The town has announced the launch of a new Housing Case Inquiry portal, which allows residents to contact the town about housing challenges in order to get help from the appropriate department. As part of the town’s new Housing Stability Office, which was created by Town Meeting in June 2023, the portal can help with… Continue reading News in brief: New housing portal, Maimonides selling building, meet the Brookliners riding PMC
Category: Schools
Hayes School parents push back against increased class sizes
When John and Ardasha Rittenberg send their child to second grade at the Hayes School, they worry. Their child has a life-threatening condition that can cause anaphylaxis, and it’s teachers’ responsibility to look out for the warning signs — teachers who already look after at least 15 other students. “This is a 7-year-old kid who… Continue reading Hayes School parents push back against increased class sizes
Unleveled English course will expand to a third of ninth graders at BHS next year
Brookline High School will significantly expand its pilot of an unleveled ninth grade English course, which was the subject of a contentious School Committee debate this past spring. The pilot course was introduced as part of a broader unleveling initiative by BHS, titled “Reimagining Ninth Grade,” which was slated to begin in the 2024-25 school… Continue reading Unleveled English course will expand to a third of ninth graders at BHS next year
Town Meeting wrap up: Historic CPA vote approves $8 million for 11 projects, world language amendment rejected
Town Meeting approved historic funding for eleven new town projects through the Community Preservation Act on the final night of its session last week. Members also voted down a budget amendment to restore funding for the Brookline schools’ world language classes for kindergarten through fifth grade. Town Meeting is Brookline’s 263-person legislative body, typically meeting… Continue reading Town Meeting wrap up: Historic CPA vote approves $8 million for 11 projects, world language amendment rejected
Schools’ equity office aims to expand its work with new staff training and AI tool
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
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
Brookline 19-year-old Ada Korkhin headed to 2024 Paris Olympics in Sport Pistol
Sitting on her bed in an effort to procrastinate packing up her Ohio State dorm room after finishing her freshman year, Ada Korkhin got the news she’d hoped for. The 2023 Brookline High School graduate qualified for this summer’s Paris Olympics and will represent Team USA in Women’s Sport Pistol. Read our previous story about… Continue reading Brookline 19-year-old Ada Korkhin headed to 2024 Paris Olympics in Sport Pistol
With ‘Haunted Mansion,’ the Lawrence School parents and teachers play adds to decades of tradition
In the early 2000s, Lawrence School parent Dennis Doughty went to a routine parent-teacher conference. When he entered the room, he was greeted by a few teachers and the school’s assistant principal. Then, it hit him: “Every single one of those people was someone I had a relationship with from the play,” Doughty said. The… Continue reading With ‘Haunted Mansion,’ the Lawrence School parents and teachers play adds to decades of tradition
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
News in brief: Brookline Teen Center expands access for middle schoolers
The Brookline Teen Center will expand its availability for sixth through eighth graders starting on April 22, allowing middle schoolers to use BTC facilities Monday through Friday between 2:30 and 6 p.m. “Middle schoolers in Brookline need an inviting and inclusive place to go after dismissal that is designed for them, and that’s exactly why… Continue reading News in brief: Brookline Teen Center expands access for middle schoolers
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
Demolition to start on Pierce School this summer after town committees sign off on building plan
Work is set to begin this summer on the several-year process of building a new Pierce School after key town committees signed off on various pieces of the project Tuesday evening. Most crucially, the town’s Building Commission voted unanimously to approve a so-called “early release” package, which will allow the general contractor, Consigli Construction, to… Continue reading Demolition to start on Pierce School this summer after town committees sign off on building plan
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
With layoffs looming, teachers union clashes with town officials over school funding
A plan to trim $2.4 million from Brookline’s schools budget for fiscal year 2025 has raised questions about the town’s financial priorities and led to a fierce debate that has pitted top town officials against the union representing teachers. At the center of the argument is the question, pushed by the teachers union, of whether… Continue reading With layoffs looming, teachers union clashes with town officials over school funding
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