City Council - Ways & Means Committee Hearing on Dockets #0733-0740, FY27 Budget: Academics and Outreach

Executive Summary

The Ways & Means Committee held a hearing on the FY27 Boston Public Schools (BPS) budget, specifically addressing dockets #0733-0740 regarding academics, outreach, and facilities. Key discussions focused on the district's inclusion model, support for multilingual learners, and the financial implications of school mergers and closures. The district reported a projected $23 million in savings from school closures and outlined a long-term facilities goal of reducing the building portfolio to 95 schools by 2030. Public testimony from educators and students emphasized the need for bilingual staff and the preservation of student-facing special education positions despite broader budget constraints.

Meeting Metadata

Governing Body: City Council - Ways & Means Committee
Meeting Type: Budget Hearing
Meeting Date: April 17, 2026, at 10:00 AM
Dockets: #0733-0740 (FY27 Budget: Academics and Outreach)
Chair: Councilor Ben Weber
Key Attendees: Superintendent Mary Skipper, CFO David Bloom, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Simone Wright, Joelle Gamer (OMME), Christine Trevisone (Specialized Services), Councilors Flynn, Murphy, Breadon, Durkan, Fitzgerald, Culpepper, Louijeune, and Santana.

Academic Programming and Inclusion

Dr. Simone Wright provided an overview of the district's academic strategy, noting that one out of every three students is a multilingual learner and one out of four is a student with disabilities.

Career Pathways: 4,051 students (1 in 4 high schoolers) are currently enrolled in career pathways.
Bilingual Expansion: BPS has expanded bilingual education by 42% in 24 months, growing from 8 to 14 programs.
Inclusion Implementation: In the first year of the inclusive education plan, the district saw a six-percentage point increase in Grade 7 ELA MCAS scores.
Special Education Staffing: CFO David Bloom reported a net loss of 179 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions in special education, primarily due to school closures and the reconfiguration of the Melvin H. King schools. This includes 120 paraprofessionals and 44 support staff.

Curriculum and Literacy

The committee discussed the alignment of BPS curriculum with evidence-based research.

Standards: BPS utilizes 'EdReports' approved rubrics to ensure curriculum coherence and grade-level standards.
Literacy Data: Councilor Murphy raised concerns regarding low literacy rates, noting that less than 30% of students read on grade level.
Reading Specialists: The number of reading specialists is projected to decrease slightly from 73 to 70 in the FY27 budget.
Direct Quote: "Success with inclusion is really a call to action for high quality instruction for each student where they receive the support necessary to be successful." — Dr. Simone Wright.

School Mergers and Closures

The district outlined its long-term facilities strategy and the fiscal impact of current closures.

Financial Impact: School closures and reconfigurations are expected to generate $23 million in savings for FY27.
Long-Term Goal: The district aims to reach a portfolio of 95 school buildings by 2030 (down from the current 105).
Specific Actions:
- Excel High School: Closing at the end of the current school year; the building will undergo renovations for a future BPS high school program.
- Mary Lyon Pilot: The Lower School will move into the Upper School building in September 2026.
- Henderson Upper: Currently in an 18-month transition cycle; only 15 students in rising 10th and 11th grades remain as families opt for other placements.

Public Testimony

Several stakeholders provided testimony regarding budget priorities and school conditions:

Mendel School Students: Students (including Mamadou Diarra and Lennox Bloom) requested more bilingual teachers, improved playground safety, and better school food options.
John Mudd (Advocate): Criticized the inclusion model for multilingual learners, stating that less than 10% reach state academic standards.
Kate De La Rosa (BTU): Opposed the cut of 134 student-facing positions, including 109 special education paraprofessionals and 25 psychologists.
Dora Sandoval (Parent): Advocated for the expansion of bilingual programs, citing her son's success in receiving a full scholarship to Northeastern University as a result of such support.

Partnerships and Summer Programming

The second panel focused on community engagement and external partnerships.

Summer Learning: BPS plans to welcome over 8,300 students into the Summer Learning Academy, with 16,000 to 20,000 total summer opportunities including PIC work placements.
Private Industry Council (PIC): The district pays PIC approximately $1.3 million annually for youth workforce development and career planning.
Hub Schools: There are currently 20 'Hub Schools' (community schools) receiving central funding for coordinators to manage after-school and family resources.

Capital Budget and Facilities

Chief of Capital Planning Delvern Stanislaus detailed the BPS capital outlook.

FY27 Budget: $178.9 million is budgeted for capital projects.
Major Projects: Nearly $1 billion is projected for large-scale MSBA projects between FY28 and FY31, including Madison Park, Ruth Batson Academy, and Shaw-Taylor.
Infrastructure: 40% of BPS buildings are currently rated as having low facility condition scores.