Education is what drives City Councilor John Connolly’s run against Boston Mayor Tom Menino. It’s a worthy issue with three daunting challenges: proving Menino has failed, convincing folks that Connolly has a better plan, and — if the first two tasks can be managed — finding enough voters who care.
Connolly announced his run at the end of February and was delighted with the immediate response. Within 24 hours, 600 volunteers had registered on his website. He knows the odds are long — “the entire city is questioning my sanity,” he tells me — but he thinks the state of Boston’s schools is the mayor’s weak spot.
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Improving the financial security of the parents is the best way to raise school test scores in Boston. Despite income disparity, the Boston schools have improved.
Free money for everyone in Boston! Take it out of the former middle class. Parents have to improve their own prospects, it is hardly the government or the schools job to givethem more money for reproducing...although the government tries...
Education IS the way to improve the financial security.
Something fishy about this guy- just another irish guy that loves the sound of his own voice.
At least Connolly is ready to move some of the waste from Court St., where there is no accountability and incomprehensible support for unqualifiethe leaders, over true, proven less glamorous ones. This past year, two darling principles have been involved in criminal cases, with no response from our absent superintendent, and no repercussion from our mayor. Yes some statistics have improved, but results? Nope. Grads go to college, but they drop out when they realize how woefully unprepared they are. But then they have loans to pay...
it is time for some fresh leadership in the city- on education, on development, on just about everything.
The BPS work well despite what this self-serving, opportunist of a politician might say. Sure, there are problems, and sure the schools would be better if the bldgs were updated--which would cost an estimated one billion $. How would Connolly pay for it? Cut waste in the central office. If Connolly cut every underperforming person in the central office, it'd save perhaps $1 or $2 million per year, not very much progress towards the $2 billion. All of this shows his lack of understanding of the school budget. Just another cheap shot, like the 'exposure' of out-of-date frozen French fries.
As far as converting more (Connolly) or all (Keane) schools to charter schools, they're both off. The charters have already evicted many thousands of the same students who are presently in the BPS, where they are getting a far better education than they could get in any charter school. As for all the rest of the BPS students, they're getting the best urban education around.
Finally, it is interesting that Connolly sent his daughter to what he considers once what was a 'failing' school. Couldn't have been too 'failing' if he put his daughter in it, could it? He had to have at least a little confidence in the BPS....
I am not responding to the issue of who should be mayor. But I do question the belief that "Big, daring ideas that might truly improve outcomes are missing". To imply that thats's bad is a false - and dangerous - common belief. Sometimes incremental - and correct - changes is the answer. The key is how those changes are implemented. For example, a smaller class for an intro biology class is not as productive as a smaller class for an English class or a foreign language class. A longer school year is not inherently better if the classroom quality is poor, but if it allows for a different educational experience then it mmay be useful. Yes it's important to improve the quality of public education, but it's very important to avoid simplistic - and often counter-productive beliefs - like 'all charter schools', teachers unions are the problem, 'core' courses the only worthwhile ones, etc
Tom Keane said, “How about converting all schools to charter schools?”
Why would you suggest that Connolly convert all the schools to charter schools? If all the schools where charters where would Boston dump all the SPED and ELL/SEI kids? Boston voters would think Connolly has taken to drowning the shamrock and has been visited by the leprechauns! Charter schools are expensive, Boston taxpayers can’t afford it! Instead of paying teachers a livable wage, who are in direct service to the kids, the money is used to pay the EMO’s (Educational Management Organizations). Unlocking Potential, the EMO for UP Academy, is getting paid $600,000 to “manage” 478 students. Boston Public Schools (BPS) doesn’t pay Dr. Johnson that and she manages over 57,000! Don’t think for one minute that these EMO’s are investing for “the children” they are investing to make a quick easy buck!
Charters schools are not level funded by the students they serve, but by the average the sending district spends on ALL its students. Let me give you an example of what happens in Boston Public. To educate a Regular Ed student in BPS cost $11,558. However, when you add the cost of all the BPS Special Ed & ELL/LEP students, the cost averages out to $14,704! Charters are paid the average $14,704. even though their population of students is mostly Regular Ed, and in no way reflects the SPED and ELL/SEI demographic of the Boston Public Schools!
