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September in April

Description: Evening Compass special. In-studio operators take phone calls from parents with questions about school assignments and busing for the next school year. Ed Baumeister gives the answers to several true-or-false questions regarding the state plan to achieve racial balance in Boston schools. Judy Stoia gives statistics for the maximum travel distance of students and the racial makeup of schools in each elementary and intermediate school district. Paul deGive reports on a plan proposed by the Boston School Department to hire aids to help care for children and locate parents in case of sickness or family emergency. Baumeister and Pam Bullard (Boston Herald American) interview John Coakley (Boston School Department) and Dr. Charles Glenn (Massachusetts State Department of Education) about implementation of the racial balance plan. Both men respond to questions about the busing of kindergarten students. Judy Stoia explains the term geocode. Stoia and Bob Murray (Boston School Department) give on-air answers to some of the most common questions received by the operators. In studio Bullard, Baumeister and Dr. John Finger of Rhode Island College discuss plan developed to integrate schools. WGBH reporter and Bob Murray have question-and-answer session with questions from callers. Joan Buckley, representative from Boston Teachers Union, discusses plan for teachers with Bullard and Baumeister.
0:02:11: Visual: Introduction to A Compass Special: September in April, a special broadcast concerning the state racial balance plan for the Boston schools. Ed Baumeister is in the studio, along with several volunteers covering the phones. Baumeister introduces the program as informational, designed to answer parents' questions about the plan and its implementation. Baumeister gives out a number for parents to call to reach volunteers in the studio. Baumeister provides true/false answers to basic questions about the plan. Questions touch on the reimbursement of transportation costs, general travel distances for students of various ages and numbers of white and non-white students to be bused. 0:06:08: V: Paul deGive reports on parents who worry about being able to reach their child at a distant school in the case of sickness or emergency. He reports that the Boston School Department will propose a plan to hire transitional aids at each school to contact parents and to care for children in an emergency. 0:09:15: V: Baumeister encourages parents to call studio for information. Volunteers answer the phones. 0:09:55: Report on the Boston elementary school districts under the racial balance plan. Narrator describes the standardization of grade structure in elementary schools and the changes to various elementary school districts. The districts are as follows: Hennigan Kennedy, Bacon Dearborn, Tobin Farragut, Washington Park, Sumner-Conley, Tileston Chittick Greenwood, Lee, Murphy, Marshall Dever Mason, Mendell-Parkman, Paine-Audobon, Milmore, Prince, Faneuil, Lincoln Quincy, Hurley-Bates, Carter, Eliot, South Boston, Hyde Park, Cannon, Ohrenburger, Parker Longfellow. V: Shot of a map of Boston's elementary school districts. Narrator gives information for each district, including district boundaries, names of schools within the district, maximum travel distance for any student in the district and projected non-white enrollment for each school in the district. A map of each district is shown as the narrator reads the information for that district. 0:20:11: V: Judy Stoia encourages parents to call the studio for information concerning their child's school assignment. Shots of telephone volunteers. Stoia mentions that the volunteers are from the Citywide Education Coalition, the Teachers Union and the Boston School Department. Stoia talks to volunteer Lee Grant and explains the term "geocode." Stoia talks to volunteer Scott Campbell about what kind of information he can give to parents over the phone. 0:23:30: V: Baumeister introduces Pam Bullard (Boston Herald American) and John Coakley (Education Planning Center of the Boston School Department). Baumeister refers to Coakley as the man charged with making the racial balance plan work. Coakley refutes the claim that he is in charge of the plan, but discusses preparation for implementation of the plan. Baumeister asks Coakley if the School Department has any flexibility in implementing the plan. Bullard asks Coakley to respond to parental complaints about kindergarten assignments. Bullard presses kindergarten issue, asking if kindergarten children will be bused to the Martha Baker School or to kindergarten centers. Coakley summarizes School Department efforts to minimize busing of kindergarten students and cites the inadequacies of state plan concerning kindergarten students. Baumeister asks Coakley how he would change plan if he could. Coakley cites preliminary plans for integration by the Boston School Department and the Boston School Committee. Coakley says these plans were never developed. Baumeister thanks Coakley. 0:33:27: V: Baumeister provides answers to more true/false questions about the racial balance plan. Questions touch on the following issues: state reimbursement for travel under the desegregation plan, reimbursement of MBTA travel under the plan, major thoroughfares as school district boundaries, classification of Spanish-speaking students, overcrowding of Boston schools. 0:35:14: Report on intermediate school districts under the racial balance plan. Narrator talks about the redistricting of intermediate schools under the plan. Narrator gives the following information for each district: district boundaries, maximum travel distance for any student in the district and percentage of non-white students within each intermediate district school. Narrator reads the information for each district over a map of that district and a shot of the district school. The districts follow: Cleveland, Curley, Dearborn, Edison, Gavin, Holmes, Irving, King, Lewenberg, Lewis, Mackey, McCormack, Michelangelo, Roosevelt, Shaw, Taft, Thompson, Timilty, Wilson. V: Shot of a map of Boston's intermediate school districts. 0:44:41: V: An in-studio reporter asks a volunteer named Fran to describe the phone calls she has received. The reporter addresses a specific situation concerning the placement of 6th grade students in Hyde Park. 0:46:31: V: Baumeister and Bullard interview Dr. Charles Glenn (Office of Equal Education Opportunity of the State Department of Education). Baumeister asks Glenn how the plan determines which children will be bused at the high school level. Bullard asks Glenn about the busing of kindergarten students under the state plan. Glenn explains the intricacies of the plan and its implementation. Baumeister asks Glenn why the state plan to desegregate schools is better than any put forth by the Boston School Committee. Glenn explains that the state desegregation plan goes as far as it can under state law. Bullard questions Glenn about hurried implementation of the racial balance plan, and if the communities involved will be adequately prepared. Glenn responds that the plan has been implemented as well as can be expected in the time given. 0:55:15: V: Baumeister provides answers to more true/false questions. Questions touch on the following issues: definition of non-white students, school assignments and school assignment changes, Massachusetts state racial imbalance regulations, teacher assignments. 0:56:49: V: Stoia and Bob Murray (Education Planning Center of the Boston School Department) answer the most difficult questions received by phone volunteers. Questions involve travel distance within a school district, whether Dr. Glenn lives in Boston, the assignment of students in sub-system schools (Trotter school, Lewis school and Copley High School), and the assignment of seniors in the high schools.
Collection: Evening Compass, The
Date Created: 04/22/1974

