[{"_1":2,"_120":-5,"_121":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,84,96,108],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6273922,"mediaKeyId","2997007-40f29b73aaf95f0e8039039226d0aa03","parentId",2997007,"title","Council hears updates on Blackstone, gym and pool repairs, and White Stadium funding","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3979000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997007-40f29b73aaf95f0e8039039226d0aa03&start=3979&end=3979","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997007-40f29b73aaf95f0e8039039226d0aa03/thumbnail_3979000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6273922/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/Council-hears-updates-on-Blackstone-gym-and-pool-repairs-and-White-Stadium-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273922-1b5bb1049fda532f5cb2678919eb40c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170725&Signature=RWQPZePQHDZvb04ggP1OG-m0HfnA43CJFRpyMeT4Accg2bM1aHEQmOjrABUyjy5DyfqAJusYo3xKKmP7tiC0~o3EI3HesCSS~hELg5I04NLoH2XPhHvDU44GrNqmWtnl6ZB9xkwMjuT1vllkJraH9~~xB5g-Scw3ywqMjG-Q6og9r8kuqu54vpztrJVZrPUeGgGN0N5VZYujbF6u22QrOhV2sC3XwzJN8qB4fECQ9DZTDj45vNEwmSnmFBwI0kOGbAWA2r2L-MJNCT6p8JZyFvs4D9ynZZZh2kDWNiy89IPV5QwHsI4zcBQ5POeuyNu~xy8x5TtOzMswzxw5L~5wnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Boston City, MA","date","2025-04-15T18:13:08Z","article","BPS officials described short‑ and long‑term facility plans for several school sites during the April 15 budget hearing, including the Blackstone School, gym repairs at Josiah Quincy, district pool maintenance and the White Stadium capital allocation.

Blackstone: Officials said the Blackstone is a priority for a full rehabilitation but that past MSBA applications were unsuccessful; the district placed a placeholder in the capital plan (design funding in the five‑year plan) and said it will pursue assessments and targeted repairs while seeking long‑term financing options. Chief Ford and capital staff said exterior brick work, lighting upgrades and interior ceiling/wall work have been done to maintain safety and accessibility while the district pursues larger investments.

Gym at Josiah Quincy: Councilors pressed for faster repairs to an immediate safety concern in a gym with a metal divider and damaged flooring. BPS facilities staff said they can make a “safe condition” fix immediately from operating budgets and have obtained flooring replacement quotes; a full replacement requires more planning and funding. BPS said the immediate hazard will be prioritized for summer work and the district will explore adding the project to future capital plans.

Pools and summer programming: BPS said it established a districtwide maintenance contract for pools, completed initial assessments and prioritized repairs; the district expects most pools that require only maintenance (not capital overhaul) to be operable by summer, though three pools will need capital work. BPS staff said they are coordinating with Boston Centers for Youth & Families on swim program scheduling and staffing.

White Stadium funding: BPS confirmed the White Stadium allocation is included through the city capital budget; officials cited roughly $91 million as the allocation for the project and said more detail will be presented at the city’s capital hearing on April 17.

Why it matters: BPS said most of the district’s buildings are aged and require ongoing maintenance and capital investment; the district is prioritizing large projects through MSBA where appropriate and using operating funds and revolving maintenance funds for targeted safety and short‑term fixes.

Officials promised continued outreach to councilors and school leaders on timelines and urged joint city‑district coordination for capital projects.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ways & Means FY26 Budget - BPS Operations & BPS Revolving Funds on April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","BPS officials reported short‑term repair plans for aging school facilities, said they plan assessments and targeted work for pools and gyms, and confirmed the city capital budget includes $91 million toward the White Stadium project.","taxTitle","Boston City, Suffolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",3381,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":42,"_43":77,"_45":77,"_46":78,"_48":79,"_50":80,"_52":81,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6273927,"BPS officials report record numbers of students experiencing homelessness and describe integrated supports",6660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997007-40f29b73aaf95f0e8039039226d0aa03&start=6660&end=6660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997007-40f29b73aaf95f0e8039039226d0aa03/thumbnail_6660000.jpg","/articles/6273927/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/BPS-officials-report-record-numbers-of-students-experiencing-homelessness-and-describe-integrated-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273927-3247fbb64bd424a6ae28ee7ce06de864/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170725&Signature=cIKCKDNcRk~cuhHdyhaPhiiTrDAhXu-Rmpag0xZ6anbt6DwBqMDV5KM0RRpSQgsR9AsnoDqF3KWHAXaRjG1giIclNXKf2NFOz8uX65pmZOM0Mlp2dvCHOvWZ3yd7gqTlQGVaKxnCJnQbY2YBudIYEi64cruoEhMyXy2o-TBsdBRtn1SJ91x1dPxFhVcDOrYjvTJCaP2HQbmwf3QLoAnRAJpIIoqwZYb7UYeXVD9lrVSK0DOLzrGlaTbJ~ObQw6-tLOJht6tlZw4SWQR8fiKQj80b67B-ZLGOqLLl7cngOBWaLKviAWqmW0C7zZ09~wtujHAGpuTTko7GDT2YEmBeQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Boston Public Schools officials told the City Council on April 15 that the district identified about 5,200 students experiencing homelessness during the prior school year and outlined how BPS coordinates legal and case‑management supports for affected families.

