Friday, December 4, 2020

Book Reviews: A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door

During the last four years, there have been many issues and concerns that have competed for the public’s attention: the Muslim ban, family separations, an impeachment, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, protests against police brutality and the recent election to name a few. Noted but perhaps less at the media forefront has been the implementation of specific policies both under Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and within individual states that aim to "re-envision" public education through a very conservative lens. In terms of public education, many of the conversations in recent years have focused on the school choice movement and the increasing use of standardized test scores to hold schools “accountable” and label them “good or bad.” The re-envisioning (or dismantling depending on your vantage point), however, which has really solidified in the last few years is unfortunately much broader than that. 

In A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door: The Dismantling of Public Education and the Future of the School, authors Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider (hosts of the popular podcast Have You Heard) go beyond talking about the conservative agenda and public education solely in terms of privatization and standardized testing.  A Wolf explores other aspects of this agenda: vouchers, the rise of (pre-COVID) virtual schooling, the idea of “unbundling education," deregulation, limiting the role of organized labor, the use of ratings and advertising in public schools, and, at the heart of it all,  free market thinking. More than just positioning efforts to dismantle public education as only a conservative, Republican ideology, Berkshire and Schneider also acknowledge the ways in which Democratic lawmakers have also contributed to a climate in which some not only see education and the way it is currently delivered  as something that needs to radically change but also an sector to profit off of at times to the detriment of the most vulnerable student populations. 


Both in laying out the current state of public education and providing  key historical context, Berkshire and Schneider provide an extensive yet well laid out and easily understandable assessment of the issues at play in light of the substantial funding  and efforts being allocated toward a very specific re-envisioning of public schooling that relies less on the idea of public education as a public good meant to benefit the collective  and more so on individual needs that prioritize  choice, competition and cost cutting. A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door is a must read for anyone interested in the current state and future of public education in the United States. 

_________

If purchasing, please consider buying from your local independent bookseller.

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Massachusetts Sees Decrease in Student Enrollment, Increase in Economically Disadvantaged Population

Earlier, I noted that the percentage of Economically Disadvantaged students in the Lynn Public School District increased 6.9 points from the 2019-20 school year to the 2020-21 school year. Economically disadvantaged is defined as student participation in one or more of the following state administered programs: 
  • the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • the Transitional Assistance for Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC)
  • the Department of Children and Families' (DCF) foster care program
  • MassHealth (Medicaid)
Taking a look at the non-charter school districts in the state with the highest percentages of Economically Disadvantaged students this year, all of the top ten districts saw increases as well. 


2019-20
2020-21
Difference
 Springfield
77.6%
81.8%
4.2
 Holyoke
78.1%
81.4%
3.3
 Lawrence
70.7%
78.5%
7.8
 Southbridge
71.6%
77.2%
5.6
 New 
 Bedford
68.0%
74.0%
6.0
 Fall River
70.0%
73.8%
3.8
 Chelsea
63.9%
70.6%
6.7
 North Adams
61.9%
66.6%
4.7
 Fitchburg
61.9%
66.4%
4.5
 Brockton
57.5%
65.5%
8.0


Statewide, the percentage of Economically Disadvantaged students increased from 32.8% last year to 36.6% this year. In terms of pure numbers, this equates to the 333,829 Economically Disadvantaged students this year versus 310,873 in 2019-20. 


Data taken from: www.doe.mass.edu

Massachusetts Sees a 4% Drop in Public School Enrollment

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recently released updated public school enrollment figures for the 2020-21 school year. Amidst the pandemic and many districts moving to completely remote learning, the state reported a 4% decrease in student enrollment this year when compared to last year.


Specifically, at the lower grades the state reported at 30% decrease at the pre-kindergarten level, a 11.9% decrease at the kindergarten level and a 5.6% decrease at the first grade level. 


Similar to the Commonwealth as a whole, the Lynn Public School District saw a similar decrease at 3% compared to last school year.


While Lynn did see a slight increase in kindergarten students this year, the district also reported a 42% decrease in pre-kindergarten enrollment and a 11.5% decrease in first grade enrollment. 


