Good Morning,

Given the significance of last night’s vote to close the Kennedy-Longfellow School (KLo) at the end of this school year, I wanted to share an approximation of my remarks from the meeting.

In this moment, I am feeling pained, regretful, and clear.  I want to share why I have this mix of emotions.

First, the pain KLo students, staff, and families are feeling is both evident and understandable. Community makes a school and we’re talking about transitioning a community into a wholly different form.  Change is almost never easy, and this change, which shakes-up people’s daily routines and years-long relationships is particularly hard.  As I mentioned at our last meeting, I have seen, first-hand, excellent teaching and inspired innovation from KLo educators, when I’ve visited and read to classes, met families for morning coffees, toured the building for facilities needs…  And we’ve heard here tonight, again, how many children and caregivers will be forever grateful to the KLo team.

Second, I take responsibility, albeit partial, for finding ourselves in this moment, this decision that feels abrupt to some and a long time coming for others. I own that the Committee - I - should have stepped in earlier, particularly pushing harder in the post-COVID years for annual controlled choice discussions, and to ensure the handoff from Dr. Greer (who had committed to doing a process at KLo) to Interim Superintendent Murphy was communicated to the community.  This is not generally how we should make big decisions.

That said, despite wishing our engagement path to this moment had been different, I do believe that transitioning the KLo is the right decision. I appreciate that, when I asked about a community process, the Interim Superintendent said a community engagement process would have been disingenuous, since the administration knew what their recommendation would be.  [Multiple superintendents have sent interventions to and/or thought the KLo should close.] It would be a waste of time and insulting to do a process when there is already a decision.  I take the Interim Superintendent at his word that the community engagement process to determine what is next is a truly open, collaborative undertaking, in which families and educators will deeply inform the plans for next school year.  I and my Committee colleagues will be looking for a clear delineation of roles, responsibilities, and timelines for the advisory committee, the administration, the School Committee, including what are the deliverables from each party.

In closing, I want to underscore my sincere gratitude for Principal Gerber, KLo staff, and the coalition of KLo families.  Your thoughtfulness and strategy have both been admirable.  I support your demands, in particular for students in Sheltered English Immersion classrooms to move as a program; for families to have a choice of staying with their children’s cohorts or having priority in selecting other schools; for a collaborative process in which the admin, educators and families all have input on what’s next for the school on Spring St; for KLo educators to have opportunities elsewhere in the district; for receiving schools to prepare to welcome KLo students with open arms and support; and for the Committee/admin to put practices and policies into place to prevent another school from the same systemic circumstances. I am committed to working with the Interim Superintendent and my colleagues to see these steps implemented.

(You can review the Superintendent's presentation here. Soon, you will be able to watch the recording of the meeting here.)