Podcasts about Boston School

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Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 25:00

Last night's Boston School Committee meeting began with an executive session, during which members received an update on a labor agreement between the district and the Administrative Guild, which represents the secretaries and clerks working in Boston Public Schools (BPS). The public portion of the meeting opened with a hearing on the Massachusetts School Choice Plan for the 2025–2026 school year. However, with no public speakers present, the meeting moved swiftly to the Superintendent's report. Tragedy and Accountability Superintendent Mary Skipper began her report by acknowledging the recent tragic deaths of two BPS students. Chair Jeri Robinson and Superintendent Skipper expressed condolences to the affected families. Superintendent Skipper also referenced ongoing collaboration with TransDev, the city's contracted school bus provider, to prevent future incidents. However, a Boston Globe article published this week revealed that the bus driver involved in one of the incidents had an expired certification. Notably, the Superintendent did not directly address this detail, and we will continue to monitor for follow-up. Madison Park & Building Trades Partnership Superintendent Skipper went on to highlight a new partnership between Madison Park Technical Vocational High School and the Greater Boston Building Trades Unions. The agreement guarantees direct entry for the top-performing 50% of Madison Park graduates into pre-apprenticeship union training programs. This marks the largest such agreement in the state and provides a meaningful career pathway for BPS students into the trades. The Boston Student Advisory Council (BSAC) presented next, reporting on a recent visit to the Massachusetts Attorney General's office, where students advocated for a districtwide cell phone policy. The current policy (see page 20) has not been comprehensively updated in two decades. While individual schools have adopted varied approaches, the absence of a consistent, modern policy remains a pressing issue. One of the evening's most intense exchanges occurred during the vote on whether BPS should participate in the Massachusetts School Choice Program. Although Superintendent Skipper had previously cited capacity constraints, she reframed her opposition by warning that a pilot program could divert focus from core priorities such as inclusive education and early college pathways. Member Brandon Cardet-Hernandez issued a detailed rebuttal. He argued that the district was prioritizing fear over innovation, and emphasized the potential for school choice to support Boston's workforce—many of whom reside outside the city—and promote equity and integration. He also contested claims regarding financial burdens, noting that many are not grounded in evidence. Ultimately, the school committee, once again, voted to opt out of school choice. Later in the meeting, Boston Green Academy presented its charter renewal application. The district also provided an update on graduation requirements for students in alternative education settings. BPS reaffirmed its post-2021 graduation standards and highlighted alignment with other urban districts across the state. Superintendent Skipper added that the updated framework expands early college and career access for alternative education students. The final presentation focused on the proposed Urban Achievers Private High School. Committee members and district leaders expressed strong support, praising the additional school choice it would offer to Boston families. The enthusiasm stood in contrast to the hesitance shown around broader school choice discussions earlier in the meeting. During the meeting, Member Cardet-Hernandez raised a key concern about the impact of frozen or rescinded federal grants. Superintendent Skipper confirmed that many grants are currently stalled due to legal challenges, which is affecting the district's budget planning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 4·16·25 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 29:19

