Decision on school-choice plan delayed

The External Advisory Committee (EAC), a group put together to help form a new school-assignment system, will wait to make a decision on recommending a new plan until the end of the month, according to a Boston Public Schools (BPS) official.

Matt Wilder, spokesperson for BPS, said EAC had received a letter from Mayor Thomas Menino asking that it take until the end of the month before making a decision to allow more time for community feedback. EAC had originally planned to do so earlier this month.

EAC held a community meeting Feb. 13 in Dorchester, after the Gazette deadline, and will hold another one Feb. 21 in East Boston at 6 p.m. The location has not been determined.

EAC has three plans to choose from. One plan would create a new zone system—similar to, but more varied than the one used today—while two other plans would create a list of schools based on quality and proximity to the student’s home.

Asked if community feedback has slanted towards any of the three plans, Wilder said he wouldn’t want to characterize the feedback because he has not done any formal study. But, Wilder said, people have not been shy with their opinions.

“That’s a good thing,” he said.

For more information about each plan, visit bostonschoolchoice.org.

 

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