Not only do Charters not service BPS SPED or ELL/SEI students, they legally swindle BPS out of $3,146+ per student! That $3,146+ comes out of the budgets of traditional BPS schools that are servicing Boston's neediest children! Charter schools receive “non-tuition revenue” which includes the state and federal nutrition funding, transportation reimbursements, a state grant related to Academic Support Services, a per pupil facilities grant, and federal entitlement grants including Title I funding directed to the school’s tutorial programs, IDEA funding directed at the school’s SPED program, and Title IIA Improving Educator Quality. Then there are the busing fees, Charter school students are bused city-wide and the BPS picks up the tab. BPS predicts charter transportation to be $20.3 million by 2014!
Look, Boston Public Schools is the best Urban School District in the Nation. The Council of The Great City Schools said so and acknowledged the hard work of BPS Teachers. The next Mayor of Boston would be wise to remind the large non-profits and cultural Institutions, who own 50% of the land in Boston, and pay little or nothing for municipal services, that they are part of the solution and it is time to pony up! Then taxpayers in Boston won’t have to carry their bill and a better quality of life can be had by all.
http://www.cityofboston.gov/Images_Documents/FY13%20First%20Half%20PILOT%20Status%20Report%20for%20Web_tcm3-35784.pdf
http://www.cityofboston.gov/Images_Documents/FY12%20Second%20Half%20PILOT%20Status%20Report%20for%20Web_tcm3-33007.pdf
Whether the voters share Connolly's interest and concern about the status of the Boston Public Schools is the real issue. Menino has been a great mayor but he's approaching the end of his career. If he runs again, he'll win again, but if he wins again it may cost him his health. Connolly's strength lies in his ability to connect with parents of school age children who can prove to be a powerful electoral force, and it's time for the BTU to come to it's senses and increase the length of the school day and the school year. Once a city known for it's ethnic and racial prejudice, Boston appears to be moving in a newer more positive direction. The future is facing us - are we ready for it?
Irrespective of any opinion you might have of teachers, teachers unions or our education system; there are aspects of our culture and society they have absolutely no control over. Neither educators nor brand new schools can cure or overcome many of the negative effects that the structural problems and cultural forces in our society today have on the education system. If you really want to find out what's happening in the BPS with students,positve and negative, talk to the teachers, they are out in the field, they know what is going on. Acquiring knowledge and having opportunity are what empower people and lift them up. A stable supportive home life and a safe community are necessary pillars of a child's overall development. In my opinion teachers are unfairly scapegoated by individuals who fundametnally oppose their political leanings. Teachers and our education system can only do so much. They are battling structural and cultural forces in our society that undermine the education environment.
Potlemac....The BTU has agreed to extend the work day. It merely wants its members to be treated fairly. Does the writer want teachers to extend their work day WO compensation? And if so, does the writer ask his doctor, accountant, plumber, car mechanic, and so on to work an additional shift or work an extra hour or so per day WO compensation? If so, then the 'future' the writer wants us to move to is a very sad future indeed.
Keane, another opinionated writer that has no idea what he is talking about. Convert all of BPS to charters? Does he do any investigative reporting or does he simply get a policy brief complete with talking points from Tyler and Grogan? I guess it's not a bad job if you can get it. I wonder if he's wined and dined for his opinions or if he genuinely believes what he writes . No matter, he has zero understanding of why Boston is the #1 Urban district in the United States. Despite the demonization and classist assumptions we owe that to our dedicated staff. And finally, if I hear that the BTU is against an extended day again I'm going to scream! Know your facts before you spout off your lies.
What a history. In the 1970s, people argue for neighborhood schools, called racists, leave city. 1990's Menino says he'll fix the schools. 2013, Menino and schools declare the benefits in neighborhood schools.
What has Connolly done for the schools during his five years as City Councilor-at-large beside point out that the frozen food had expired?
I'd like to see a list of his accomplishments as part-time CC when he asks teacher to work longer days.
As always, the real point goes way over the heads of the Globe editors. The bold step is to make the schools the top priority. The steps Connolly is proposing are the ones that experience and evidence prove will work, if we address them aggressively. And new, strong leadership - not old, tired neglect - is what it will take to make that happen. The Globe, drawing on it's deep experience in education and familiarity with the research (not!) proposes a massive series of risky experiments - to try on other people's kids. Please. Stop. Now. Schools have never have been a priority for Menino, and he's too far tired and in too deep with his cronies to change that now. Lots of new towers downtown, but nothing for the neighborhoods. Connolly is 100% right about the deep dysfunction in the school department. They are hostile to parents - they know better, after all. And while we're talking about dysfunction, don't forget the School Committee. We all learned this week thanks to Mr. Barros, the School Committee can't even talk about anything that the Superintendent doesn't want them to, much less do anything.