Brookline schools are trying to boost the district’s Office of Educational Equity (OEE) by creating teams of staff at each school to focus on equity, and rolling out an artificial intelligence tool to help educators create lesson plans. OEE will establish “equity teams” as part of a pilot program at the Florida Ruffin Ridley, Lawrence,… Continue reading Schools’ equity office aims to expand its work with new staff training and AI tool
Category: Education
BHS seniors celebrate commencement
On Sunday, Brookline High School’s class of 2024 gathered with family, friends, and school staff at Cypress Field to celebrate the graduates in a commencement ceremony. The afternoon included a multilingual welcome from international students at BHS, speeches from several members of the school community, and solo and group student musical performances. In a speech… Continue reading BHS seniors celebrate commencement
School budget: Town Meeting will vote on world language funding, Baldwin School renovation
At its first session of the year, Town Meeting will take votes on a proposal to reverse funding cuts to the schools world language program, and weigh in on disagreements over a renovation of the Baldwin School. Town Meeting is Brookline’s 263-person legislative body, meeting typically twice a year. At the spring session, Town Meeting… Continue reading School budget: Town Meeting will vote on world language funding, Baldwin School renovation
‘I couldn’t have asked for better:’ Brookline METCO alums reflect on nearly 60 years of the program
While attending Brookline schools from first grade through high school, India Washington participated in Girl Scouts and performing arts, studied abroad in Costa Rica, and lobbied on Capitol Hill for prison reform. Washington, who grew up in Mattapan, attended Brookline schools through the Metropolitan Council for Education Opportunity (METCO), a voluntary busing program that allows… Continue reading ‘I couldn’t have asked for better:’ Brookline METCO alums reflect on nearly 60 years of the program
Braving 26-foot waves, Baker School teacher brings Antarctica to her classroom
In February, Baker School sixth-grade science teacher Yasameen Sharif found herself a long way from the classroom. She was adrift on a ship in Antarctica, participating in oceanic research alongside teams of scientists. As she counted fish, spotted whales and floated on 26-foot waves, Sharif’s students followed along through her blog and frequent Zoom calls.… Continue reading Braving 26-foot waves, Baker School teacher brings Antarctica to her classroom
After criticism from ACLU, School Committee ‘struggling’ to develop hate speech policy
In recent months, Brookline’s School Committee has been trying to create a policy to track and combat hate speech in the district, but the effort has been tangled with questions of free speech and complicated by criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union. The proposed hate speech prevention policy would track incidents of hate speech… Continue reading After criticism from ACLU, School Committee ‘struggling’ to develop hate speech policy
With three seats up for grabs, May 7 election could remake School Committee
Four candidates are running for three seats on the School Committee as town voters go to the polls on May 7: Miriam Aschkenasy, Jesse Hefter, Sarah Moghtader and Carolyn Thall. Click on each of their names below to read more. The decision of Chair David Pearlman to run for Select Board instead of reelection means… Continue reading With three seats up for grabs, May 7 election could remake School Committee
Young engineers create ‘Masterpieces’ at Brookline Lego robotics event
About 40 elementary school-aged students, along with their families and teachers, filled Brookline High School’s science wing on Thursday night with high-tech Lego creations in tow. Dressed in colorful team swag, nine groups of first through fourth-graders eagerly set up their Lego projects, which they programmed with code through Lego Education’s SPIKE app, to present… Continue reading Young engineers create ‘Masterpieces’ at Brookline Lego robotics event
Natalia Linos, leaving School Committee for UN position, reflects on her one-year tenure
Natalia Linos, who was elected to the School Committee last year, is leaving the committee on April 15 to return to a position at the United Nations, her previous employer. Linos, 42, was one of two committee members to vote in favor of unleveling ninth grade English. As the wife and mother of Palestinians, she… Continue reading Natalia Linos, leaving School Committee for UN position, reflects on her one-year tenure
In its 25th year, Artbarn continues to cultivate childrens’ creativity through theater
A trail of rosy-cheeked elementary school students files into Temple Sinai, but not because they are attending the synagogue. Instead, their little toes tap, jump and snap to attention as choreographer Camille Capello begins their next dance lesson. The children belong to Artbarn, which isn’t actually a barn. It’s a community theater program for students… Continue reading In its 25th year, Artbarn continues to cultivate childrens’ creativity through theater
School Committee votes to eliminate world language classes for K-5 students, cut literacy coaches
