News

Blackstone School community mobilizes to fight $500,000 budget shortfall

by Ariel Branz
Wednesday Feb 6, 2019

Photo by Ariel Branz, courtesy St. Stephen's Youth Programs
Photo by Ariel Branz, courtesy St. Stephen's Youth Programs  

Rally, speeches, and an art exhibit boost their campaign to stop staff cuts

Submitted by Ariel Branz

One hundred parents, students, and teachers from the Blackstone Elementary School in the South End marched on Boston Public Schools headquarters this week to demand that staff cuts slated for next year be cancelled.

The BPS budget is scheduled for release at a School Committee meeting on February 6, but parents at several schools have already learned of painful staff cuts. More parents are expected to converge on the School Committee February 6.

In a taste of things to come, Blackstone community members holding banners and signs marched through the elegant Bolling Building lobby last Wednesday and set up an exhibit of student art and letters opposing the cuts outside the School Committee chambers. More than 20 spoke at the School Committee meeting, telling personal stories about staff who changed students' lives.

Fifth grader Joshua Greenaway testified: "I don't understand why my school keeps losing the things that mean the most to me, while other schools get more. Some schools, like charter schools, are getting a second building, while we lose swim class. Other schools are learning in updated classrooms, when most of us are learning in classrooms that don't have walls or doors. We are losing teachers, mentors, and resources. What is next? Taking money away from our school needs to stop."

Parent Rafaela Polanco described her first day at the school, newly arrived from the Dominican Republic with her young son. Neither of them spoke English and her son was afraid to be left alone. But staff took care of them. Soon, her son began telling her how they were teaching him English, and how one particular staff member "makes me feel I am important here at school."

With staff cuts looming, Polanco said, "I'm wondering, how many parents are going to arrive at the Blackstone School with my story? Perhaps we're no longer going to have that incredible and wonderful body of teachers that we have here today."

The planned reductions at the Blackstone are especially concentrated in special education for students with disabilities, with a loss of four positions.

According to state statistics, 24 percent of Blackstone students have disabilities, 47 percent are English learners, and 76 percent come from low-income families.

"The Blackstone has become a refuge for high needs students who have been pushed out and marginalized by nearby 'level one' schools," said teacher Crystal Collier. "We are busting at the seams to treat them and help them. We're at capacity. We're doing the best we can to give them a 21st century education."

"Last year," said teacher Alex Sullivan, "we serviced our hundreds of English language learners with one ESL teacher. Next year, thanks to a lawsuit from the Department of Justice, we will have over six ESL teachers. What a disgrace that it took a lawsuit to bring those resources to our students.

"So I ask you, with one [special education] resource teacher next year, down from five this year, are we just waiting for a lawsuit that protects our students with special needs, so that we might meet their needs?"


Photo by Ariel Branz, courtesy St. Stephen's Youth Programs  


Photo by Ariel Branz, courtesy St. Stephen's Youth Programs  


Photo by Ariel Branz, courtesy St. Stephen's Youth Programs  


Photo by Ariel Branz, courtesy St. Stephen's Youth Programs