Don’t Close the Door on Families: BPS Must Listen Before Shutting Down Our Schools

 Boston Public Schools is standing at a critical crossroads. With talk of more school closures on the horizon, there’s something the district and the School Committee must not forget:

Schools are more than just buildings. They are communities.

And too often, decisions about those schools are made without truly listening to — or including — the families most affected.

As a parent whose child attended The Dever, I’ve lived this experience. When the closure of our school was announced, it felt like a punch to the gut. There was no warning. No conversation. No chance to weigh in. It just… happened.

And while the district might move on, families like mine are left scrambling. Our kids — the ones at the center of all this — are the ones paying the price.

What We’re Losing

The Dever was a safe, welcoming, and nurturing environment for my child. The teachers were committed. The community was strong. That kind of support system isn’t something you can easily replace, especially not by moving students to schools farther away with fewer resources.

And this isn’t just about one school.

We’ve seen more schools close in recent years than open. That’s not progress — that’s a failure to invest in the neighborhoods that need it most.

Who’s Paying the Price?

This pattern of closures is deeply unfair:

• Unfair to students, who deserve access to quality education in their own communities.

• Unfair to parents, who have built relationships, routines, and trust with their local schools.

• Unfair to educators, who pour their hearts into creating safe, supportive learning environments — only to watch them be dismantled.

What Real Engagement Looks Like

If BPS wants to make real, lasting improvements, they need to start by listening. And no — a rushed public meeting or a single PowerPoint presentation doesn’t count.

Real community engagement means:

• Showing up

• Listening actively

• Collaborating honestly

• Building trust over time

It means making decisions with families, not for them.

The Ripple Effects of Closure

When schools close, the damage goes beyond academics. Kids lose their sense of stability. Parents are left with few good options. And entire communities lose vital gathering places that help hold them together.

In the case of The Dever, we still don’t have clear answers about what will happen to the building. Will it sit empty? Be handed over to an outside agency? We need transparency and input before any final decisions are made. Families deserve to be part of that process.

So Where Do We Go From Here?

Right now, no new schools are being built to meet the changing needs of our neighborhoods. How can we talk about equity or educational justice when we’re closing more doors than we’re opening?

Boston deserves better.

We deserve a school system that invests in its communities — not one that abandons them. That begins with respect, with listening, and with leadership that sees families as partners, not problems.

If we’re serious about building a stronger, more equitable future for Boston, we need to stop treating school closures as the go-to solution.

Let’s invest in our schools. Let’s strengthen our communities. Let’s show our children what real leadership looks like.

Because they’re watching.