Study: Segregation in Mass. schools among worst

Study: Segregation in Mass. schools among worst

A new study shows that public schools in Boston and Springfield are among the most racially segregated in the nation.

The Northeastern University report found that of the 100 large metropolitan area school systems it examined, Springfield ranked second behind Los Angeles for the most segregated for Latino students, while Boston ranked fourth in the same category.

When it came to the segregation of black students, Springfield was ninth and Boston was 28th.

The report found that the way school districts have traditionally been set up tends to isolate minority students at underperforming schools.

The study’s authors told The Boston Globe that metropolitan areas in the Northeast and Midwest dominated the rankings.

Council hearing to get parent and community input about the BTU contract

A public hearing to solicit parent, student and community input regarding priorities for the next contract between Boston Public Schools and the Boston Teachers Union will be held Sept. 28th at 1:30 p.m. at Boston City Hall.   

Boston to begin crackdown on unsafe buildings

Boston inspectors are about to launch a crackdown on owners of nearly 150 vacant and unsafe buildings in a drive to improve the properties.

A team from the fire, inspection services and other departments started in East Boston Monday and worked throughout the city, reaching all 147 empty or abandoned properties that the fire department says are dangerous.

Mayor Thomas Menino says the goal is to put pressure on owners to restore them to a safe and sanitary condition. He says failure to do so will result in legal action by the city.

Menino established a task force following an Aug. 21 Roxbury warehouse fire, one of the biggest in Boston’s history.

Fire Commissioner Roderick J. Fraser says some buildings are so hazardous they’re a risk to life.