Monday, February 11, 2013
Boston crews are working around the clock to make all Boston streets passable, forcing public schools to be closed again on Tuesday.
Boston Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday due to the continued cleanup of the blizzard of 2013 that dropped more than 20 inches on Boston's neighborhoods. Mayor Thomas Menino made the announcement over his official twitter account around 5 p.m. on Monday night. “The safety of our students comes first, and schools will remain closed as our snow removal crews work through the night and tomorrow to clear side streets and widen bus routes,” Mayor Menino said in a statement. Boston Public Schools are also closed next week for February break. All BCYF community centers will open tomorrow to offer a place for youth age six and older while their parents work, the city announced, with the exception of the BCYF Archdale Community Center and…
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Due to continued cleanup up of the fifth worst storm to hit Boston, public schools will be closed on Monday.
Boston Public Schools will be closed on Monday due to continued cleanup of one of the worst storms to hit Boston. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino tweeted on Sunday: "Boston Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, Monday, February 11. #bosnow" Menino also reminded Bostonians that the snow emergency parking ban remains in effect: "Our #1 priority today is getting to side streets. Thank you for patience as we recover from 5th largest storm to ever hit Boston. #bosnow"
Thursday, February 7, 2013
All school activities for the weekend, including athletic events, have been postponed.
Boston Public Schools will be closed on Friday because of the impending snowstorm. Mayor Thomas Menino has declared a snow emergency in effect beginning at noon on Friday. The storm is expected to drop as much as two feet of snow on the city and will last into Saturday afternoon. Along with classes, all Boston Public School activities that were scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday have been canceled, according to the district website. This includes all athletic events. All Family Resource Centers will also be closed on Friday. "Only essential personnel should report to work," according to the district website. For more information, call the Mayor's 24-Hour Hotline at 617-635-4500. CHARLESTOWN PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
The city councilor wants to see the Boston Public Schools system easier to navigate for parents.
While Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is pushing three new proposed student assignment plans, At-Large City Councilor John Connolly said he wants to see more. "The EAC [External Advisory Committee on School Choice] has pushed BPS [Boston Public Schools] to offer two creative options that move beyond arbitrary lines on a map. I'm still concerned about the lack of a real plan for quality, the complexity of a system that needs to be easier for parents to navigate, and the likelihood that limited capacity will prevent BPS from offering real close to home options," Connolly told Patch. School officials offered three options in mid-January, in contrast to the five plans they originally presented last year. One option would create 10 community-…
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Boston City Councilor Frank Baker wants a hybrid School Committee to replace the current model of being appointed by the mayor.
Boston's School Committee is currently chosen by mayoral appointments, but District 3 City Councilor Frank Baker would like it to be a hybrid of elected officials and mayoral appointments. "I believe our schools are the most important issue in our city. If we have strong schools, we will have a vibrant and successful city,” Baker said. “The school committee serves an important role in the decision making structure of the Boston Public Schools and should be accountable and responsive to the citizens of Boston, not solely to the mayor and his administration." Baker has filed a home rule petition to reorganize Boston's School Committee into a hybrid model of both elected and appointed members. Boston did previously have an elected school …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
After months of wrangling, there are three proposals left on the table. Which do you think is best for Boston's families?
After months of deliberations, trial balloons and many neighborhood meetings, Boston school officials on Tuesday released three alternatives to the current school selection process. The three plans are designed to provide families with flexibility to select quality schools close to home, according to the Boston School Choice website. The three plans are as follows: 10-zone plan: In this plan, parents would rank the schools in their zone. The child would then be placed based on availability in each school. This plan is structurally similar to the current zone-based system for placing students in schools. Home-based proposal A: This plan would give parents the choice of at least six schools of different quality near their home address. "…
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Boston Public Schools continues to overhaul its system to provide more schools close to home.
Boston Public School administrators will unveil three new proposals to reform its student assignment process today. Last year school officials released five plans, but according to the Globe, none of the original five plans will be included in the latest rollout of plans. School officials are releasing the proposals on the School Department's website Tuesday afternoon, and will formally present it at public meeting on Wednesday for the External Advisory Committee. The committee was appointed by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino last year. One of the new proposals would create smaller assignment zones, offering anywhere from three to 14 choices of schools, said Matthew Wilder, spokesperson for Boston Public Schools, according to the Globe. The …
Friday, January 18, 2013
Get free computer access and help filing online to receive federal financial aid for school.
On Jan. 27, college-bound students in Boston can take advantage of local services designed to help them navigate the process of applying for federal financial aid. During the ninth annual FAFSA Day Massachusetts, sites around the commonwealth will provide support for students and their families as they complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. This form is required for all students applying for federal financial aid such as grants, scholarships, loans and federal work-study. Boston-area FAFSA Day events include: ASA College Planning Center - Boston Public Library—700 Boylston St., Boston. Sunday, Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. Services include computer access, online filing and available Creole translators. For more information, …
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Gov. Deval Patrick signed legislation that would require teachers, workers at child care centers and school bus drivers to submit fingerprints for criminal background checks.
Should school and child care employees fingerprinted before starting employment in order to check their criminal backgrounds? The Associated Press recently reported Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is considering signing legislation that would require teachers, workers at child care centers and school bus drivers to submit fingerprints for criminal background checks. On Friday, the state education office announced in a press release that Patrick signed the bill on Thursday, authorizing the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and school districts to conduct fingerprint-supported national criminal history background checks on all teachers, school employees and early education providers in Massachusetts. "Prior to this law, school …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Menino will file statewide legislation that could eliminate the cap on in-district charter schools.
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Thursday, January 10
The following was submitted by the city of Boston on behalf of Mayor Thomas Menino. All across our city this month, parents are choosing the schools where they would like to send their children to kindergarten. The Boston Public Schools are better than ever – but our school assignment process is 25 years old. Under the current system, we ask prospective families to visit as many as 30 schools – some of which may be across the street, others miles from home – and then wait and hope they’ll get what they wanted. Our school choice process can be confusing, unpredictable and unnecessarily complicated. We can do better. Rather than building strong communities, today’s system begins by splitting up communities, sending students from one street …
amira
5:00 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
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