South Boston Ed. Complex

News

Boston School Committee Votes to Approve Three-Year Collective Bargaining Agreement with Boston Teachers Union

Mayor Wu Announces Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah as Boston's Next Poet Laureate

Red Sox and JetBlue Distribute Over 40,000 Baseball Hats to Boston Public Schools Students and Staff

Middle school fiction section in a library

Boston Public Schools Celebrates School Library Month

Events

Apr 18

Good Friday

all day

Apr 21

Patriots' Day

all day

Apr 22 - Apr 25

Spring Recess

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Apr 23 - Apr 25

Spring Recess

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News

Boston School Committee Votes to Approve Three-Year Collective Bargaining Agreement with Boston Teachers Union

On April 16, 2025, the Boston School Committee voted unanimously to approve a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Boston Teachers Union (BTU), allowing the district to continue to build and deliver on the promise of a High-Quality Student Experience for every student in Boston.

Boston School Committee Votes to Approve Three-Year Collective Bargaining Agreement with Boston Teachers Union

BOSTON – April 16, 2025 – The Boston School Committee voted unanimously to approve a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Boston Teachers Union (BTU), which prioritizes the learning needs of our students with disabilities through Inclusive Education and increased salaries for the district’s lowest-paid workers. The contract will allow the district to continue to build and deliver on the promise of a High-Quality Student Experience for every student in Boston.

“As a BPS mom, I am especially grateful for our educators and the hard work and love they pour into serving our students every day,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This contract affirms our shared commitment to strengthening teaching and learning, supporting our educators, and building a bright future for every BPS student. Thank you to the Boston Teachers Union and all our BPS educators for your unwavering commitment to our school communities.”

“With this agreement, we are making a significant investment across our staff, who show up every day to teach, guide, and support our more than 48,000 students,” said Superintendent Mary Skipper. “Our educators and support staff are the foundation of the high-quality student experience and we must continue to recruit and retain highly skilled, diverse, and passionate individuals to deliver on that promise. I also want to thank BPS staff and our partners at the BTU for their collaboration, long hours, and dedication to reaching this important milestone together."

“The new contract raises wages for our lowest wage workers, makes progress toward supporting our students with disabilities, invests in more professional development for staff to strengthen their skills, and identifies several operational efficiencies to streamline service delivery for our students and families,” said School Committee Chair Jeri Robinson. “By investing in our workforce, the district is demonstrating its commitment to supporting our highest needs students, especially those with disabilities. This agreement ensures that BPS students are being supported by highly-trained professional staff who are prepared to meet their needs and long term learning goals.”

For more than a year, the City of Boston, Boston Public Schools (BPS), and the BTU engaged in a robust and productive process to negotiate a new contract. This is the second consecutive agreement that makes significant progress in supporting students with disabilities and takes a different and more equitable approach from previous years so that all members see wage increases, but lowest wage workers see higher wage increases. The contract also includes several operational efficiencies that streamline and improve services for staff, students, and families.

The contract will be in effect through August 2027 and provide significant benefits including:

Wage increases up to 30% for paraprofessionals. By the end of the contract, the starting salary for a paraprofessional will be just over $44,000 and the new average salary will be just over $54,000;
Five additional hours of professional development for all educators and 10 hours of professional development for paraprofessionals with a particular focus on inclusive education;
New special education paraprofessional role who will work under the supervision of a special education teacher to provide services to students in alignment with their IEP;
Year-round access for students and families for language testing because of changes to the Newcomer Assessment and Counseling Center work year;
The use of Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) forms for BTU members when requesting a leave to ensure consistency for all BPS staff; and
For high schools with 6-period schedules, the flexibility to make changes within the current school day to their schedule so all students can have the course offerings to meet MassCore requirements.

The agreement also expands community hub schools, provides housing voucher information at all welcome centers for families, and makes it easier for the district to
hire school nurses with additional credits for prior experience in professional settings, such as hospitals.

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Mayor Wu Announces Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah as Boston's Next Poet Laureate

Local poet and BPS librarian to lead public poetry programs citywide, championing literary arts and youth engagement across Boston as fourth Poet Laureate.

BOSTON, MA - Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture announced that Ghanaian American poet, editor, and educator Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah will serve as Boston’s next Poet Laureate. Oppong-Yeboah will officially assume the role in July 2025 and serve until July 2029. Established in 2008, the Boston Poet Laureate Program has been a cornerstone of Boston’s creative sector, drawing residents into the rich and transformative world of the literary arts. It is a ceremonial appointment with a term of four years.

