Boston School Committee chairman to step down

News from the Bolling Building: Michael O’Neill steps down as Chair of the School Committee.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/12/28/michael-neill-steps-down-boston-school-committee-chair/gtyqoT53kll5NZax4KTeRK/story.html?event=event25{122811316cfd5b88780f51fede8567be755cf1c68a0121e0e17981680b9735a7}3Fevent{122811316cfd5b88780f51fede8567be755cf1c68a0121e0e17981680b9735a7}3Devent25

BPS may be served lawsuit over lack of minority input

“[Lawyers’ Committee Executive Director] Espinoza-Madrigal said that if BPS leadership doesn’t start addressing issues facing minorities, immigrants and community members who want more input, there could be ‘legal liability for Boston Public Schools and the city of Boston.'”

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2017/12/bps_may_be_served_lawsuit_over_lack_of_minority_input

Opinion: Don’t blame the algorithm for doing what Boston school officials asked

The BPS has pulled back on start time changes, which was announced today. But let’s keep asking the hard questions, like which city departments get funded and which get cuts? Was the city sacrificing families’ needs to save public dollars? Why have algorithms been blamed for political decisions?

https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2017/12/22/don-blame-algorithm-for-doing-what-boston-school-officials-asked/lAsWv1Rfwqmq6Jfm5ypLmJ/story.html

BPS Parent: The algorithm method is a problem

You can’t get to a good place in a bad way…Many parents testified about feeling blind-sided; others spoke of having their trust in the system breached. This would not have happened if BPS has utilized a planning process that respectfully engaged parents instead of relying so heavily on a computer algorithm. We can get to good place, but we have to get there in a good way.”

https://www.dotnews.com/columns/2017/algorithm-method-problem-when-it-comes-parents-children-and

Civil rights groups hit school start plan

Statement by the Boston NAACP, EBECC and the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice on start times.

“The decision made by the administration and School Committee is not racially equitable, and is likely to bring significant harm to children and families of color across the City of Boston. Equity demands that this decision be reconsidered.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/12/14/civil-rights-groups-hit-school-start-plan/LHERi1xvgqtcscNxtM6TpJ/story.html#comments