Last night's meeting was a long one, lasting just over four hours. The main agenda item of the night was a recap of the new contract agreed to between the Boston Teachers' Union (BTU) and the district. Before this recap, the Superintendent gave a lengthy update on happenings in the district, which included a note about a new transportation policy. While this was not an agenda item, the district did announce a new policy that may remove some students from routes who do not ride the bus for 10 days in a row. There were few questions about this policy and members further encouraged the district to increase the “on-time” rate of buses earlier in the year than seven months into the school year. District leaders then presented to the School Committee on the details within the newly agreed upon BTU contract. More specifically, the Superintendent and her team outlined updates to an increase in wages for paraprofessionals as well as a new model for serving students with disabilities. The district's explanation of the revisions to the model for special education were convoluted, at best. Another area of concern that emerged from the district's presentation was the financial implications of the new contract, with the Superintendent's team stating they felt “uncomfortable” with the cost of the contract. The contract, as well as the supplemental appropriations necessary to fund the contract, passed the school committee vote unanimously. After a short public comment period and a few votes on small grants, the meeting moved on to a discussion of transformation schools. As mandated by the Systemic Improvement Plan (SIP), these quarterly updates provide a glimpse into the progress, or lack thereof, of the district's most underperforming schools. While two principals from these schools shed some light on some positive news, the majority of the presentation touched on many of the same points we have been hearing, mainly, continued concerns about student achievement and chronic absenteeism. School Committee members asked pointed questions about potential alternatives to transformation schools and whether we are using the best data practices to monitor their growth. Due to the district moving out of the SIP, there was uncertainty about how this information will continue to be shared moving forward, but we will continue to keep an eye out for updates on them in the future. Finally, the meeting wrapped up with a discussion on the Massachusetts School Choice Plan for SY 2025-2026. In the past, and last night, the district has opposed having the district opt-in to school choice, which would allow students from other cities and towns to enroll in BPS. Member Cardet-Hernandez proposed to allow municipal employees, including teachers, who live outside of Boston, to enroll their kids in BPS. This potential pilot program received significant pushback from the Superintendent and her team and was shut down without any further conversation. The School Committee will next meet at 6pm on Wednesday, May 14th. We are looking forward to hearing more from our district's leaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 278 - A Risky Game (ft. Alyson Gerber)

The DTALKS Podcast - Detoxing from Life

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 39:09

Have you always considered yourself a 'storyteller' but don't consider yourself a writer? That was the conundrum Alyson Gerber found herself in when Molly Ringwald (yes, THE Molly Ringwald) convinced her she needed to write! After Alyson wrote several books which her inner self needed to read, she turned her attention to mystery! Alyson, today (no foolin'!) released the second book in her best-selling 'The Liars Society' series, 'A Risky Game'! Alyson goes into detail about The Liars Society, her writing process, and how her love of storytelling guiding her through all the impostor syndrome which tried to come home to roost. Enjoy! About Alyson Gerber Alyson Gerber is the bestselling author of The Liars Society, a middle grade mystery set at a New England prep school. The Liars Society is a USA Today bestseller, Barnes & Noble Bookseller Favorite, B&N Most Anticipated Book of the Month, and B&N Best Book of the Year (So Far), as well as an American Booksellers Association's Best Books for Young Readers, Roku's Best Book of the Month, Bookshop's Favorite New Books. It's also a nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award and Indiana's Young Hoosier Award. The Liars Society #2: A Risky Game will be in stores April 1. About 'The Liars Society: A Risky Game' Weatherby is a fish out of water. When she lands a scholarship to the prestigious Boston School, she's excited to be in the same world as her dad, whom she's never met, and make real friends. But Weatherby has a secret she'll risk everything to protect, one that could destroy her new life. Every member of Jack's wealthy and privileged family has made their mark at the Boston School. Everyone, that is, except for Jack, who is entirely mediocre. He's desperate to prove his worth to his influential father. But Jack has a secret of his own . . . one with the power to ruin everything. When the money for their school trip to a private island―exclusive to Boston students―is stolen, Jack and Weatherby are invited to play a high-stakes game and solve the mystery of the missing money. If they win, they'll be selected to join the oldest, most powerful secret society in the world―and they'll be Boston royalty forever. If they lose . . . well, they better not lose. Beloved author Alyson Gerber crafts an unforgettable mystery that asks―are some secrets and lies impossible to overcome? Make sure to check out the Dtalkspodcast.com website! Thanks to Empire Toys for this episode of the podcast! Nostalgia is something everyone loves and Empire Toys in Keller Texas is on nostalgia overload. With toys and action figures from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and today, Empire Toys is a one-stop-shop for a trip down memory lane and a chance to reclaim what was once yours (but likely sold at a garage sale) Check out Empire Toys on Facebook, Instagram, or at TheEmpireToys.com AND Thanks to Self Unbound for this episode of the podcast: Your quality of life: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, is a direct reflection of the level of abundant energy, ease, and connection your nervous system has to experience your life! At Self Unbound, your nervous system takes center stage as we help unbind your limited healing potential through NetworkSpinal Care. Access the first steps to your Unbound journey by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.selfunbound.com

Boston School Committee: 3·26·25 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 23:14