Supt. Marion Fahey interview

Description: Pam Bullard interviews Marion Fahey (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools). Fahey talks about the assignment of bus monitors and school aides for the coming school year. Fahey explains the roles of transitional aides, security aides and instructional aides. She says that there will also be more special needs aides and bilingual aides in the schools. Fahey comments on the need for all students to attend school in order to learn basic skills. She says that parents should be confident in the educational programs at the Boston public schools. Tape 2 of 2.
0:00:13: Visual: Pam Bullard interviews Marion Fahey (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) in her office. Fahey sits behind her desk. Fahey says that bus monitors will ride the buses with students again this year; that parents have made it clear that they want bus monitors on the buses with their children. Fahey says that there will be just as many aides this year as in previous years; that there will be fewer transitional aides in the school buildings; that transitional aides will perform duties assigned to them by the headmasters of the schools. Fahey says that the transitional aides will be supplemented by security aides from the Safety and Security Department; that the security aides have additional training in dealing with crises. Fahey says that there will be many instructional aides in the classrooms; that instructional aides will be funded under Title I of the Emergency School Assistance Act; that instructional aides will work with elementary and middle school students in reading and math. Fahey says that there will be bilingual aides as well as aides for the special needs programs in the schools. Bullard asks Fahey what she would tell parents who are skeptical about the quality of the Boston Public Schools. Fahey says that it is important for parents to send their children to school; that parents who keep their children out of school are condemning their children to an unproductive future. Fahey says that the Boston Public Schools have strong educational programs; that school faculty and staff are always working to improve school programs; that students in the Boston Public Schools receive good instruction in basic skills like reading, math and communication. Bullard closes the interview. 0:04:53: V: Bullard and Fahey speak informally. Fahey says that Boston schools are no longer in the "numbers game." Fahey notes that the focus is no longer on desegregation; that her staff is focusing on assessing the performance of students and teachers; that the tension caused by school desegregation hindered classroom learning. Shot of a spreadsheet on Fahey's desk. The spreadsheet gives the racial breakdown of students in each grade level.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 09/07/1976

