By Ella Adams and Eric Convey | |
Top senator on Education Committee backs push to eliminate MCAS graduation requirement | |
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Count Winchester Senator Jason Lewis firmly in the camp supporting the ballot question that would eliminate the standardized MCAS exam as a high school graduation requirement.
The Senate chair of the Legislature's Education Committee told MASSterList that his thoughts on the question "crystallized" back in the spring, when he was part of the effort — along with some reps, the Healey administration and union leadership — to try to negotiate a compromise that would avert the question from going before voters. While that effort ultimately didn't reach a compromise, Lewis said the conversations in the process helped do some legwork for legislation he's drafting and intends to file next session to put an alternative, non-test-based statewide graduation standard in place.
Even before those unsuccessful compromise talks, Lewis served on the special commission that reviewed all proposed ballot questions — a body that decided to not touch any of the measures and instead leave their fates up to voters. Lewis was the only lawmaker who did not sign the majority report on the MCAS measure, which warned that eliminating the tests as a graduation requirement without a "standardized and consistent benchmark" in its place "will not improve student outcomes and runs the risk of exacerbating inconsistencies and inequities in instruction and learning across districts."
"I do think everyone has the same ultimate desire, which is basically what's best for Massachusetts students," Lewis told MASSterList. The replacement standards, Lewis said, would be consistent with the way standards work in other states and would require most students to complete a recommended set of courses called MassCore.
The question has drawn plenty of opposition, including from state leaders like Gov. Maura Healey and Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler, chambers of commerce, and groups like the Massachusetts High Technology Council. Just last week, the Massachusetts Association of Superintendents announced its plans to vote in opposition to the measure.
"If the ballot question is defeated, while it's certainly true we could take up legislation next session, I think that would be much less likely," Lewis said. — Ella Adams
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New bill addresses Steward Hospital in Norwood
Sen. Mike Rush and Rep. John Rogers have both filed new proposals that would enable UMass Memorial Health to operate Norwood Hospital. On Monday, the Senate referred Rush's petition to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, though the House hasn't acted on Rogers's identical proposal. The two lawmakers believe the legislation "provides an additional option to be considered for a reliable and expeditious pathway for the resumption of care in the area." Norwood Hospital is not currently in operation, as construction on it began in late 2021 after a 2020 flood but halted earlier this year. — State House News Service
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WPI finalizes finalizes controversial hotel purchases for student housing
Worcester Polytechnic Institute finalized its purchase of the Hampton Inn and Courtyard by Marriott at Gateway Park — a controversial move meant to address a need for student housing that has been criticized by the city and its leaders. WPI bought the two hotels for $46M and said the plan is to transition the Hampton Inn to student housing in 2026. The Marriott is set to continue operating as a hotel through at least 2030. The Telegram's Marco Cartolano reports that the City Council has asked city administration to look into legal options to pressure WPI into stopping the purchase and conversion. — Telegram & Gazette
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Calls against five-day shelter limit remain strong
On Monday afternoon, demonstrators denounced the state's five-day limits on overflow shelters — now deemed "temporary respite shelters" — which they accused of being "intentionally cruel." Earlier Monday, state officials held a meeting about the emergency shelter system, discussing pathways to permanent housing for families exiting shelter and work authorizations. The state's housing secretary said the administration shares protesters' concerns, adding that they're "all struggling to meet the needs of these families." — Boston Globe
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Short-term rental conversation still alive on Nantucket
Tuesday's Special Town Meeting in Nantucket will once again address the short-term rental debate, following the many measures taken up by the island's legislative body over the years regarding whether to regulate or restrict the concept, reports the Current's Jason Graziadei. Voters on Tuesday will again be asked to approve zoning bylaw amendments, which include a proposal that would limit existing short-term rentals to one rental property per person with eight occupancy changes during July and August, and new short-term rentals to three rental contracts during those months in the first five years of ownership. — Nantucket Current
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Do Somerville's policies enable open drug use?
An April 2021 city council order prioritized treatment over arrest for drug possession and incarceration in Somerville — but Somerville City Councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld is worried that the policy enforces police lenience, leading to open drug use, harassment and inappropriate behavior her constituents say they often see. The Day's Nicole Belcastro looks at the conversations happening in Somerville and what strategies the city could use to address resident concerns. The conversations continue as the council's Public Health and Safety Committee met last Wednesday to discuss solutions to improper needle disposal, safety concerns and open drug use. — Cambridge Day
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Home energy bills in Boston among highest in nation
A recent report found that Boston has among the highest energy burdens of 25 U.S. cities. Energy bills in the city and state have been high over the years and vulnerable to price spikes, and of the cities highlighted, the report shows only four have a higher household energy burden than Boston. The Globe's Sabrina Shankman looks at the varying reasons why bills are so high, reporting that the costs are especially significant for Boston's low-income households. — Boston Globe
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Education leaders calling for better faculty, staff pay at Mass. community colleges
The vice president of the Massachusetts Community College Council union said that historically low salaries of community college faculty and staff threaten the success of MassEducate — the free tuition program launched this summer. The call follows news that the Legislature approved and sent an FY2024 supplemental budget to Gov. Healey last week that would fund union contracts that have already been negotiated. Many in the state's education community expect that MassEducate will become a "moment of reckoning" about low pay and high workloads of community college faculty and staff. — Daily Hampshire Gazette
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Another Rhode Island company weighs move to Massachusetts
Toy giant Hasbro is considering moving to Boston or its suburbs from Rhode Island, where the company was founded around 100 years ago, the BBJ's Greg Ryan and Mary Serreze report. Massachusetts already has lured Lego's U.S. headquarters from Connecticut and pursued Citizens Financial Corp. — Boston Business Journal
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Sandwich buying 87 acres
The town of Sandwich is buying 86.5 acres to prevent development of the site and also maintain it for possible use as part of a waste-water management system, the Cape Cod Times's Zane Razzaq reports. Sandwich paid $3.3M for the parcel and town officials expressed hope a regional wastewater treatment system will be created in time to make using the soon-to-be-acquired land unnecessary. The land, according to the Times, is owned by a developer whose plans to build houses there fell through. — Cape Cod Times
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Encore Boston Harbor could get new competition
The owners of a struggling Salem, N.H., shopping center and a major Massachusetts developer are proposing a $160M, three-story casino for the site, the Eagle-Tribune's Jamie Costa reports. The Tuscan Village Mall is only 36 miles from Encore Boston Harbor and would offer some similar games. The project is being proposed by Tuscan Village owner Joe Faro and Massachusetts developer Lupoli Companies. — Eagle-Tribune
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Drivers face four years of delays at Mass Pike, I-95 interchange
State officials predict four years of delays for drivers passing through the intersection of the Massachusetts Turnpike and Route 128, USA Today's Catherine Messier reports. Construction is set to run Mondays through Fridays during the day and Thursdays through Sundays at night. — MetroWest Daily News
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