School Choice Vote, Madison Park Trades Partnership, Charter Renewals, and Federal Funding Concerns on the Agenda | Last Night at School Committee: May 14th, 2025 Meeting Recap

Last night’s Boston School Committee meeting began with an executive session, during which members received an update on a labor agreement between the district and the Administrative Guild, which represents the secretaries and clerks working in Boston Public Schools (BPS).

The public portion of the meeting opened with a hearing on the Massachusetts School Choice Plan for the 2025–2026 school year. However, with no public speakers present, the meeting moved swiftly to the Superintendent’s report.

Superintendent’s Report: 

• Tragedy and Accountability

Superintendent Mary Skipper began her report by acknowledging the recent tragic deaths of two BPS students. Chair Jeri Robinson and Superintendent Skipper expressed condolences to the affected families. Superintendent Skipper also referenced ongoing collaboration with TransDev, the city’s contracted school bus provider, to prevent future incidents. However, a Boston Globe article published this week revealed that the bus driver involved in one of the incidents had an expired certification. Notably, the Superintendent did not directly address this detail, and we will continue to monitor for follow-up.

• Madison Park & Building Trades Partnership

Superintendent Skipper went on to highlight a new partnership between Madison Park Technical Vocational High School and the Greater Boston Building Trades Unions. The agreement guarantees direct entry for the top-performing 50% of Madison Park graduates into pre-apprenticeship union training programs. This marks the largest such agreement in the state and provides a meaningful career pathway for BPS students into the trades.

BSAC Pushes for Cell Phone Policy Reform

The Boston Student Advisory Council (BSAC) presented next, reporting on a recent visit to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, where students advocated for a districtwide cell phone policy. The current policy (see page 20) has not been comprehensively updated in two decades. While individual schools have adopted varied approaches, the absence of a consistent, modern policy remains a pressing issue.

Budget, Grants, and Public Testimony

Following BSAC’s presentation, the Committee received a briefing on the allocation and management of school trust funds and then voted on a series of school grants.

During public comment, 23 speakers addressed a range of issues, including:

• Support for Boston Green Academy’s charter renewal

• Reactions to the proposed Urban Achievers Private School

• Insightful testimony on climate resiliency initiatives in schools

• Sociedad Latina advocacy for districtwide cell phone and AI policy

School Choice Debate Sparks Spirited Critique 

One of the evening’s most intense exchanges occurred during the vote on whether BPS should participate in the Massachusetts School Choice Program. Although Superintendent Skipper had previously cited capacity constraints, she reframed her opposition by warning that a pilot program could divert focus from core priorities such as inclusive education and early college pathways.

Member Brandon Cardet-Hernandez issued a detailed rebuttal. He argued that the district was prioritizing fear over innovation, and emphasized the potential for school choice to support Boston’s workforce—many of whom reside outside the city—and promote equity and integration. He also contested claims regarding financial burdens, noting that many are not grounded in evidence. Ultimately, the school committee, once again, voted to opt out of school choice. 

Charter Renewals and Alternative Pathways

Later in the meeting, Boston Green Academy presented its charter renewal application. The district also provided an update on graduation requirements for students in alternative education settings. BPS reaffirmed its post-2021 graduation standards and highlighted alignment with other urban districts across the state. Superintendent Skipper added that the updated framework expands early college and career access for alternative education students.

A New Private School on the Horizon

The final presentation focused on the proposed Urban Achievers Private High School. Committee members and district leaders expressed strong support, praising the additional school choice it would offer to Boston families. The enthusiasm stood in contrast to the hesitance shown around broader school choice discussions earlier in the meeting.

A Question on Looming Federal Funding Cuts

During the meeting, Member Cardet-Hernandez raised a key concern about the impact of frozen or rescinded federal grants. Superintendent Skipper confirmed that many grants are currently stalled due to legal challenges, which is affecting the district’s budget planning.

Accountability Watch: Committee Questions

As part of a new initiative to improve transparency, we’re tracking key questions raised by School Committee members that remain unresolved. Here’s the current list:

• Can we create a task force for achievement and opportunity gaps? – Dr. Stephen Alkins

• In the district, how many psychologists are there per student? – Chair Jeri Robinson

• Where are we now in terms of budget priorities? – Chair Jeri Robinson

• Can we see enrollment data at the transformation schools? – Brandon Cardet-Hernandez

• How will the new Boston Teachers Union contract improve student outcomes? – Chair Jeri Robinson

• Can we get tangible follow-up on a pilot program for joining the Massachusetts School Choice Plan? – Quoc Tran

• Can you add two columns to the grant spreadsheets for evaluation notes and whether the grant is ongoing? – Dr. Stephen Alkins

The School Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17th. We look forward to hearing more from district leadership and will continue monitoring follow-through on outstanding questions and initiatives.