Last night's meeting lasted three hours, and it centered on two main topics: Boston emerging from the State Improvement Plan (SIP) and the vote on the FY26 budget. The meeting began with Chair Robinson recapping major news from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) board meeting on Tuesday. In short, DESE announced that the SIP, which expires in June, would not be renewed by the state. While state officials praised the district's improvements and work, it was clear that the results of the SIP were a mixed bag. Nevertheless, the state is now moving the district out of the SIP, and the Superintendent spent a large portion of her report highlighting the vast improvements including bus arrival times, increased test scores, and new career pathways for BPS students. However, School Committee and DESE board members had words of caution given the urgency of necessary improvements in BPS. The oversight will officially end on June 30th, but the School Committee did note that they will look to continue internal oversight. Clearly, though, there is much work to be done in the district given the results shown below and in a recent report by the Boston Policy Institute. After a short public comment period that hit on major pain points from the community, the meeting moved on to the vote on the FY26 budget. While there was not much suspense as to whether the budget would pass or not, School Committee members did raise certain concerns about its scope and priorities. More specifically, members questioned, once again, how the budget fits into the district's long-term plan, the presence of school accountability measures, and the needs in the district that still need to be addressed. Though one member voted no, the budget ultimately passed, with six yea votes. The School Committee meeting ended with a presentation on an amendment to the code of conduct. In short, due to a change in state law, the district had to adjust their use of discipline, and they are moving more towards a system of “progressive discipline.” There will be a vote at the next School Committee meeting on the amendment. Finally, as mentioned during this week's podcast, we will be tracking the questions and requests made by School Committee members during the meetings. As we have seen, oftentimes, inquiries about the state of affairs, data, and other relevant matters are asked, but questions are left unanswered. As part of each blog post, we will be monitoring these questions and whether they have been answered. Here are some from last night: Can we create a task for achievement and opportunity gaps? - Dr. Stephen Alkins In the district, how many psychologists are there per student? - Chair Jeri Robinson Where are we now [in terms of priorities in the budget]? - Chair Jeri Robinson? The School Committee will next meet at 6pm on Wednesday, April 16th. We are looking forward to hearing from the Superintendent about the district's new contract with teachers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee To Close, Merge Several Schools

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2025 0:48 Transcription Available

Boston School Committee moves forward with controversial plan to close four schools and merg two others at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. For more, ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio.

Boston School Committee: 3·20·25 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 22:26

Last night's meeting lasted around five hours, hitting on many important topics. Before the official meeting, the School Committee hosted its third and final budget hearing for the FY26 budget. The Superintendent and her team answered questions from School Committee members, including inquiries about the role of federal funding in the budget, how long-term goals are achieved in the budget, and the cuts made to community advancement programs. Questions were also asked about accelerating student performance, which was highlighted in a recent report published by the Boston Policy Institute. Following the conclusion of the budget meeting, the regular School Committee meeting began. Chair Robinson announced that the district had reached a tentative agreement with the Boston Teachers Union following months of negotiation. While main details were not discussed, the Superintendent and her team said that they would provide an update at a future meeting. Following this, the meeting moved into public comment, where nearly every speaker was a community member representing schools on the proposed closure and merger list voicing their pleas to keep their school communities open. After public comment and quick votes on grants and the renaming of the Sumner/Philbrick school, the School Committee voted on the Core Program Statement of Interest to the MSBA for Madison Park Vocational High School. Last month, during a City Council hearing, the Mayor's team announced plans to seek MSBA funding for a new Madison Park facility, with the estimated cost rising to nearly $700 million—up from the originally earmarked $500 million. While there was not much further discussion after last meeting's comprehensive discussion, School Committee members did question what alternative plans were in place if the district did not receive the money. Once again, the O'Bryant School was only tangentially mentioned and there was minimal discussion about what the future will hold for that community. In the end, the School Committee unanimously voted to approve the Statement of Interest. Finally, the School Committee meeting ended with a vote on the aforementioned school closures and mergers. The public comment during the evening was filled with tangible emotion from community members, and it was clear that this carried over to School Committee members as well. Multiple School Committee members harped on the difficulty of these decisions and the necessity of making hard choices for the benefit of long term district health. The Superintendent and her team responded to questions about how educators will be supported during the transition as well as the assistance BPS is offering to families that will be forced to change schools. Moreover, the Superintendent stated that no child reassigned during this process would be forced to leave their current school again. However, due to the lack of a long-term facilities plan, there is no way to track this across the district; hence, it is unclear how this process will occur. Nevertheless, their answers seemed to satisfy the School Committee as the closure and merger plan passed by a vote of five to one. The shift in facilities will take place in June 2026. Next week, the School Committee will vote on the revised budget. The meeting will take place on March 26th at 6:30pm. Looking forward, the Superintendent noted that we will hear about the new contract with the BTU in April. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 2·26·25 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 37:01

