Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and school superintendent Tommy Chang published a joint essay Tuesday morning on the op-ed page of the Boston Globe outlining the fiscal realities facing the city's Public Schools. Below are 4 key passages that cut to the heart of the issue. Click here to read the full piece.
According to a report by the US Census Bureau, the Boston Public Schools invest more money per student than any of the 100 largest school districts in the nation. The BPS budget approved by the School Committee last week stands at $1.027 billion, and total education spending takes up more of our city budget than at any point in our history.
That's why we included a $13.5 million increase in the 2016-2017 budget. That figure will likely grow once we reach a new collective bargaining agreement with teachers.
Since 2008, while Boston has increased funding by $232 million, assessments for charter schools have grown by $103 million; our Chapter 70 state education aid has declined by $2 million; and labor costs have risen by $130 million. Meanwhile, 65 percent of our schools buildings are now more than 75 years old.
This year's budget conversation has been fragmented, pitting various needs against one another. The reality is, our challenges are deeply interwoven, so action in one area affects many others. That means long-term solution must be comprehensive, and the route to finding them must be collaborative.