Councilors want to crack down on out-of-town kids sneaking into Boston schools; deal with racism in the schools

Several city councilors say they're hearing of too many cases of suburban parents who have managed to sneak their kids into Boston public schools - and they want that to stop.

City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George (at large) today called for a hearing to begin work on the issue. Essaibi George, until very recently a BPS teacher, said Boston has a number of "great schools" and that BPS should ensure "city seats for city kids."

Councilor Tito Jackson (Roxbury) agreed. With several Boston schools now having waiting lists, only residents - whose property taxes make up the bulk of the $1-billion annual BPS budget - should get a shot. "If you don't put in then you should not be taking a seat," he said.

Separately, Jackson called for a hearing on what he sees as disparities in discipline in city schools. He pointed to a Globe interview today with the parents of the Boston Latin School student threatened with lynching by another student with an electrical cord. That student only had to write an apology while another student was suspended for calling somebody his "enemy."

Add to that the case of 3- and 4-year-olds at UP Academy getting suspended and Jackson said school officials have some explaining to do.