A large number of Curley community members again attended the Boston School Committee meeting for a second time this year on Wednesday, February 1st. Parents had spoken at the previous meeting on January 18th as well. Among the items presented during the meeting included the preliminary 2012-2013 budget overview by the BPS CFO John McDonough.
Once again, the Curley contingent, all wearing their distinctive black, yellow and green T-shirts stood in silence as one parent, Heshan Berents-Weeramuni, read a prepared statement during the general public comment period. They stood in silent solidarity a second time while Mather Elementary parents Sherman Zemmler Wu and Andy Berg spoke. The Mather is also facing budget cuts.
The video of last night’s meeting is available for you to watch here:
http://www.cityofboston.gov/cable/video_library.asp?id=2418
Some highlights of the above video:
- Preliminary budget overview presentation by John McDonough, CFO of BPS – 1 hour 28 minute mark
- School Committee member John Barros’ favorable statement on the Curley’s use of signs and general demeanor at the last meeting – 1 hour 25 minute mark
- Curley parent Heshan Berents-Weeramuni’s statement on the proposed budget on the Curley K-8 – 3 hour 3 minute mark
- Mather parent Sherman Zemler Wu’s statement of proposed budget on the Mather – 3 hour 7 minute mark
Statements made at the School Committee meetings so far:
- February 1, 2012 statement to the Boston School Committee
(English version) - February 1, 2012 statement to the Boston School Committee
(Spanish version)
- January 18, 2012 statement to the Boston School Committee
(English version) - January 18, 2012 statement to the Boston School Committee
(Spanish version)
To learn more and get involved in the continuing efforts, please see our outreach packet and contact information sheet below:
- Outreach Packet for calls, emails and letters (English and Spanish)
- Contact Information for Mayor, City Councillors, BPS Officials and School Committee
If you are nteresting in speaking at future School Committee meetings, or want more information, please contact Lindsey Weeramuni or Carrie Fletcher.
3 comments
Sara Mallach says:
February 2, 2012 at 8:09 pm (UTC 0)
Heshan, Lindsey and Yasmina,
You all made such powerful and compelling speeches. I am sorry to have missed seeing you speak so eloquently in person.
Heshan and Lindsey,
Thank you for leading the charge in this fight and to everyone who is working so hard behind the scenes! I am so glad to be a part of this wonderful Curley community.
Sara Mallach
Heshan Berents-Weeramuni says:
February 2, 2012 at 8:18 pm (UTC 0)
Thank you for the inspiration on the tactics Sara! Lindsey deserves the credit for helping to spearhead this, but as with everything at the Curley, there are scores of us who’ve gotten involved by organizing, emailing, calling, attending. Coolest thing about us is that we move like a pride! Much more on the way – many more speakers, meetings with other elected officials, coordinated parent involvement across schools, and a cracking video!
Inci Kaya says:
February 3, 2012 at 12:55 am (UTC 0)
I concur with Sara’s message. Thank you for taking the lead on this, and for providing a framework within which we, other parents can participate and lend a hand to the efforts that are now escalating well past the Curley school itself, and moving to a city-wide level. I would not be surprised if we found ourselves campaigning at a state or even federal level in a not too distant future, as this is where the money trail will take us.
Best,
Inci