Students, teachers, and parents are pleading with Boston Public Schools to keep Charlestown High School open as the district considers closing the school in June 2028 amid declining enrollment.
Students and teachers are pleading
with Boston Public Schools to keep Charlestown High open.
Current plans propose closing the school in June of 2028
because of a significant drop in enrollment.
Boston 25 News reporter Ryan Breslin joining us live now outside
of the high school this morning
where people are not happy with the district's plan.
Nicole and Gene, that's right, a vote is scheduled for next month
to consider the proposal to close Charlestown High School.
Now this is part of Boston Public Schools' long-term facilities plan.
Last night a packed crowd at the school committee meeting.
Nearly 100 people signed up during that meeting to speak as students,
parents and teachers. They urged the district to keep the school open.
Superintendent Mary Skipper says this comes after a drastic drop
in enrollment in recent years. She points out this year's
entering K-2 cohort has 1000 fewer students than a decade ago.
But Skipper says closing schools and moving programs would consolidate
resources to give each student more opportunities at every school.
Our long-term enrollment projections show
that in order to best serve our students,
we need to reduce the number of schools we operate.
This proposal terrifies me. I finally have a school I feel I belong at,
and this proposal would displace me
and all of the class of 2029 for a senior year.
I don't want to start over at a new school as a senior,
and I'm pleading with you to not make me.
BPS says that it will gather input from
the community over the next few weeks.
The vote itself.
It is scheduled for December 2nd,
coming up.
Why some of the communities say that
there has not been enough time to
provide community feedback for now.
We're live in Charlestown, Ryan Breslin,
for your local station, Boston 25 News.
All right, Ryan, thank you.