The School Committee voted on Thursday night to eliminate world language classes for students in kindergarten through grade five and to cut all four elementary school literacy coach positions. The budget, if approved by Town Meeting in May, could result in at least 18 educators losing their jobs, according to estimates by school officials. The… Continue reading School Committee votes to eliminate world language classes for K-5 students, cut literacy coaches
The tried and true teacher-coach experience
Editor’s note: This story is being published in partnership with The Cypress, the student newspaper of Brookline High School. Read the original story here. Students slowly shuffle into the classroom to see the familiar sight of their teacher sitting at a desk, grading assignments. It’s hard to believe that just eight hours later, that same teacher will be… Continue reading The tried and true teacher-coach experience
Brookline schools planning layoffs, cutting world language classes for K-5 students
Facing a $2.44 million budget deficit, Brookline’s school district is planning to cut all or a significant portion of its world language program for kindergarten through fifth grade next year and is weighing laying off approximately 20 employees. The cuts come as district-wide expenses are outpacing the town’s revenue, driven in part by inflation-related surges… Continue reading Brookline schools planning layoffs, cutting world language classes for K-5 students
School Committee votes down BHS plan to expand unleveled English course to all ninth graders
The Brookline School Committee has rejected a controversial plan by district administrators to transition to a fully unleveled ninth grade English course next year. Thursday’s decision, by a 7-2 vote, followed three weeks of vocal criticism of the plan by some parents, who argued a fully unleveled course would diminish academic rigor. After district administrators… Continue reading School Committee votes down BHS plan to expand unleveled English course to all ninth graders
Q&A: School Committee vice chair Andy Liu on possible changes to ninth grade courses
Earlier this month, two days after administrators at Brookline High School announced they would transition to a fully unleveled ninth grade English course next year, the School Committee stepped in to pause the controversial course change. The School Committee is now expected to vote on February 29 on whether to move forward with expanding the… Continue reading Q&A: School Committee vice chair Andy Liu on possible changes to ninth grade courses
School Committee steps in to pause controversial ninth-grade course changes
A contentious change to the ninth-grade English course at Brookline High School is temporarily on pause after the School Committee stepped in at its meeting on Thursday. On Tuesday, administrators announced plans to transition to a fully unleveled ninth-grade English course next year, no longer separating students into honors and standard classes, as part of… Continue reading School Committee steps in to pause controversial ninth-grade course changes
High school moves forward with ninth grade course changes amid parent concerns
Update: The high school’s plan for an unleveled English course for ninth-grade is now on pause following Thursday’s School Committee meeting. For more, click here to read our latest story. A multi-year effort to redesign Brookline High School’s ninth grade curriculum will move forward next year, despite opposition from some parents who fear that the… Continue reading High school moves forward with ninth grade course changes amid parent concerns
Schools ask for 6% budget increase next year
Brookline’s superintendent has requested $138.6 million to fund the town’s school district in 2024-25, which would be a 6% increase over this year’s budget and approximately $940,000 over the district’s forecasted allocation from the town for next year. The request, laid out by Deputy Superintendent for Administration and Finance Susan Givens during last week’s School… Continue reading Schools ask for 6% budget increase next year
Jewish, Israeli high school seniors wrestle with college decisions amid campus antisemitism fears
As reports spread about increased incidents of antisemitism on college campuses since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, some Jewish high school seniors are rethinking the mix of schools to which they are applying. The shifts range from ruling out specific schools to making plans to avoid American colleges altogether. “I want to feel safe… Continue reading Jewish, Israeli high school seniors wrestle with college decisions amid campus antisemitism fears
School employees’ Social Security numbers exposed by HR office email mishap
The Brookline schools’ human resources office sent an email on Friday to approximately 900 employees that included a link to a document that mistakenly contained the Social Security numbers of employees, according to emails obtained by Brookline.News. The Social Security numbers appeared on the second tab of a spreadsheet distributed Friday to employees that lists… Continue reading School employees’ Social Security numbers exposed by HR office email mishap