“I'm honored to announce Emmanuel as Boston’s next Poet Laureate. Their voice, vision, and deep commitment to community will inspire and amplify our city’s voices over the next four years,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “In a time where we need to challenge, uplift, and connect, I'm proud to know that Emmanuel will carry out this role with care for our communities.”

“I am very excited to serve the City of Boston in this role,” said Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah. “In so much of life I feel a profound sense of indebtedness to those who have done the work before me. No less so here. Boston's two most recent poet laureates, Porsha Olayiwola and Danielle Georges, have created so much space in this city for the flourishing of poetry and poets, and I am grateful to them and eager to expand on their work.”’

Oppong-Yeboah grew up in Boston and holds the city close to their heart. They are currently a BPS educator working as a school librarian at the Joseph Lee School in Dorchester. For six years, they taught 11th grade English at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, and prior to that served as a teaching artist for 10 years at organizations throughout Boston, including the Massachusetts Literary Education and Performance Collective, the Cambridge Arts Council, Northeastern University, and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston. Emmanuel’s poem, “kra-din” (Kweli Journal), is a past recipient of the Pushcart Prize (XLIII).

“We are thrilled that Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah, a beloved member of our BPS community, has been named Boston’s next Poet Laureate,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. “As a school librarian at the Lee K-8 School, Emmanuel nurtures curiosity, creativity, and a deep love for words in our students every day. Their passion for poetry and education exemplifies the transformative power of the arts in young people’s lives. We are proud to see a BPS educator in this role and excited for the inspiration they will spark across our city.”

Oppong-Yeboah will be Boston’s fourth poet laureate, following Porsha Olayiwola, Danielle Legros Georges, and Sam Cornish, all of whom helped elevate the city’s poetry scene. Oppong-Yeboah is committed to expanding on their legacies by fostering new opportunities for poets of all ages to thrive.

For Oppong-Yeboah, working with young people in the city where they were raised is especially meaningful and a source of personal joy. They hope to use this role to bring people together to build connections and provide resources to support poets and the organizations that make space for them.

They plan to work with the Boston Youth Poet Laureate on initiatives that activate the youth poetry scene in Boston; transform community spaces in Boston Public Libraries to host all-ages open-mics and draw engagement from BPS school communities nearby these library sites; partner with Boston’s School Libraries to connect Boston-area students to living poets; and host a contest that invites local poets to engage in writing based on Boston Public Library’s archives.

Applications for the role were reviewed by a Selection Panel consisting of a distinguished group of local literary professionals. The Selection Panel evaluated all entries and held interviews with the final candidates.

“The Selection Committee was impressed by both Emmanuel’s creative work, but equally his balanced thoughtful intentionality; he will bring to this role a deep appreciation of community engagement; and his skills and connections as an educator; and a passion for mentoring our young people in their creative endeavors,” said David Leonard, President of the Boston Public Library.

Oppong-Yeboah’s upcoming events include co-leading an open mic and poetry slam on April 18 and May 2 with poet Crystal Valentine at Just Book-ish in Fields Corner, Dorchester (1st and 3rd Friday of every month). Additionally, they will be doing a feature performance on Wednesday, April 23, at the Cantab Lounge in Cambridge, home of the Boston Poetry Slam.

To learn more about the Boston Poet Laureate Program, visit www.boston.gov/poetry.

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Red Sox and JetBlue Distribute Over 40,000 Baseball Hats to Boston Public Schools Students and Staff

The Boston Red Sox, in partnership with JetBlue, distributed over 40,000 Red Sox hats to Boston Public Schools (BPS) students and staff at 104 K-8 schools across the city. The 2025 hat giveaway launched with an event at Gardner Pilot Academy in Allston. The hat giveaway to BPS students began in 2017 to connect baseball to the next generation of fans.

Red Sox and JetBlue Distribute Over 40,000 Baseball Hats to Boston Public Schools Students and Staff

BOSTON, MA – April 7, 2025 - The Boston Red Sox, in partnership with JetBlue, distributed over 40,000 Red Sox hats to Boston Public Schools (BPS) students and staff at 104 K-8 schools across the city. This year’s hat giveaway launched with an event at Gardner Pilot Academy in Allston that included City of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy, Red Sox Partner and Foundation Board Member Linda Henry, and JetBlue Director of Airport Operations Dan Blake. The hat giveaway to Boston Public Schools students began in 2017 in partnership with JetBlue, the official airline of the Boston Red Sox, to connect baseball to the next generation of fans.