Taking a look at the selected student populations at the state level, Massachusetts reported higher percentages of High Needs and Economically Disadvantaged students this year. 

2019-20 2020-21 Difference
First Language not English 23.0% 23.4% 0.4
English Language Learner 10.8% 10.5% -0.3
Students w/ Disabilities  18.4% 18.2% -0.2
High Needs 48.7% 50.9% 2.2
Economically Disadvantaged 32.8% 36.6% 3.8

 

In Lynn, despite a decrease in overall student population, the district reported increases in all of the selected student populations. 

2019-20 2020-21 Difference
First Language not English 58.7% 61.3% 2.6
English Language Learner 29.8% 31.5% 1.7
Students w/ Disabilities  16.9% 17.7% 0.8
High Needs 76.0% 79.5% 3.5
Economically Disadvantaged 58.2% 65.1% 6.9


In addition to concerns around online learning and whether, when and how to reopen school buildings, changes in student populations, particularly in districts like Lynn, as it relates to the number of students but also the types of students the district is tasked with education given current circumstances is should be given consideration. 

Data from: www.doe.mass.edu 

Friday, October 2, 2020

Lynn Early Voting Begins Saturday, October 17th

Early voting in the 2020 election will begin in Lynn on Saturday, October 17th at 8am and end on Friday, October 30th at 12:30pm. During the week, early voting hours will match normal City Hall business hours and on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) voting will take place between 8am and 2pm. 

Source: lynnma.gov

Friday, September 18, 2020

Lynn Planning Board to hold Public Hearing on Proposed Expansion of Central Business District

Next week, the Lynn Planning Board will hold a public hearing related to a proposed amendment to the Zoning Map to expand the Central Business District in the city. The Planning Board will meet at 3pm on Tuesday, September 22, 2020. See below for text related to the proposed amendment. 


______


CITY OF LYNN

Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday September 22, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. the Planning Board will hold a public hearing relative to a proposal to amend the Zoning Map of the City of Lynn to expand the Central Business District in the City of Lynn. The Lynn City Council of the City of Lynn will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 5:15 o’clock p.m. in Council Chambers, Lynn City Hall on the following:


The parcels identified below would be rezoned under the proposed Zoning Amendment.


IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF LYNN ZONE ORDINANCE AND MAP


SECTION 1:00   The Zone Map of the City of Lynn, as the same constitutes and is part of the Zone Ordinance of the City of Lynn, as heretofore amended, is further amended as follows. 

STREET ADDRESS

PARCEL ID

CURRENT ZONE

NEW ZONE

 

