect and kindness to all people in their community...sense of belonging"
thousands of students who have come to the State House and have testified...so they can be empowered
as former social worker, "how heartbreaking to sit at a table with a family" with a twelve year old who had no idea how she got pregnant
thank you to all who have "zealously advocated" for this update
hope that the Board will come to a positive outcome and conclusion on this framework

Mayor Michelle Wu "on a non-agenda item"
Superintendent Skipper will be for a formal update
"Boston's strong start to the school year"
Skipper approaches one year mark next week
Thankful to superintendent and team: structures and resources to follow through
"very clear that what we have accomplished" is result of teamwork
29 of 31 deliverables 
nearly 50 of 61 (?) other findings underway
decades of underinvestment in schools; linger pandemic related supply chain issues
"inclusive high quality education districtwide requires difficult choices"
decision-making tool to guide all future facilities decisions
won't be a static document; solidify citywide plan 
"beyond the areas in" the agreement with the state
Enrollment in younger grades are up from last year
highest on-time bus performance on first day in five years
new driver contract, built in accountability measures in contractor
more than 90% of schools have AC; more than 3800 AC units in last 18 months
98% of teaching roles filled; lowest rate of leadership turnover in a decade
"affirms that serious system-level improvements take time, and that time pays off"
"lasting, systemic change"

MTA on MCAS
Max Page, Deb McCarthy
Page: here to celebrate passage of Fair Share and what that has meant for schools
(not going to try to keep up with numbers here)
"that's the first billion dollars; we expect two billion dollars every single year"
"on behalf of the MTA, you're very very welcome"
support the health standards
applaud evaluation of twenty year old policy; would hope would apply to high-stakes testing
McCarthy: strong support for this initiative
(on ballot q)
"almost everyone has a story to share" save those who go to a private school
"time to deny the profiteers...and return joy to all of our classrooms"

"lost the level of accountability" 
"no one expresses any urgency"
Department even talks about "computer based" test; asks instead for computer adaptive
"stuck in a 1993 frame and model"
"step in and intervene" in the RFP

Lisa Guisbond, Citizens for Public Schools
concluded that Massachusetts students would benefit from passage of the "Thrive" act
also supports ballot Q
"teaching shifted to focus on what is on the test"
"proud history of innovation and commitment to public education...broad and deep learning for all students"

head of school at Innovation Academy
Association (of charter schools) in support of updated health framework
"every other curricular framework has been updated over the past twelve years"
"not only valuable but necessary...brings into twenty-first century"
"scientific, factually-based standards"
"inclusive, affirming educational environments...rooted in a sense of belonging for all students"
"while the framework provides" the standards, "it is not the curriculum"

Parent: father of trans son and cis son
speak in favor of proposed health and physical education guidelines
"I could spend my three minutes debunking"
but instead give perspective as a parent
trans son came out gradually; he will tell you that he was never confused
"he had to discover who he was, as we all do"
"there are people who hate him" for who he is
"I know the world isn't a safe place for him, and I can't always be there to protect him"
"even at a young age, some of these kids know they're different, but don't have the language for it"
"more informed and emphatic future generation"

Phoenix Charter School admin speaking in favor of the standards
speaking to strength of standards
"thoughtful decision-making processes"
"very very important for our scholars"
"as an educator, as a mom, and as a person who deeply cares about doing my part to ensure a better tomorrow" asks to adopt standards

Michelle Soto from Planned Parenthood
have seen impact of comprehensive education on students
"majority of parents" regardless of identity "support comprehensive" health ed
"want to protect their children" and know that this is the way
"we know that young people want to hear" from their parents on this topic
aligns with what young people are seeing and hearing now
"disheartening to think my daughter" will receive education under the same framework that I did
urge vote yes
Nina Brothers, college student, affiliated with Planned Parenthood
would like to strongly encourage Board to adopt
"future generations to receive a" better education than I received in public education
Evoked shame and fear; separation by gender; secrecy
took three mandatory health class; none covered information I now have today
classes left students "anxious and scared that they were harming their partners...only what could go wrong"
"I have talked to former classmates recently who have regrets about previous relationships" due to lack of information on consent, safe sex and more
"we as students have had to take up the helm of providing basic information" because this information has not been provided to us
"Massachusetts is a leader in public education...but when it comes to" sex ed, "we are failing"