Mayor Martin Walsh shrugged off concerns about the failure to publicly address questions about academic performance in Minnesota under incoming Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, laying it on the School Committee that he appoints.
Walsh punted questions Sunday about why a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota, while Cassellius was the secretary of education from 2011 to this January, wasn’t mentioned during the public interview process. Minnesota records indicate students — especially minorities — performed poorly on standardized tests and in some cases slumped over that period.
“I don’t know, you’ll have to ask someone,” Walsh said, apparently referring to the School Committee. “From what I understand, there was a lot of questioning. It probably did come up.”
Cassellius was chosen over two other finalists to become the next superintendent by the committee. She is no longer being named in the suit against Minnesota, but as the Herald reported Friday, she could be called on to testify by Dan Shulman, the lead counsel, who says he’s going to trial to “change life outcomes” for forgotten kids in the state.