Wilson's School Reform Plan

Description: Christy George reports that Laval Wilson (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) has submitted a plan to reform the Boston Public Schools to the Boston School Committee. George notes that the plan represents Wilson's educational philosophy and his vision of how to improve the schools. The School Committee's vote on the plan has turned into a vote of confidence on Wilson. Interviews with School Committee members John Nucci and Joe Casper. Nucci supports Wilson's plan. Casper says the vote will decide if Wilson will lead the school system forward. School Committee members taking a vote. George notes that the Committee appears to have approved most of the plan. George notes that some parents are unhappy with the plan. Interviews with Doris Labitue (parent) and Peter Lowber (parent). Wilson with supporters at a press conference. Charles Stith (Union United Methodist Church) speaks in support of Wilson's plan.
0:59:59: Visual: Footage of Dr. Laval Wilson (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) at a press conference with African American leaders including Reverend Charles Stith (Union United Methodist Church). Wilson says the Boston School Committee does not need to approve every detail of his proposals as they are written. Christy George reports that Wilson was talking about compromise before the School Committee voted on his proposals; that Wilson is usually seen as being uncompromising. V: Footage of Wilson at a press conference on May 12. Wilson says that it is not unreasonable to expect a senior in high school to read at an eighth grade level or above. George reports that Wilson's frustration with the system has led him to muse publicly about leaving his post as superintendent. V: Shot of Wilson looking over the shoulder of a student in a classroom. Footage of Stith saying that Wilson's proposals for the schools make sense; that he wants Wilson to stay in his post. Footage of Wilson saying that he plans to stay in his post for a number of years. Shot of Wilson speaking to some elementary school children. George reports that the plan submitted by Wilson to the School Committee represents two years of work by Wilson; that the plan also represents Wilson's future in the School System. V: Footage of John Nucci (Boston School Committee) saying that the plan represents Wilson's vision and his philosophy on how to improve the school system; that he hopes the School Committee will approve the plan. George stands in the rear of the Boston School Committee chambers. The School Committee meeting is in progress. George reports that the referendum on Wilson's plan has turned into a vote of confidence on Wilson. V: Footage of Joe Casper (Boston School Committee) saying that the education plan has Wilson's "fingerprints all over it"; that "the honeymoon is over"; that this evening's vote will decide if Wilson will lead the school system forward. Footage of Edward Winter (Secretary, Boston School Committee) calling the roll for a School Committee vote. School Committee members Casper, William Donlan, John Grady, Kevin McCluskey, Jean McGuire, John O'Bryant and Thomas O'Reilly voting yes. Shot of Wilson conferring with O'Bryant and Nucci. George reports that the School Committee appears to have approved most of Wilson's plan; that some parents are unhappy with the plan. V: Footage of Doris Labitue (Boston parent) saying that she came out to voice her concern about the plan; that the School Committee does not seem interested in the opinions of parents. Labitue says that the members of the School Committee did not seem to understand the fine points of the plan. Footage of Peter Lowber (Boston parent) saying that the School Committe is afraid to reject the plan because they are afraid of losing Wilson as superintendent. George reports that the School Committee was still in session when she filed the report.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 06/22/1987