Last night's meeting was a jam packed meeting covering many important topics. The meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, where she provided an extremely brief update on transformation schools. This update is a requirement as part of the district's Systemic Improvement Plan with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and usually provides insights and data about some of the lowest performing schools in the district. However, the Superintendent's team did not provide these data points and insights. The Superintendent also highlighted acceleration academies that took place during February vacation, but did not discuss the impact of this strategy on student performance. School Committee members raised concerns about the lack of data presented, as well as highlighting the need for better procedures to ensure that data requested to the School Committee is actually presented in a timely fashion. Following a public comment period that raised issues regarding topics such as facilities and exam schools, and quick votes on grants and approval of the accelerated repair project submissions to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), the School Committee voted on the competency determination requirement for the class of 2025. As the state continues to lack a revised, temporary policy for the state's competency determination, schools districts across the state are creating their own revised policy. The Superintendent and her team proposed a policy that requires current seniors to earn a passing grade from a list of coursework if they did not previously pass the MCAS. Last night's vote was preceded by conversation about the usage of the MCAS as a graduation requirement, which the district is allowed to utilize. While the School Committee engaged in a conversation that explored this and how the competency determination connects to its graduation requirements, the conversation was cut short after the Superintendent's team noted they needed to act on only the competency determination, and the School Committee voted in favor of the policy unanimously. The committee then heard two quick reports on an update from the Boston Student Advisory Council and the naming of the Sumner/Philbrick school to the Sarah Roberts Elementary School. The final discussion focused on a Core Program Statement of Interest to the MSBA for Madison Park Vocational High School. Last month, during a City Council hearing, the Mayor's team announced plans to seek MSBA funding for a new Madison Park facility, with the estimated cost rising to nearly $700 million—up from the originally earmarked $500 million. Committee members raised concerns about the absence of the O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science, which shares the same building, in the proposal. They also questioned the city's backup plan if MSBA funding is not secured and how the district plans to increase Madison Park's enrollment by 1,000 students. As these concerns remain unresolved, a vote is scheduled for the next meeting on March 20. Over the next several weeks, the School Committee will hold several public budget hearings (March 5th @ 5:30pm, March 19th @ 5:30pm) and will vote on the final budget on March 26th. The next School Committee meeting will be on March 20th at 6:30pm on Zoom, which will be preceded by a budget hearing at 5:30pm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 2·5·25 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 26:16

