February Board of Ed: opening comments from public

 Coming to you live from Everett...the agenda is here.

Please enjoy this lovely view of the Malden River willows
from under the Revere Beach Parkway

Muhammed and Rouhanifard participating remotely

Public comment
Keri Rodrigues, National Parents Union, speaking on Brockton (which is not on the agenda)
"severe disconnect" between the reality of Brockton High and the Board
"they [the Committee members calling for the National Guard] help and they need guidance"
"get over its crippling fear of local control"
"locally controlling ourselves into a literacy crisis"
"we are not just props; we are future plantiffs"

parent from Newton
students coming to school after attacks of October 7
"when our students need more than ever how to model" to discuss tough subject
last month's panel advocated for silencing and disciplining those who would discuss
"advocated for what amounts to book banning"
"you gave a parent who engaged in a public bullying campaign of  a student a very public platform"
"this includes Jews and Israelis who dare to say 'not in my name'"
"are you going to engage and decide...which Jew is the good kind of Jew and which is the bad kind of Jew?"
parent from Brookline 
I see myself as a newly arrived immigrant from Pakistan
"to not overlook or disregard me or" those like me
"I was surprised to hear only one side's perspective" on how October 7 has impacted 
many adults who have spoken repeatedly at Brookline School Committee meetings
"the Board did not provide an opportunity for alternative perspectives"
why only a definition of antisemitism and not Islamaphobia...
"not only an effort to control the speech, but an effort to control the speech in a discriminatory way"
Newton author
BESE and DESE can only do their job "if you see through and resist efforts to confuse and co-opt you"
those who spoke neglected to tell you that the definition that they presented is very controversial
"Jews already protected under Title VI"
can criticize the U.S., France...but under that definition, you cannot criticize the state of Israel
school is exactly where we should talk about settler colonialism, genocide
"feeling uncomfortable is not the same as being unsafe; if we protect students from feeling uncomfortable, we protect them from learning."

Max Page, MTA President
lift inflation cap in foundation budget
paid parental leave

Sonia Pratt, City on a Hill Charter (which is returning their charter)
seeking a change to adopt an upper school model for their final year
they're planning to focus on the college and career transition of the students graduating in 2025 and 2026 in the next year

students at Prospect Hill Academy Charter speaking of their own experience there (Prospect Hill is seeking an expansion of their area to include Revere, Waltham, Watertown, and Woburn)
"everyone deserves the wealth of support at PHA and everyone should have access to those resources"

Matthew Crowley, superintendent Woburn Public Schools
opposes PHA Charter expansion, speaking on behalf of other superintendents as well
"have invested significantly" in diverse learning and support structures
prioritize meeting the needs of all students
charter schools often lack the human resources to meet the needs of all students
"high teacher turnover rates are evident in their lack of experienced teachers" at PHA
"Now more than ever, our students need stability"
support initiatives that support all students
"our communities and schools thrive when we are bonded together and not traveling apart"

Tim Nicolette, head of the Mass Charter Public School Association 
supporting charter school amendments and consolidations

Community Charter School of Cambridge senior student speaking in favor of their expansion of area
"the support provided here isn't like that provided at other schools"
how does she know, though?

Watertown School Committee member: process and timing
learned on February 22 for February 27 vote; not enough time for community to respond
"this same request was made three years ago and was not moved forward"
and the case has only gotten weaker
ask what has changed to make the recommendation different?
scores are higher in almost every category than the charter
lists opportunities for families
smaller class sizes, more experienced teachers, lower disciplinary rates
"no demonstrated need"
does not align with reason for charter schools