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The Boston Teachers Union believes that every student in Boston deserves a school that inspires learning, nurtures their growth, and gives them the strongest possible foundation for the future. Decisions about our school buildings must put the voices of educators, students, and families at the center. Furthermore, we demand that more time be allowed before the school committee vote. To hold a vote of the School Committee less than a month after the recommendation is submitted in the midst of the holiday season is no way to allow for a school community to respond to the devastating news of their closure.
Closing schools devastates students and staff alike, and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Where a merger is possible, that must be pursued instead of a closure.
No school should be closed unless the district can guarantee a clearly better option for students. That means providing students with a modern, safe school building, expanded academic programming, and meaningful improvements in opportunities for students. Anything less risks destabilizing school communities and undermining student success.
The Boston Teachers Union has introduced a comprehensive Facilities Resolution that provides a responsible and equitable roadmap for improving our school infrastructure. It outlines how Boston can modernize buildings, expand high-quality programming, and strengthen student supports without sacrificing the stability our communities rely on.
We urge city and district leaders to follow this framework and ensure that any proposals to close schools are transparent, community-driven, and truly in the best interest of Boston’s students. Including all voices will ensure that decisions about our schools are deliberate, transparent, and grounded in the voices of the families and educators who know our students best.
The BTU educators at Charlestown High School, Greater Egleston High School and the East Boston Early Education Center, along with their students and their families, deserve to have their voices heard, and the BTU will be working to amplify them in the coming weeks.
Erik Berg,
BTU President