Last night's meeting was full of reports and initiated the kickoff to the FY26 budget process. After a short Superintendent's report and lengthy public comment period, the committee voted for a minor revision on the revised exam school admissions policy, which reduces the number of tiers from eight to four, with each tier receiving an equal allocation of invitations. The School Committee has voted on numerous adjustments to the policy year after year and School Committee members continued to raise questions about the distribution of bonus points via schools rather than individuals, a solution that supports the core intent of the policy, before ultimately approving the policy. The School Committee heard three reports last night. The first report was a proposal for accelerated repair funding from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). While the district typically presents proposals every year for funding from the MSBA, School Committee members raised major concerns about funding these projects without a long-term facilities plan to guide the work. Missing from the report was the news that the City would be seeking funding from the MSBA to renovate Madison Park, which is a reversal from the City's promise last year to fund a renovation of Madison Park quickly using funds from the City of Boston. The second report of the night was an update on the competency determination– or graduation requirement– for the Class of 2025. Following the passage of Question 2 on the November ballot to remove the MCAS as a graduation requirement, the district and state have yet to come up with updated graduation requirements. Last night, the district announced that students who did not pass the MCAS would need to pass certain approved courses in English, Math, and Science. There was much discussion over the lack of guidance and support from the state in defining graduation standards. The School Committee did not discuss the implications of the district's alignment to MassCore as their graduation requirement starting next year when only 51% of students completed the requirement last year. The final report of the evening was the Superintendent's FY26 preliminary budget. This report kicked off the FY26 budget process, which will culminate in a final proposal that will be voted on in March. This year's budget is $1.58 billion, which is a $53 million increase from last year. While the report discussed investments in certain areas, School Committee members raised major concerns over the goals and impact of these investments. These concerns were compounded by the recent release of NAEP results, which show that only 31% of 4th graders scored proficient in reading, and only 26% of 8th graders scored proficient. As the results show widening achievement gaps and increased spending, there was no discussion as to how the budget would address these gaps. Over the next several weeks, the School Committee will hold several public budget hearings (February 13th @ 5:30pm, March 5th @ 5:30pm, March 19th @ 5:30pm) and will vote on the final budget on March 26th. The next School Committee meeting will be on February 26th at 5:30pm on Zoom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 1·22·25 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 20:46

Last night's meeting was the first meeting of 2025, and the majority of the meeting was spent discussing the district's facilities plans. The meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, where she discussed the district's commitment to supporting all students in wake of federal immigration policy. Following a short report on a proposal to amend the bell schedule at UP Academy Dorchester, the meeting moved on to public comment. With nearly 35 speakers, there was a large contingent of families and students raising their concerns about the exam school admissions policy and its unintended consequences. The School Committee was originally slated to vote on an amended policy proposal presented in December, but that vote did not take place. The vast majority of public testimony came from parents, teachers and community members to keep the Dever Elementary School open, The main report of the evening on an update on capital planning and long-term facilities plan proposals. Two weeks ago, Mayor Wu and Superintendent Skipper announced plans to close or merge multiple schools as part of the district's facilities strategy, and last night, the Superintendent's team shared these proposals along with plans to support the students and families affected. The report highlighted that the district intends to close about 17% of its school buildings by 2030 and anticipates at least a 3% decline in enrollment. These projections come after repeated requests from the School Committee for future enrollment data. However, there was no implementation or discussion of a comprehensive master facilities plan to guide these decisions (click here to hear more about implementing successful long term facilities plans), prompting the School Committee to raise concerns over the implications of not having a plan on families and on the budget. The committee is expected to vote on the proposals in March. The next School Committee meeting will be held via Zoom at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5th, where the Superintendent will present her preliminary FY26 budget proposal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 12·18·24 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 29:32

Last night's School Committee meeting was the last meeting of the year, touching on some of the most discussed topics this past year. This was the first meeting following Mayor Wu's announcement regarding the reappointment of Vice Chair Michael O'Neill to his seat, after the conclusion of a public nomination process that saw numerous candidates apply. The meeting began with public comment, as the committee initially lacked a quorum. Public testimony included discussions on hiring, transportation, and enrollment patterns. After a short Superintendent's Report and a quorum present, the School Committee then took action on the collective bargaining agreement between Transdev and United Steelworkers Local 8751. School Committee members did not raise concerns regarding continual low performance that is not included in the contract, and instead, voted unanimously for the contract. The School Committee heard two reports last night, with the first report being a finance update for FY24-26. This is a yearly report that precedes and previews the budget season, which will kick off in February. The Superintendent and her team described it as a traditional budget, with plans to fully fund every school despite an ongoing enrollment decline and major revenue challenges noted by the Mayor. School Committee members did not ask any questions regarding the impact of enrollment decline, and there was no conversation about the lack of school closures or mergers in the update. The final report of the evening was a recommended exam school admissions policy. The recommendation comes after numerous years of changes to the exam school admissions policy, which you can hear more about here. Last year, the School Committee passed an amendment to adjust the number of bonus points a student who attends a Title 1 school (40% or more low-income) receives based on the tier where they live. This year, the Superintendent and her team proposed reducing the number of tiers from eight to four under the current policy, with each tier receiving an equal allocation of invitations. They also plan to continue reviewing the policy's impacts this spring. However, the proposal did not address how this shift would affect the number of bonus points students receive and did not include simulations to show the potential impact on student assignment. School Committee members did not raise questions or concerns regarding these omissions and will vote on this matter in January. The School Committee will reconvene on Wednesday, January 6 at 5pm for their annual organizational meeting, and it will be held on Zoom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 12·4·24 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 18:09

