school closures

News the city is planning to shutter four Boston Public Schools buildings next year was met with frustration last week as activists renewed calls for the district to create a comprehensive facilities plan and conduct equity analyses before announcing school closures.

In 2002, when Mary Skipper was appointed headmaster at Tech Boston, the former Dorchester High School building housed two other schools: Noonan Business Academy and Academy of Public Service. When she left 11 years later, Tech Boston was the only community left. Her tenure at the helm of the schools gave her hands-on experience with school closures and mergers.

The School Committee voted to close middle schools and move the district to K-6 and 7-12 models as part of the Build BPS, shortly before Superintendent Dr. Cassellius was hired three years ago. The long term impact of this decision means we will have a steady drop in student enrollment, as families select other schools with more secure pathways.

In the last 20 years, the district has closed, moved or merged 70% of its schools, according to research by Boston Latin Academy history teacher Jose Valenzuela.