1 – 4 Brightwood Terrace

069-657-017

R5

CBD

43 – 45 Broad Street

082-599-022

R4

CBD

47 Broad Street

082-599-023

R4

CBD

55 Broad Street

082-599-024

R4

CBD

63 - 67 Broad Street

082-598-007

R5

CBD

71 Broad Street

082-598-008

R5

CBD

73 Broad Street

082-598-009

R5

CBD

75 ½ Broad Street

082-598-010

R5

CBD

77 Broad Street

082-598-012

R5

CBD

81 Broad Street

082-598-023

R5

CBD

81R Broad Street

082-598-024

R5

CBD

87 - 89 Broad Street

082-598-014-001

R5

CBD

87 – 89 Broad Street

082-598-014-002

R5

CBD

87 – 89 Broad Street

082-598-014-003

R5

CBD

87 - 89 Broad Street

082-598-014-004

R5

CBD

87 - 89 Broad Street

082-598-014-005

R5

CBD

97 Broad Street

082-598-015

R5

CBD

7 Brownville Avenue

083-716-031

BD

CBD

11 Brownville Avenue

083-716-018

BD

CBD

12 Brownville Avenue

083-707-052

BD

CBD

15 Brownville Avenue

083-716-024

R4

CBD

16 Brownville Avenue

083-707-051

R4

CBD

21 Brownville Avenue

083-716-023

R4

CBD

9 Cheever Place

083-661-019

R4

CBD

6 Dexter Street

082-599-001

R4

CBD

8 – 10 Dexter Street

082-599-031

R4

CBD

14 – 16 Dexter Street

082-599-030

R2

CBD

20 – 22 Dexter Street

082-599-029

R2

CBD

21 Dexter Street

082-599-006

R5

CBD

24 Dexter Street

082-599-028

R2

CBD

30 - 34 Dexter Street

082-599-027

R2

CBD

36 – 38 Dexter Street

082-599-026

R2

CBD

40 Dexter Street

082-599-025

R2

CBD

6 Essex Circle

083-716-013

BD

CBD

8 Essex Circle

083-716-012

BD

CBD

10 Essex Circle

083-716-011

R4

CBD

14 - 16 Essex Circle

083-716-026

R4

CBD

8 Essex Court

083-661-013

BD

CBD

9 Essex Court

083-663-046

R4

CBD

10 Essex Court

083-661-014

R4

CBD

14 Essex Court

083-661-011

R4

CBD

380 Essex Street

083-611-004

R4

CBD

382 Essex Street

083-611-003

R4

CBD

386 Essex Street

083-611-023

R4

CBD

399 Essex Street

083-716-015

BD

CBD

401 Essex Street

083-716-014

BD

CBD

407 Essex Street

083-707-053

BD

CBD

411 – 413 Essex St

083-707-054

BD

CBD

421 Essex Street

083-663-043

BD

CBD

435 Essex Street

083-663-044

R4

CBD

445 Essex Street

083-663-045

R4

CBD

447 – 449 Essex St

083-661-015

R4

CBD

451 Essex Street

083-661-016

R4

CBD

459 Essex Street

083-661-018

R4

CBD

465 Essex Street

083-661-021-001

R4

CBD

465 Essex Street

083-661-021-002

R4

CBD

465 Essex Street

083-661-021-003

R4

CBD

467 Essex Street

083-661-022

R4

CBD

471A – 471B Essex Street

083-611-025

R4

CBD

473 – 475 Essex St

083-611-024

R4

CBD

513 Essex Street

069-659-024

R2

CBD

517 Essex Street

069-659-025

R2

CBD

521 Essex Street

069-659-027

R2

CBD

525 Essex Street

069-659-028

R2

CBD

529 Essex Street

069-659-030-001

R2

CBD

531 Essex Street

069-659-030-002

R2

CBD

535 Essex Street

069-659-030-003

R2

CBD

537 Essex Street

069-659-030-004

R2

CBD

541 Essex Street

069-659-032

R2

CBD

545 – 547 Essex St

069-659-033

R2

CBD

551 Essex Street

069-658-016

R4

CBD

555 Essex Street

069-658-017

R4

CBD

597 Essex Street

069-642-022

BD

CBD

Farrar Street

081-590-030

R5

CBD

Farrar Street

082-592-002

CBD

CBD

Farrar Street

081-590-030-E

R5

CBD

10 Farrar Street

081-590-029

R5

CBD

23 Farrar Street

082-591-009

CBD

CBD

26 Farrar Street

081-590-018

R5

CBD

27 Farrar Street

082-591-010

CBD

CBD

34 – 36 Farrar Street

081-590-017

R5

CBD

6 Friend Street

082-599-003

R4

CBD

10 Friend Street

082-599-002

R4

CBD

37 Friend Street

082-615-031

CBD

CBD

37 Friend Street

082-615-031-E

CBD

CBD

48 Friend Street

082-598-003

CBD

CBD

52 Friend Street

082-598-002

CBD

CBD

55 – 59 Friend Street

082-615-034

CBD

CBD

1 Friend Terrace

082-598-004

CBD

CBD

4 Friend Terrace

082-598-005

R5

CBD

Gibson Place

082-615-022

R2

CBD

Green Street

082-615-042

LI

CBD

9 Green Street

082-615-019

BD

CBD

15 Green Street

082-615-020

R2

CBD

19 Green Street

082-615-023

R2

CBD

23 Green Street

082-615-041

R2

CBD

35 Green Street

082-615-040

R2

CBD

43 Green Street

082-615-039

R2

CBD

49 Green Street