“Hat Day has grown into something special,” said Sam Kennedy, Red Sox President & CEO. “What started as a simple idea – getting a Red Sox hat on every kid in the city – has turned into one of our favorite traditions. It’s a day that brings smiles, pride, and a little extra joy to schools across Boston. We’re so lucky to have a partner like JetBlue that shares our commitment to this community. And we’re especially thankful to Mayor Wu – her support and focus on young people have helped make this day what it is. There’s nothing better than giving kids a reason to feel connected to their city and their team.”

“The energy around Hat Day is electric – it brings joy, pride, and reinforces a sense of unity within our schools across BPS,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. “When our students put on these hats, they’re not just wearing Red Sox colors—they’re wearing a symbol of community and connection. All of us at BPS appreciate the Red Sox and JetBlue for their continued commitment to supporting our students and staff, not just today, but all year long.”

The club also filled Gardner Pilot Academy’s Catie’s Closet with hundreds of articles of Red Sox apparel. Catie’s Closet is a nonprofit providing access to clothing and basic necessities for students to discreetly shop, free of charge. The organization operates at various schools throughout the city and region.

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Boston Public Schools Celebrates School Library Month

April is National School Library Month!

In celebration, Boston Public Schools is highlighting a few great school libraries across the District.

Boston Public Schools Celebrates School Library Month

April is National School Library Month!

Boston Public Schools (BPS) recognizes the essential role school libraries and librarians play in empowering students with knowledge, fostering their love of reading, and supporting their academic success. School-library programs provide equitable access to resources, technology, information – literacy skills that prepare students for lifelong learning.

In celebration of School Library Month, BPS is highlighting a few great school libraries across the District. Be sure to check back here every Tuesday in April for photos and information about a great school library!

Charlestown High School

The Charlestown High School Library is a welcoming hub where students come to read, explore, create, and connect. From book tastings that spark curiosity to collaborative projects with teachers that deepen learning, the Charlestown High School librarian aims to foster a joyful reading culture and a strong sense of community.

One recent moment stands out: A student proudly shared that he had just finished his first book ever and he genuinely loved it. He talked with the librarian about the cliffhanger ending and his favorite parts, and he told them he wants to read more books in verse. He left that day with “The Crossover” by Kwame Alexander in hand and a new sense of excitement about reading. Moments that serve as a reminder about why this work matters so much.

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Events

Mar 19

College Counseling Fair with State University and Community Colleges

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Mar 20

Spirit Day

all day

Mar 22

Saturday Recreational Tennis

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Mar 24

Parent, Teacher, and Community Association Meeting

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

	Gen. Michael J. Perkins, Medal of Honor Winner, World War I
1904	Forrester Blanchard, Social Worker, Professor, Civil Rights Activist
1938	James Shea, Commissioner of Elderly, City of Boston
1938	John Kerrigan, Acting Mayor of Boston, Boston City Council
1941	Edward McCormack, Massachusetts Attorney General
1944	J. Joseph Moakley, U.S. Congress
1947	Robert Moakley, U.S. Government Director of Veterans Affairs in the Phillipines
1956	Raymond Flynn, Mayor of Boston, U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican
1972	Roy Balconis, Commanding Officer, USS Mitscher

Gen. Michael J. Perkins, Medal of Honor Winner, World War I

1904

Forrester Blanchard, Social Worker, Professor, Civil Rights Activist

1938

James Shea, Commissioner of Elderly, City of Boston

1938

John Kerrigan, Acting Mayor of Boston, Boston City Council

1941

Edward McCormack, Massachusetts Attorney General

1944

J. Joseph Moakley, U.S. Congress

1947

Robert Moakley, U.S. Government Director of Veterans Affairs in the Phillipines

1956

Raymond Flynn, Mayor of Boston, U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican

1972

Roy Balconis, Commanding Officer, USS Mitscher

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Boston School Committee Votes to Approve Three-Year Collective Bargaining Agreement with Boston Teachers Union

Mayor Wu Announces Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah as Boston's Next Poet Laureate

Red Sox and JetBlue Distribute Over 40,000 Baseball Hats to Boston Public Schools Students and Staff

Boston Public Schools Celebrates School Library Month

April is National School Library Month!

Charlestown High School

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South Boston Education Complex (formerly South Boston High School)