Then came a presentation to the School Committee on May 27 about adopting the MassCore as additional standards for graduation requirements, on top of a high school reconfiguration plan that targeted struggling high schools to move to 7-12 grade levels.
These high schools are the same schools that have experienced monumental budget loss over the past few years, creating cuts that make those classes unavailable to students.
On the same day came the presentation on turning the high schools that are already struggling with budget loss to include grades 7-12.
Perhaps BPS’ budgets should be reconfigured to invest in these schools rather than moving principals, adding grade levels and on top of that requiring that they offer MassCore required courses, when they have been systemically underfunded.
What is worse is that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) memorandum of understanding signed by Cassellius and Commissioner Riley on March 10 states that BPS has to adopt by the MassCore by June 2020 and has to increase graduation rates, essentially making decisions for Casellius, the School Committee, and the mayor.