Brian Marks, who oversees the Opportunity Youth Department, described the Access to Counsel (A2C) program (Greater Boston Legal Services partnership) as integrated with case management and the district’s Emergency Homelessness Intervention Program (EHIP). Marks said families accessing A2C receive no‑cost legal counsel for eviction proceedings alongside wraparound services such as emergency financial assistance, enrollment support, child care connections and workforce development referrals.

BPS officials said they allocate per‑pupil funding to schools for students identified as experiencing homelessness and provide an additional concentration allocation for schools where 5% or more of the student body is recorded as unhoused. The district also said it provides transportation for students displaced outside of Boston but that those busing costs are initially paid from the BPS budget and partially reimbursed through state programs such as the McKinney‑Vento reimbursement and, in some cases, circuit‑breaker special‑education payments or cost sharing with sending districts.

Why it matters: BPS officials said homelessness among students creates barriers to attendance, participation in extracurriculars and overall learning. Superintendent Skipper and Marks emphasized that the identified number (about 5,200) may undercount families who are not connected to services, and that many more families may be doubled up or otherwise unstably housed.

Voucher program: Marks and other officials told the committee the city voucher program (administered by Boston Housing Authority) previously helped permanently house more than 1,700 BPS families while it operated; federal funding for that voucher stream lapsed in December 2024 and vouchers are not currently available. BPS said the program made hundreds of referrals in prior years but that the program is currently closed to new referrals due to funding limits.

Officials said BPS will provide the council with school‑level lists of where concentrations of students experiencing homelessness exceed 5% and will work with council offices on further data requests about attrition and family counts that underlie the student tally.","BPS staff told the council the district identified about 5,200 students experiencing homelessness last year and described programs — including Access to Counsel (A2C), emergency homelessness intervention (EHIP), and per‑pupil allocations for impacted schools — to coordinate legal help, case management and other supports.",{"_33":85,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":86,"_41":87,"_43":88,"_45":89,"_46":90,"_48":91,"_50":92,"_52":93,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":94,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":95,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6273932,"BPS credits Zoom bus‑tracking for routing savings; district readies RFP on stop‑arm cameras",50,1695000,1745000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997007-40f29b73aaf95f0e8039039226d0aa03&start=1695&end=1745","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997007-40f29b73aaf95f0e8039039226d0aa03/thumbnail_1695000.jpg","/articles/6273932/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/BPS-credits-Zoom-bustracking-for-routing-savings-district-readies-RFP-on-stoparm-cameras","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273932-74c7e17e2cbcdc8807b943fbc68f84f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170725&Signature=MUaWyJ6ZLZl~aZXFez9smr6rCXa20aV6g0rpORPLqL9z5h9T~Ug9Wsco18JLpp1qDqgWGFc~kj9cv5AgTYLmhgjiG4RZifMEeTrFcNj1C3us6e77mQ47ynSA4xI2PwSrx4yv331iAUEr7MGN19ZWQraZYtjyWOUHo6io-77VM-g4646-clzTEWAUqQEGNjjs74SiRrhLlD4ex8-aIfo11hBu8gGgxXgsJrA2Bs9tgla-3tEnUjt-qxX5Nr-TRf47Pbo9VHk-cG7Jun6yjDdlviIRYqxLixW1zNM~1aZ~u2Kcc0dJSmdmZhodiYTOLiu6RVE12uZhgv4X-WhXNnCL9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BPS transportation staff told the City Council on April 15 that real‑time bus tracking introduced last fall has given the district reliable ridership data and supported route changes expected to yield at least $1.0 million in savings for FY27.

Transportation director Dan Rosencada said the Zoom app allowed BPS to identify roughly 2,000 students who were consistently not riding their assigned buses. About 1,000 of those students proactively opted out this year after school and family outreach; another 1,000 retain seats but do not consistently ride. Rosencada said routing changes driven by that data have already reduced the system’s number of bus stops by about 4% and improved on‑time performance.