Last night's School Committee meeting was focused on hiring and transportation. The meeting began with public comment, after Chair Robinson announced that there would be no Superintendent's Report. Public comment featured a little less than 50 testimonies, with the majority of speakers members of the Boston Teachers Union advocating for a fair contract and working conditions. Over the past few months, BTU members have continued to testify at the School Committee about the need for a two-teacher model as part of the district's inclusion plan and other important considerations. Last night's public comment emphasized the BTU's clear message to the district, which comes as other towns in Massachusetts have dealt with teacher strikes. The School Committee heard two reports last night. The first report was regarding a tentative bargaining agreement between Transdev, the district's transportation provider, and the bus drivers union. Prior to the meeting, the School Committee went into executive session to discuss the negotiations, and last night's meeting did not feature a robust conversation about the contract. While the contract includes agreements to increase drivers' pay and hours and ensure students get to athletic competitions, as well as continuing previous agreements that ensures the drivers will be employed regardless of the contractor, there was no discussion as to whether this new contract would address transportation issues plaguing the district and the cost implications of a contract, when 10,000 less students are riding the bus. The last report of the evening was an update on hiring and workforce diversity. Every year, the district provides the School Committee with an update on hiring practices and initiatives to have a diverse workforce. Similar to previous years, the report did not include any data or discussion regarding teacher vacancies, the number of positions added, professional development, and evaluation. The report left key questions unanswered about whether the district staff is truly representative of the students they serve, and continued to show the disconnect between the district and the Boston Teachers Union as it relates to its ongoing contract negotiations and the looming budget season. The next School Committee meeting will be held in person or via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 18th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 11·6·24 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 29:31

Last night's School Committee meeting was focused on MassCore and graduation requirements, a timely topic following the passage of ballot Question 2 ending the use of MCAS as a state graduation requirement. The Superintendent also spent time talking about transportation, which reached 95% on-time arrival but still only 85% on time performance for afternoon buses. There was no mention, however, of recent reporting that highlighted a 30% decrease in ridership over the past decade and spending nearly $171 million on transportation. The School Committee then heard a report on MassCore and graduation requirements. In 2019, following a Boston Globe report, “The Valedictorian Project,” it became clear that graduation standards varied widely across schools, leading to inconsistent outcomes for top students. Since then, the district has worked to ensure all students are equally prepared, as highlighted in one of our earliest podcasts from 2019. In line with state recommendations, MassCore requirements were adopted district-wide in 2021. Last night's report revealed that while more students now have access to MassCore, only 50% of students complete the requirements. As MassCore becomes the sole graduation requirement in Boston for the class of 2026, there are still challenges in scheduling and support for students with disabilities and multilingual learners. As the district awaits further guidance from DESE, this issue remains a top priority. On Wednesday, November 20th, the School Committee will have a retreat at 6pm, which will be held in-person at the Bolling Building. The next School Committee meeting will be held in person or via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4th. Applications are now open for an opening on the Boston School Committee! If you would like to be considered, submit a completed application and email it to scnominatingpanel@boston.gov by Friday, November 15th at 11:59pm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 10·23·24 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 26:25

