BPS BUDGET REMIX VIDEO - Presented by The Curley K-8 School Parents
DO you know we have have some of the most dedicated, passionate and talented parents that work behind-the-scenes fighting not just for their children's education but for public education. Heshan Berents-Weeramuni is one of those parents. He's not paid to advocate for the public schools nor are the many, many other parents that worked tirelessly in support of public education. The following article from Boston Globe includes a link to a video made by our extraordinarily talented and dedicated parents explaining how the budget process works. I would like to especially thank Heshan Berents-Weeramuni a parent, who works quietly behind the scenes fighting for public education. He alongside all our parents that tirelessly asking in return- Proper Funding.
The Boston school system made a significant change in hiring last school year, giving principals the authority to select outside candidates over internal applicants. Consequently, 72 teachers who had previously gained “permanent” employment status have not been assigned to their own classrooms, forcing the school system to create co-teaching positions for them at a cost of about $6 million.
Aside from extending the school day, school officials have outlined other new initiatives.
They want to overhaul high schools, step up interventions at struggling schools, restore deferred maintenance on school buildings, expand the number of K1 classrooms, and increase the number of classrooms that educate both regular education and special education students.
But O’Neill said the school system cannot let tight finances prevent Boston from pursuing new initiatives if it wants to improve schools and the academic success of its students.
Parents, tired of seeing cherished teachers lose jobs or witnessing the demise of art or other programs, already are mobilizing. On Monday, the Parent Council at Curley K-8 School in Jamaica Plain took to YouTube and posted an 11-minute video explaining how the budget process works in hopes of inspiring more parents to get involved.
“We live in one of the richest cities in the country, but we can’t get our act together to fully fund the education of our kids,” Heshan Berents-Weeramuni, the parent co-chair of the Curley’s School Site Council, said in an interview. “It seems like parents are the only ones advocating for our kids because we know the extent of the cuts.
“Strong schools probably are the greatest asset to every neighborhood. I don’t understand why that is not front and center,” Berents-Weeramuni said.
It remains unclear which schools could suffer the biggest hits. Budget allocations are made on a per-student basis. More information will be known later this month when principals consult parents on developing their individual school budgets.