Rosencada also told the committee that the district’s transportation advisory council recommended a procedure to pause bus assignments for students who do not ride; the district expects to implement a pausing procedure in the spring to make next year’s routing more efficient.

Why it matters: BPS said the change both improves service reliability and reduces costs. The district reported FY25 transportation spending at about $180 million and projected the FY26 transportation allocation at about $188 million; officials said the year‑to‑year increase reflects union wage changes and other contractual commitments.

Costs and ROI: BPS said the Zoom contract was a three‑year procurement: about $1.3 million in year one (implementation and hardware) and roughly $548,000 annually thereafter. Transportation officials said the non‑ridership opt‑out and routing efficiencies are expected to produce at least $1.0 million in savings next year, and possibly more as routing continues to change.

Stop‑arm cameras: Rosencada said BPS is working with Boston Transportation Department and the Boston Police Department on how to implement stop‑arm cameras after a recent state law change and hopes to release a request for proposals soon. The district emphasized work with city partners to design an approach that fits Boston’s needs.

Athletics and coverage: Rosencada said scheduling and operational changes have resulted in “100% athletics coverage” since February; the district is maintaining contingency vendors and backup transportation options to avoid uncovered trips.

The committee asked how much of the transportation budget is supported by grants for bus purchases; BPS said recent electric bus purchases were funded primarily with federal grant awards (roughly $60 million in grants to date) and that bus capital purchases did not increase materially in city operating allocations. Rosencada said the district continues to work on contract language to provide more predictable driver hours for athletics and extracurricular coverage.

No votes were taken by the council during this presentation.","Transportation officials told the council the Zoom tracking app produced more accurate ridership data and enabled route efficiencies that should save at least $1 million next year; BPS and city partners said they are preparing an RFP for stop‑arm cameras after a state law change.",{"_33":97,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":98,"_41":99,"_43":100,"_45":101,"_46":102,"_48":103,"_50":104,"_52":105,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":106,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":107,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6273938,"BPS describes hub‑school model as community‑driven but standardized for equity",210,1225000,1435000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997007-40f29b73aaf95f0e8039039226d0aa03&start=1225&end=1435","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997007-40f29b73aaf95f0e8039039226d0aa03/thumbnail_1225000.jpg","/articles/6273938/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/BPS-describes-hubschool-model-as-communitydriven-but-standardized-for-equity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273938-e295cb652807a6708464062dbd273e9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170725&Signature=h9nE1d-AyjLysQiJKrHV3IZZj404QaCYoIdwnd0ac6zM0HhHwBt7mUFZ6JXdXFEKersoLSdfhKghfkYF3APqDhQGkxqcRWTuNnDoHMxKIUbJqIVw9Q~lVrpNBHFtzbGKphd90NxIKf83otlvhq07iOrqzKl-uC82DCpfvwQltTerecym8VmAcfJ7DctRwxTVI14OfZ~BPl3Gs~gCjS9WkvuOkcqim0kTc1TSz-uYZVTuO2u2rDNqSYNTaEgkCe07QxqWcJRn7O9BWezdVKKo1n48xy6nHlpBj-0G3mIoSRWHaFmwMIRFyb-VskP7SrdUl4FfFn-amBc4eqfQxtXXLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Boston Public Schools officials told the City Council on April 15 that the district’s “hub schools” strategy is being expanded and standardized so more schools can operate from the same evidence-based model while still relying on local community input.

BPS said the hub approach centers the community’s needs and priorities and embeds a hub coordinator role at each designated school. Shannette Gray, executive director for Hub Schools, said the model is rooted in national community‑school evidence and that Boston’s version combines district support with local partnership networks such as the YMCA and lead partners like City Year and UMass.

Why it matters: BPS said the standardized blueprint is intended to ensure equity across sites. Officials said the district previously had strong but varied hub‑school examples developed “organically” (for example, Gardner Pilot Academy) and that expanding to 20 sites required an implementation template to ensure consistent staffing and neighborhood partnerships.

What BPS will provide: The district said each hub will have a hub coordinator (about 20 total); at the central level, the office supports hub work with an executive director, a director, and a citywide coordinator. The district funds the hub coordinator positions from the general fund; lead partners often supplement services and raise outside resources. BPS said the model has been used to support school mergers and reconfigurations and can help “galvanize” a school community undergoing change.

Implementation pacing: BPS told the committee the team is pausing a broader intake for new hubs in this budget cycle to calibrate consistency across existing sites; the administration expects a faster roll‑out in FY27 once fidelity concerns are addressed.

