The Boston Teachers Union Executive Board, the governing body of the union, voted to endorse a resolution regarding Boston Public Schools’ long-term facilities plan which was approved by the BTU membership on June 12th, 2024.
Please see the resolution below:
BTU Resolution on BPS School Facilities Planning
(5/22/24)
- WHEREAS, Boston Public Schools buildings have suffered from neglect and inadequate facilities for decades.
- 74 out of 124 current BPS school buildings were built before 1940 and 36 buildings are more than 100 years old.
- Since 2000, only six new school buildings have been constructed, and two more are in progress.
- Meanwhile, in that same time period, Boston has closed at least 35 schools.
- Since 1980, only 7 of Boston’s 23 neighborhoods have seen a new building built.
- 96 schools lack ventilation systems that provide fresh air to the building.
- WHEREAS, BPS has announced multiple school closures, mergers, or reconfigurations over the past ten years without a plan for new or updated facilities and without meaningful community participation, advanced planning, or public processes.
- WHEREAS, BPS has shown a repeated lack of commitment to upgrading facilities to schools experiencing grade re-configurations or mergers.
- WHEREAS, Students deserve modern, renovated, well-ventilated, and sustainably powered buildings and students are advocating for such through MASSCOSH/Teens Lead @ Work Student Demands.
- WHEREAS, According to BPS’ building quality analysis, 78% of BPS buildings are missing at least 2 out of 4 categories of what BPS considers a “BPS High-Quality Student Experience”
- WHEREAS, historically, school mergers and closures have had a disproportionate impact on Black and brown students, English language learners, and students with disabilities.
- WHEREAS, A Boston Globe report found that districts with a majority white student population got about $10,000 per student for school projects, the Globe found, while districts made up mostly of students of color got about $6,400 per student.”
Be it resolved that the BTU calls for Boston Public Schools and the City of Boston to prioritize new construction and school renovation independent of proposals to merge or close schools. The BTU calls for Boston to commit to at least 3 new or fully renovated school buildings annually until all schools are up-to-date. Changes in grades or school structure (i.e. mergers) should have a clear and direct benefit to existing communities through renovated or new facilities. Prior to the merging of a school, BPS must have a modern facility ready for students in the affected schools. BPS should prioritize the stability and preservation of communities, and minimize disruption, through renovations, swing spaces, staffing support, and wraparound services (such as community hub schools) before, during, and after changes.
To ensure that changes to schools are grounded in school communities’ own knowledge and understanding of their own context, and that changes actually lead to improved conditions, the BTU calls for BPS to make its decision-making process transparent and grounded in partnership with communities. This should include:
- Meeting and partnering with communities for input prior to any proposal, decision-making, or announcement
- Full implementation of the Racial Equity Tool as part of the proposal-process
- Proposals for school changes should be made at least two years in advance of any change, in order for students, families, and staff to be able to make informed school decisions; BPS must meet with BTU to complete all bargaining obligations prior to contractual staffing deadlines or extend the excessing deadlines for impacted staff.
Students, educators, and communities deserve buildings designed to meet the needs of students today and tomorrow. The BTU endorses the MASSCOSH/Teens Lead @ Work Student Demands for renovated and sustainable buildings, and the staffing and resources to provide the teaching and learning conditions students deserve. This includes bringing all school facilities to ADA compliance, and designed for sensory comfort.The BTU calls for student and educator voice in the design and building process, so that facilities are built with needed spaces (such as science labs, counseling spaces, arts and athletics, and libraries) and to ensure that facilities are funded and staffed for students to have access to those spaces and resources.
Be it further resolved that the Executive Board School Facilities Sub-Committee will meet with the Organizing Team and members from impacted schools to develop a protocol for supporting schools facing school changes (such as closures and mergers). These steps may include meeting with faculty senates, creating a staff and community survey, and identifying community demands. The BTU will center the voices and priorities of our members, students, and families in impacted school communities to shape our collective response to district proposals. This should also include steps for supporting school communities after facility decisions have been made, such as by helping to identify and advocate for needed resources and supports through transition processes and holding the district accountable for promised investments and renovations.
The BTU shall explore opportunities to build relationships with community allies, such as by developing a shared set of priorities and vision with community partners, and contributing to coalition work where there are shared interests and priorities.
Be it further resolved the BTU shall explore further strategies to advance statewide legislation that would increase the capacity, racial equity and speed of new school facility construction. The BTU has previously endorsed HB441/SB251 An Act Modernizing School Construction, which, using the aforementioned principles, establishes a commission to reform the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).