Last night's meeting focused primarily on transformation schools with a required quarterly update as part of the district's systemic improvement plan put in place by the Department of ELementary and Secondary Education. The meeting began with Deputy Superintendent Linda Chen, standing in for the Superintendent, highlighting bright spots and providing an update on a still struggling transportation system, noting the installation of new electric chargers at one bus yard. This report was followed by a short discussion led by member Cardet-Hernandez who raised a question about the district's response should the ballot initiative to remove the MCAS as a graduation requirement pass. Dr. Chen noted that a fuller discussion would occur at the next meeting, adding that the state has not yet provided guidance on the matter. There were about a dozen public commenters, with the majority of commenters testifying about the district's ongoing negotiations with the Boston Teachers Union. As the district continues to negotiate with the BTU, teachers and BTU members testified with a new strategy in place: teachers are pointing out the district is relying on dual licensure, and they are advocating for removing this requirement. The sole report of the evening was on transformation schools, identified by the state as requiring intervention. The report, mandated by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, showed low growth and performance across the 39 schools, which are in the bottom 10% statewide, as well as high rates of chronic absenteeism. School Committee members voiced concerns about these trends and emphasized the need for systemic improvements, though it was unclear how actively the state or city has been involved in addressing these continued issues. To hear more about the concerns and thoughts of the School Committee on this issue, tune in to the episode. On Monday, October 28th, the School Committee will have a retreat at 6pm, which will be held in-person at the Bolling Building. The next School Committee meeting will be held in person or via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6th. Applications are now open for an opening on the Boston School Committee! If you would like to be considered, submit a completed application and email it to scnominatingpanel@boston.gov by Friday, November 15th at 11:59pm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yemado Talks About Relaxation, Meditation, and Self-Defense Through Boabom

The Productivityist Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 47:58

In this episode, I'm joined by Yemado, a foremost teacher of Boabom in North America. Boabom is a Tibetan system that combines relaxation, meditation, and self-defense, offering a unique way to balance body and mind. During our conversation, Yemado shares his insights into the practice and why it's ideal for people looking for non-competitive physical activity that also provides mental clarity.We explore how Boabom's progressive approach makes it accessible to anyone, regardless of their starting point, and how it fosters personal growth and resilience. Yemado also walks us through a simple breathing exercise that listeners can practice right away to experience the benefits of this ancient art.Key Discussion Points An introduction to Boabom: A blend of relaxation, meditation, and non-contact self-defense The role of progression in Boabom classes, enabling students to grow step by step How non-competition within Boabom promotes personal improvement and mental focus The impact of movement on stress management and emotional resilience Why people are drawn to practices like Boabom to escape the pressures of modern life The interplay between breathing techniques and mental clarity A live guided breathing exercise that listeners can try immediately This conversation with Yemado offers a glimpse into the power of Boabom to help people reconnect with themselves and their surroundings. If you're seeking a practice that brings both mental and physical benefits without the competitive stress, this episode is for you. I encourage you to try the breathing exercise Yemado shares—it's a great way to experience the calm and clarity that Boabom offers.Links Worth Exploring Connect with Yemado: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Dive into Boabom: Start here Take a Boabom class: Check out the Boston School of Boabom Related Conversation: Episode 547: Kurtis Lee Thomas Talks About Breathwork Detox and Thriving in the Age of Anxiety Related Blog Post: The Power of Bit by Bit Productivity Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. You can subscribe on Spotify and also on Apple Podcasts. Not using either of those to get your podcasts? Just click on this link and then paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Yemado Talks About Relaxation, Meditation, and Self-Defense Through Boabom

The Productivityist Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 53:57

In this episode, I'm joined by Yemado, a foremost teacher of Boabom in North America. Boabom is a Tibetan system that combines relaxation, meditation, and self-defense, offering a unique way to balance body and mind. During our conversation, Yemado shares his insights into the practice and why it's ideal for people looking for non-competitive physical activity that also provides mental clarity. We explore how Boabom's progressive approach makes it accessible to anyone, regardless of their starting point, and how it fosters personal growth and resilience. Yemado also walks us through a simple breathing exercise that listeners can practice right away to experience the benefits of this ancient art. Key Discussion Points An introduction to Boabom: A blend of relaxation, meditation, and non-contact self-defense The role of progression in Boabom classes, enabling students to grow step by step How non-competition within Boabom promotes personal improvement and mental focus The impact of movement on stress management and emotional resilience Why people are drawn to practices like Boabom to escape the pressures of modern life The interplay between breathing techniques and mental clarity A live guided breathing exercise that listeners can try immediately This conversation with Yemado offers a glimpse into the power of Boabom to help people reconnect with themselves and their surroundings. If you're seeking a practice that brings both mental and physical benefits without the competitive stress, this episode is for you. I encourage you to try the breathing exercise Yemado shares—it's a great way to experience the calm and clarity that Boabom offers. Links Worth Exploring Connect with Yemado: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Dive into Boabom: Start here Take a Boabom class: Check out the Boston School of Boabom Related Conversation: Episode 547: Kurtis Lee Thomas Talks About Breathwork Detox and Thriving in the Age of Anxiety Related Blog Post: The Power of Bit by Bit Productivity Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page. Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. You can subscribe on Spotify and also on Apple Podcasts. Not using either of those to get your podcasts? Just click on this link and then paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice. Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Boston School Committee: 10·9·24 Meeting Recap

