Boston City Councilor John Connolly, hosted a meeting to investigate the creation of an Environmental Science Academy charter school. Twenty-three members of an advisory committee (selected by the Councilor,) gathered around the large conference table at City Hall, to listen to the Councilor's vision and guidelines to make this charter school a reality.
After listening to the outline for the vision, the advisory committee provided a list of immediate recommendations to help jump start the work. Ideas came from students, environmental and academic experts, as well as community people. Together they identified some preliminary resources to consider for part of the work. Ideas for the academy ranged from partnerships with A123 battery manufacture, to similar school models established in Europe.
Over the next 8 months, the advisory committee will gather information that can be presented to the entire city council, to help build a case for the creation of the environmental science academy. Part of the vision includes serving k-12, using strategies that will incorporate much of today's environmental technology. Math and science priorities are to be built into the framework, making it eligible for Race To The Top funds at the federal level. This funding increases the likelihood of its creation by the Boston Public School system, if the city council votes in favor of the proposal at the end of the year. As good of an idea as this sounds, major barriers still exist because of already strained budget and contentious issues brought forth by public school teachers. For this reason, the advisory committee will have to work extra hard.
Councilor Connolly has made it very clear that he wants the advisory committee to search far and wide for the best ideas. The academy is consistent with Mayor Menino's objective to make Boston a leader in the green economy. If all goes well, Boston may very well see its first school dedicated to the environmental sciences and sustainability.
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