082-615-029

R2

CBD

51 Green Street

082-615-027

R2

CBD

69 – 73 Green Street

082-599-004

R4

CBD

77 Green Street

082-599-005

R4

CBD

81 Green Street

082-599-006

R2

CBD

85 Green Street

082-599-007

R2

CBD

87 Green Street

082-599-008

R4

CBD

87 ½ Green Street

082-599-009

R2

CBD

89A Green Street

082-599-010

R2

CBD

91 Green Street

082-599-011

R2

CBD

93 – 95 Green Street

082-599-012

R2

CBD

101 – 103 Green St

082-599-013

R2

CBD

105 Green Street

082-599-014

R2

CBD

107 Green Street

082-599-015

R2

CBD

109 Green Street

082-599-016

R2

CBD

111 Green Street

082-599-017

R2

CBD

115 Green Street

082-599-019

R2

CBD

125 Green Street

082-599-021

R2

CBD

105 Green Street

082-599-014

R2

CBD

5 Greenwood Place

083-611-022

R4

CBD

12 Greenwood Place

083-611-009

R4

CBD

14 Greenwood Place

083-611-019

R4

CBD

15 Johnson Street

069-642-016

BD

CBD

19 Johnson Street

069-642-018

BD

CBD

21 Johnson Street

069-642-017

BD

CBD

23 Johnson Street

083-642-010

R5

CBD

25 Johnson Street

083-642-019

R5

CBD

27 Johnson Street

083-642-001

R5

CBD

10 Lawton Avenue

069-658-015

R4

CBD

14 Lawton Avenue

069-658-014

R4

CBD

18 – 20 Lawton Ave

069-658-013

R2

CBD

16 Lloyd Street

069-642-020

R5

CBD

18 Lloyd Street

069-642-003

R5

CBD

Joyce Street

083-611-001

R4

CBD

10 Joyce Street

083-611-021

R4

CBD

14 Joyce Street

083-611-020

R4

CBD

17 Joyce Street

083-611-039

CBD

CBD

18 – 22 Joyce Street

083-611-018

R4

CBD

21 Joyce Street

083-611-044

CBD

CBD

26 Joyce Street

083-611-017

R4

CBD

28 Joyce Street

083-611-016

CBD

CBD

42 Joyce Street

083-611-005-001

CBD

CBD

42 Joyce Street

083-611-005-002

CBD

CBD

42 Joyce Street

083-611-005-003

CBD

CBD

42 Joyce Street

083-611-005-004

CBD

CBD

42 Joyce Street

083-611-005-005

CBD

CBD

42 Joyce Street

083-611-005-006

CBD

CBD

42 Joyce Street

083-611-005-007

CBD

CBD

42 Joyce Street

083-611-005-008

CBD

CBD

16 Mount Hood Ter

069-659-022-001

R2

CBD

16 Mount Hood Ter

069-659-022-002

R2

CBD

16 Mount Hood Ter

069-659-022-003

R2

CBD

16 Mount Hood Ter

069-659-022-004

R2

CBD

16 Mount Hood Ter

069-659-022-005

R2

CBD

16 Mount Hood Ter

069-659-022-006

R2

CBD

16 Mount Hood Ter

069-659-022-007

R2

CBD

16 Mount Hood Ter

069-659-022-008

R2

CBD

6 Rockaway Street

083-663-042

BD

CBD

7 Rockaway Street

083-663-031

BD

CBD

10 Rockaway Street

083-663-041

R4

CBD

11 Rockaway Street

083-707-056

R4

CBD

16 Rockaway Street

083-663-040

R4

CBD

2 Rogers Avenue

069-657-016

R5

CBD

8 Rogers Avenue

069-657-015

R5

CBD

9 Rogers Avenue

069-658-018

R5

CBD

12 Rogers Avenue

069-657-014

R5

CBD

13 Rogers Avenue

069-658-019

R5

CBD

15 - 17 Rogers Ave

069-658-021

R5

CBD

16 Rogers Avenue

069-657-013

R5

CBD

20 Rogers Avenue

069-657-012

R2

CBD

Smith Street

082-615-044

R4

CBD

17 -19 Smith Street

082-614-006

CBD

CBD

34 Smith Street

082-615-006

R4

CBD

36 Smith Street

082-615-048

R4

CBD

38 Smith Street

082-615-047

R4

CBD

53 Smith Street

082-616-010

CBD

CBD

35 – 37 Suffolk Street

081-590-009

R5

CBD

45 – 47 Suffolk Street

081-590-012

R5

CBD

12 Rogers Avenue

069-657-014

R5

CBD

108 – 112 Union St

082-615-018

BD

CBD

114 Union Street

082-615-017

BD

CBD

115 Union Street

083-611-014

R4

CBD

116 – 122 Union St

082-615-016

BD

CBD

124 – 130 Union St

082-615-018

BD

CBD

138 – 140 Union St

082-615-046

BD

CBD

Washington Street

081-590-015

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-001

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-002

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-003

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-004

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-005

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-006

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-007

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-008

 

069-657-032-009

R5

 

R5

CBD

 

CBD

Washington Street