Attribution: Shannette Gray and other BPS staff answered councilors’ questions and described partnerships with the Boston Teachers Union, the YMCA, City Year and other local organizations.","Boston Public Schools officials told councilors the district is expanding a hub‑school strategy to 20 schools and is standardizing a national evidence‑based model to ensure consistent services and coordinators at each hub.",{"_33":109,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":110,"_41":111,"_43":112,"_45":113,"_46":114,"_48":115,"_50":116,"_52":117,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":118,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":119,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6273943,"BPS outlines FY26 budget priorities, says closures will be followed by reinvestment",290,300000,590000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997007-40f29b73aaf95f0e8039039226d0aa03&start=300&end=590","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997007-40f29b73aaf95f0e8039039226d0aa03/thumbnail_300000.jpg","/articles/6273943/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/BPS-outlines-FY26-budget-priorities-says-closures-will-be-followed-by-reinvestment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273943-6aefc3ca6d87fef2f7048040fd594170/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170725&Signature=GpFO145oXZraL3xHWe7g4g4rL65Zqx8KQtPytT8N0q3WxDF5hGITSZpATt5zbKnhNh5ZTaOvEM00lMaHjPI6LkXrRznrOmabAD7DXur7fXqX3z~H63lnGgtx~fvdBNHdQWwvahXUZWlr5e-i4Jy3dQ0UHswersytVE5N3u7qO4T2TbXNkCKg7O0AYozCBhS2Ew0Z-q~9solMnJ9XgTUlwmmbG6zILaer3DzlklcAf3ugiyBYgUcVOZyq7654UAiLOkU-64ZY3933kWzgka1aSOQVcALH65qn2N0y3oe-XEew935On6s~iHLcLngEZHJ5qgxw3L9Cyc8d5o1prwWFhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Boston Public Schools officials presented the district’s FY26 spending plan to the Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means on April 15, saying the proposal increases overall spending while returning savings from closures and reconfigurations into classrooms.

The administration said the FY26 budget shows a $53.4 million increase over FY25, including $22.0 million in new investments and $21.0 million in identified cost savings. BPS said planned reductions in central-office spending and efficiencies in operations will allow about $43.0 million to be reinvested “back into our schools.” Superintendent Skipper said the district had also identified $5.0 million in additional central-office reductions to direct toward schools.

Why it matters: BPS officials said the district’s top priority is maintaining and strengthening student-facing services even as it reduces the number of school sites and reconfigures grade bands. Closing and merging under-enrolled or under-resourced schools is, officials said, intended to create higher‑quality “student seats” with broader program offerings and more efficient use of staff and facilities.

BPS described the district’s long‑term facilities approach as data-driven. Capital planning staff said they use three primary metrics — a building experience score, utilization, and a continuum-of-services measure — plus neighborhood walk zones and choice data to guide decisions. Sarah King, deputy chief for capital planning, said those metrics and the racial equity planning tool were public and available on the district website.

Officials said the school committee approved a recent round of actions on March 20 that included four school closures and two mergers effective at the end of the 2026 school year. The administration characterized the financial effect of that set of proposals as an expected one‑time future savings “between $10 million and $20 million,” with the exact amount to be determined during transitions; those savings are not reflected in the FY26 baseline because BPS said it will keep impacted staff in place during the transition.

Public comment and council questions emphasized transition planning. Cheryl Buckman, a South Boston parent and Devers alumna, told the committee she and other Devers families want a transparent transition process that preserves community input, tracks students’ placements, retains some Devers staff where possible and establishes trauma‑informed supports. BPS officials said they expected local transition teams and family liaisons to be a central part of placement planning and to prioritize placing students in high‑quality seats close to home when feasible.

BPS chief financial officer David Bloom told councilors that mergers tend to increase economies of scale and enable schools to offer services that two smaller sites could not provide individually — for example additional arts and physical‑education staff and expanded library and course offerings. Bloom said transportation and operating fewer sites provide some savings, but that the primary intent of mergers is programmatic scale rather than immediate large budget cuts.

BPS officials said they will continue community engagement and report back on implementation timelines and student‑placement plans. The administration also reiterated that detailed metrics, the long‑term facilities plan, and the racial equity planning tool are published on the district’s website for public review.

The committee did not take any formal votes during the hearing; the school committee vote referenced above was recorded by BPS as taking place on March 20.","Boston Public Schools officials told the City Council on April 15 that the FY26 spending plan increases school-directed funding while relying on a set of school closures and reconfigurations to create capacity and reinvest resources into programming and facilities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hears updates on Blackstone, gym and pool repairs, and White Stadium funding

BPS officials report record numbers of students experiencing homelessness and describe integrated supports

BPS credits Zoom bus‑tracking for routing savings; district readies RFP on stop‑arm cameras

BPS describes hub‑school model as community‑driven but standardized for equity

BPS outlines FY26 budget priorities, says closures will be followed by reinvestment