The Boston Teachers Union and President Jessica Tang issued this statement following the release of the Boston Public School Long-Term Facilities Plan.
“As a whole, we do agree that changes have to happen in order to execute the vision we share of high-quality schools for every student, regardless of ZIP code. Too many of our schools are in disrepair and opportunities are not equitably distributed. It’s good to have a blueprint for what to expect in the future – but educators, students and parents want to know how this is going to impact each specific school, and that unknown is absolutely causing a lot of justified anxiety. It all comes down to how these plans end up being implemented.
Any radical changes – including closures and mergers – need to be justified and result in improved opportunities for our students and communities. Right now, we have a lot of questions: How are these disruptions going to result in something significantly better for students, families and neighborhoods? Is what is being proposed the best solution for the problem trying to be solved? How are we ensuring that those most impacted have a voice in helping to determine these decisions?
Our communities will be expecting and advocating for maximum transparency from the district regarding what to expect in the coming years. A blueprint and ambitious vision is just the first step. We hope that BPS will work with our educators, parents, and community allies to ensure that these changes come with as little disruption as possible for our students and lead to the fully resourced, fully staffed, and inclusive schools that all of our students deserve.”
-Jessica Tang, President, Boston Teachers Union