Wilson's contract renewal

Description: Marcus Jones reports that teachers and parents are frustrated over new starting times for the Boston Public Schools for the coming school year. The Boston School Committee voted in favor of the new starting times in May as part of an effort to cut costs. Parents have not yet received notification of the new starting times. Many parents blame the Dr. Laval Wilson, the Superintendent of Boston Public Schools. Footage from a Boston School Committee meeting. Parents and teachers address their complaints about the new starting times to the Committee members. Interview with Dede Calhoun, a Dorchester parent, about her dissatisfaction with the new starting times. Calhoun talks about the difficulty of finding after school care on short notice because school hours have been altered. Support for Wilson among School Committee members may be slipping, and discussions on the renewal of Wilson's contract will begin soon. Interview with Peggy Davis-Mullen of the Boston School Committee, who says that Wilson is not able to deliver the school-based management policies that are necessary to improve the schools. Wilson will begin his third year on the job under intense scrutiny by School Committee members. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following items: Meg Vaillancourt interviews Elma Lewis about the Roxbury neighborhood and Charles Laquidara organizes a boycott against Shell Oil Company
1:00:15: Visual: Footage from a Boston School Committee meeting from August 23, 1988. A white man addresses the committee members. Shots of the members as they listen, including Jean McGuire (Boston School Committee). Marcus Jones reports that every meeting of the Boston School Committee opens with a period of public comment. Jones reports that questioners at tonight's meeting focused on the same problems as in previous sessions. Jones notes that these questions never seem to get solved. V: Footage of a woman addressing the Boston School Committee. The woman says that she has been waiting for four years for an answer to a specific problem. The woman asks what the committee does. Calhoun asks for answers. Jones reports that many questioners focused on the altered starting times for schools next year. Jones reports that teachers and parents told School Committee members that staggered starting times for schools are difficult for them. V: Shots of the School Committee members seated at the front of the School Committee chambers; of a woman addressing the School Committee members. Shot of Peggy Davis-Mullen (Boston School Committee), Dr. Laval Wilson (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools), and John Nucci (President, Boston School Committee). Shot of audience members. Footage of a female teacher addressing the members of the School Committee. The teacher says that her school was set up as a school to facilitate mainstreaming. The teacher says that she has one group of students starting at 7:30am and another group of students starting at 9:30am. The teacher says that she cannot wait until 10:00 to begin mainstreaming. Jones reports that the School Committee members voted in favor of the new starting times in May; that the new starting times are part of an effort to cut costs. Jones reports that parents have not yet received official notification of the new start times; that many parents blame the superintendent. V: Shots of Wilson; of Davis-Mullen. Footage of Dede Calhoun (Dorchester parent) being interviewed outside of the meeting. Calhoun says that her kids are lucky enough to be in an after-school program; that they may not be eligible for an after-school program now. Calhoun says that it will be difficult to find an after-school program because the start of school is two weeks away. Calhoun says that waiting lists for specific time slots are very long. Calhoun says that many students are "latch-key kids"; that the new school times put these kids out on the street for an extra hour in the afternoon. Footage of Wilson speaking at the School Committee Meeting. Wilson says that there are four options. Jones notes that Wilson's contract finishes at the end of the upcoming school year; that the Committee members must discuss Wilson's contract in the coming weeks. Jones reports that Wilson's support may be slipping; that there is growing frustration with his leadership. V: Shots of audience members at the meeting; of Nucci speaking at the meeting; of Wilson. Footage of Davis-Mullen being interviewed outside of the School Committee chambers. Davis-Mullen says that the school system needs more school-based management. Davis-Mullen says that she does not think that Wilson is willing or able to deliver a policy of school-based management. Jones stands outside of the School Committee chambers. Jones reports that Wilson will start his third year on the job under intense scrutiny; that Wilson may be in for another rocky year. Jones notes that Wilson may be running out of chances to prove that he can improve the Boston Public Schools.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 08/23/1988