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Election roundup: Elected School Committee could be November ballot question; Barros would borrow billions for BPS
By adamg on Tue, 08/17/2021 - 9:16am
Schoolyard News reports on an effort to get a (non-binding) question on the November ballot on whether to return to an elected School Committee.
WBUR asks if it's time to end Boston's status as the only place in the state without an elected School Committee. The Dorchester Reporter surveys people running for mayor and City Council on the issue. Of course, there's a Twitter feed.
John Barros yesterday called for the city to use its AAA bond rating and borrow $4 billion to finally fix every last Boston school and bring them into the 21st century with "inspiring classrooms, science labs, libraries, athletic spaces, art studios and theaters," - and with expansions to create "neighborhood campus areas with outdoor spaces that aid in heat and flood mitigation, outdoor classrooms, play spaces, and community spaces."
Barros also launched his first TV ad:
Allston/Brighton state Rep. Mike Moran and City Councilor Liz Breadon today announced they're supporting Michelle Wu for mayor in September.
Jamaica Plain News reports that at-large Council candidate Alex Gray, who is blind, on Wednesday will lead several other candidates for council seats and at least one mayoral candidate, John Barros, in a blindfolded tour around City Hall Plaza to show them the challenges blind residents face.
The candidates will be able to use canes and will be assisted for safety by individuals from Gray's campaign.
Starts at 10:30 a.m.
Incumbent at-large Councilor Julia Mejia yesterday endorsed another at-large candidate, Carla Monteiro; the two will now do some joint campaigning.
All too often, candidates with meaningful community ties and impressive stories of strength can be overlooked by the establishment in favor of those with stronger political or financial connections. Today, with my endorsement of Carla Monteiro for Boston City Council At-Large, we are choosing to disrupt this narrative. I am proud to support this fearless woman who transformed her dream into a reality and beat the odds to find success and stability for her family. I see so much of myself in her story as an organizer, immigrant, and Black woman - and I know that I am not alone.
Right to the City Vote, "a coalition formed in 2013 and focused on the political power-building of Boston’s working-class, immigrant, communities of color," today announced it's backing Ruthzee Louijeune, David Halbert and Julia Mejia for three of the four at-large seats on the council, as well as Joel Richards in District 4 (Dorchester), Kendra Hicks in District 6 (Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury, Mission Hill) and Tania Fernandes Anderson in District 7 (Roxbury).
The Scope interviews Brandy Brooks, running for the District 7 (Roxbury) council seat Kim Janey is giving up.
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Comments
4 Billion Dollars
When people who own a home contemplate taking a 2nd mortgage to pay for private school or else moving out of the city to someplace with better schools...
"
might not help change their minds, in my opinion.
Boston schools
Are a goddamn disgrace.
We are one of the richest cities on the planet and we send kids to school in tear-downs.
Cross the city border and schools in Brookline, Newton, Milton look nothing like ours. There is no good reason Boston’s schools shouldn’t be as good.
Good on Barros.
Can they maintain them?
Old Brookline, Newton south and north were no different than Madison park (probably only Newton North would be considered better).
But you are right. Those towns realized that new buildings needed to be built, and they did it. Boston had sat around.
Maintain them?
Brookline is tearing down the Driscoll- notably nicer and newer than Boston schools- to build an even nicer, newer school.
Beyond maintaining, they’re upgrading.
But they also maintain…..
Which Boston couldn’t do at Madison Park or West Roxbury High. Even The main section of Brookline High (and Newton South) were renovated rather than rebuilt. I think that Newton North project scared everyone off price wise for a while.
I guess Brookline doesn’t have to worry about their schools being put on probation though either. Then again, the building doesn’t cause students to fail, their parents and teachers do….
“Should the current appointed
This is the ballot question they're proposing, and it's a bad one. All the candidates support a school committee combining both appointed and elected members (except Essaibi-George who wants a combination of appointed members from mayor and council). But the question as phrased proposes a 100% elected board, which would be as problematic as a 100% appointed board. They need to rephrase the question.
It would be fun to have an elected student representative on the school committee, though. Imagine having two 17 year olds on the November ballot every year.
46 more candidates
That's how many people are running for City Council seats. There are sure to be two new faces in the at-large section and at least three of the nine districts will have new councillors, with so many current members running for mayor or departing. One candidate is a double-dipper: Roy Owens is running for at-large City Councillor and councillor for District 7. Look for lots of postcards in your mailbox in the coming month.