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Parents, school closures, & media coverage
If Vernée Wilkinson seems familiar to you, there’s a reason for that.
The head of School Facts Boston has been interviewed numerous times, featured by the Boston Globe, and profiled here at The Grade.
Like many other places, Boston schools are facing moves and mergers, as well as what Wilkinson politely calls “student outcome issues” in this new interview.
And, while the Boston Globe and other outlets provide a steady stream of media coverage, according to Wilkinson, there’s too little direct engagement between journalists and everyday parents — and not enough ongoing coverage.
Watch the interview above or on YouTube. Listen to it on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Read a transcript.
Unlike others, Wilkinson is understanding about the challenges news outlets face in terms of time and relationships with elected officials and public agencies. And she’s not unilaterally opposed to the need for some schools being closed or consolidated.
However, the head of the organization launched in 2019 is critical of district communication and engagement efforts leading up to recent consolidation decisions and the distracted coverage that the media so often provides.
“The public organized and came out in robust opposition to the proposed closings and mergers,” says Wilkinson about the December hearings.
And yet the committee ignored the opposition.
“There’s something missing in between in the way that decisions are being made — the way decisions are being communicated — and the way that the community doesn’t feel that it’s being heard.”
The hearing protests were covered well, according to Wilkinson, but the attention hasn’t been sustained.
Previously about Wilkinson
A mother’s journey, helping families navigate BPS and protecting her own from it (Boston Globe)
Boston schools lost 15,000 Black students in the past 20 years. Where did they go, and will they ever return? (Boston Globe)
Previously from The Grade
What parents really want
Schools coverage should serve parents’ needs, says journalism researcher
Parents need reporters — and vice versa
Finding real parents — on deadline
Get full access to Alexander Russo's The Grade at alexanderrusso.substack.com/subscribe
View all episodes
By Alexander Russo's The GradeIf Vernée Wilkinson seems familiar to you, there’s a reason for that.
The head of School Facts Boston has been interviewed numerous times, featured by the Boston Globe, and profiled here at The Grade.
Like many other places, Boston schools are facing moves and mergers, as well as what Wilkinson politely calls “student outcome issues” in this new interview.
And, while the Boston Globe and other outlets provide a steady stream of media coverage, according to Wilkinson, there’s too little direct engagement between journalists and everyday parents — and not enough ongoing coverage.
Watch the interview above or on YouTube. Listen to it on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Read a transcript.
Unlike others, Wilkinson is understanding about the challenges news outlets face in terms of time and relationships with elected officials and public agencies. And she’s not unilaterally opposed to the need for some schools being closed or consolidated.
However, the head of the organization launched in 2019 is critical of district communication and engagement efforts leading up to recent consolidation decisions and the distracted coverage that the media so often provides.
“The public organized and came out in robust opposition to the proposed closings and mergers,” says Wilkinson about the December hearings.
And yet the committee ignored the opposition.
“There’s something missing in between in the way that decisions are being made — the way decisions are being communicated — and the way that the community doesn’t feel that it’s being heard.”
The hearing protests were covered well, according to Wilkinson, but the attention hasn’t been sustained.
Previously about Wilkinson
A mother’s journey, helping families navigate BPS and protecting her own from it (Boston Globe)
Boston schools lost 15,000 Black students in the past 20 years. Where did they go, and will they ever return? (Boston Globe)
Previously from The Grade
What parents really want
Schools coverage should serve parents’ needs, says journalism researcher
Parents need reporters — and vice versa
Finding real parents — on deadline
Get full access to Alexander Russo's The Grade at alexanderrusso.substack.com/subscribe