069-657-032-010

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-011

R5

CBD

Washington Street

069-657-032-012

R5

CBD

204 – 216

 

Washington Street

 

 

069-657-032-013

 

 

R5

 

 

CBD

204-216

Washington Street

069-657-032-014

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-015

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-016

R5

CBD

Washington Street

069-657-032-017

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-018

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-019

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-020

R5

CBD

Washington Street

069-657-032-021

R5

CBD

Washington Street

069-657-032-023

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-024

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-025

R5

CBD

Washington Street

069-657-032-026

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-027

R5

CBD

204-216

Washington Street

069-657-032-028

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-029

R5

CBD

Washington Street

069-657-032-033

R5

CBD

204 – 208

Washington Street

069-657-032-034

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-035

R5

CBD

204 – 216

Washington Street

069-657-032-036

R5

CBD

209-211

 

 

 

Washington Street

069-642-021

R5

CBD

213 Washington St

069-642-007

R5

CBD

217 – 219

Washington Street

069-642-011

BD

CBD

224 Washington St

069-657-019

R5

CBD

228 - 244

Washington Street

069-657-018

R5

CBD

672-606

Washington Street

081-590-031

R5

CBD

9 West Green Street

083-611-005

R4

CBD

11 West Green Street

083-611-007

R4

CBD

13 West Green Street

083-611-008

R4

CBD

17 West Green Street

083-611-010

R4

CBD

21 West Green Street

083-611-011

R4

CBD

23 West Green Street

083-611-0012

R4

CBD

25 West Green Street

083-611-003

R4

CBD


***   The meeting will be closed to the general public due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The meeting will be televised live on the Lynn Community Television Government Channel (LCTV) and also streamed on the LCTV Facebook page. 


****Any individual interested in speaking for or against or regarding the petition should call (781) 586-6783 or (781) 586-6773 at the date and time of the public hearing.  All individuals will be permitted to speak via a speaker phone function.  In some instances, City Council will call back an individual wishing to speak to ensure an orderly meeting.  Individuals wishing to speak may provide their name and phone number to the Lynn City Council and will be called at the appropriate date and time to speak.  This information should be submitted to Terry Young via email: tyoung@lynnma.gov or telephone: (781) 586-6740.  The email or telephonic message requesting to speak must be received at least one hour prior to the scheduled meeting.  Persons who have not pre-registered may call in during the meeting at the above-listed telephone numbers. 


Any individual desiring to submit written materials either for or against the proposed special permit should submit the same via e-mail: tyoung@lynnma.gov or regular mail to Lynn City Council, c/o Terry Young, Lynn City Hall, Lynn, MA  01901.  Documents may also be submitted via the Lynn City Hall drop box located at the Johnson Street entrance with a deadline of one hour prior to the scheduled meeting.  The documentary submissions may be submitted via a zip drive or similar device compatible with a windows operating system.***

 

THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING BOARD WILL ALSO BE BROADCAST ON GOTO MEETING
Tue, Sep 22, 2020 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM (EDT)

Please join THE meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/753166901

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States:
+1 (408) 650-3123
Access Code: 753-166-901

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when THE meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/753166901****

 

Janet L. Rowe, City Clerk

Item: September 5 & 12, 2020