zoom ela superintendents elementary secondary education mcas school committee boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 23:16

Last night's meeting focused primarily on MCAS results and achievement. The meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, where the Superintendent provided an update on transportation. While the district has been making improvements week over week, the district's average on time performance was just 78% for afternoon buses. This low performance continues to lag behind the district's on time performance target set by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education of 95%. Following the report, the School Committee discussed the upcoming ballot question on removing the MCAS as a graduation requirement. With other school boards across the state taking stances on this measure, one school committee member expressed his views on the ballot initiative while others chose not to weigh in on this important conversation. Tune into the episode to hear this view, as well as the perspectives of other stakeholders, on this important matter. The meeting then moved on to public comment, which featured numerous teachers raising concerns over the district's inclusion plan and MCAS results, as well as a report on tentative collective bargaining agreements with the lunch monitors and food service workers, which will be voted on at the next meeting. The main report of the night was an update on MCAS achievement and accountability results from this past year. The Superintendent opened the report by emphasizing that the district's results are on par with other urban districts and the state's performance, and that the district is not in need of assistance or intervention by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. However, the report indicated continued low performance across the district and further lack of growth and recovery, with only 27% of students in 3rd-8th grade proficient in ELA. While the report provided some data on student achievement, tune in to the episode to hear further analysis on concerning data trends for students in Boston that was not covered in last night's report. The next School Committee meeting will be held in person or via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23rd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 9·25·24 Meeting Recap

zoom team zum superintendents mcas school committee boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 23:37

Last night's meeting began with the Superintendent's Report including a discussion of the recent release of MCAS results, which continue to show a lack of improvement in achievement since the pandemic. Even with hundreds of millions of dollars of federal relief funding and expansion of tutoring and literacy programs, the district's MCAS results show concerning trends, with only 27% of students meeting or exceeding expectations on the ELA MCAS in grades 3-8. While the Superintendent pointed parallel results to statewide trends and higher rates of chronic absenteeism, School Committee members and public commenters urged the district to act with urgency. The Superintendent also provided an update on transportation. The Superintendent noted that on-time arrivals for AM bus routes had improved to 84%, and emphasized that the district's new transportation app, Zum, is continuing to be implemented and adjusting routes to improve these low arrival rates. This is in contrast to the numerous articles and reports of families continuing to share their struggles and delays with the buses. There were about a dozen teachers who testified during public comment last night, speaking about the district's inclusion plan. Their testimonies included current struggles and their reasoning as to why so many are against the implementation of this plan. These testimonies come as the district continues to lack a new contract agreement with the Boston Teachers Union, which the Superintendent and her team were hoping to have settled before the end of the summer. The School Committee voted to double the enrollment at the Edward M. Kennedy Health Careers Academy. While some members continued to ask about the impact of this expansion on other schools and the need for a new facility, the School Committee unanimously approved the expansion. The meeting ended with the sole report of the evening on summer learning. The Superintendent's Team discussed the numerous opportunities provided this past summer and initial enrollment numbers, but did not provide any data on student outcomes or achievement. The next School Committee meeting will be held in person or via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 9·11·24 Meeting Recap

zoom public september 11th mayors committee zum superintendents bps bloomberg philanthropies mass general brigham school committee boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 21:00

Last night's meeting was the first since school began last week for BPS. The primary focus of the Superintendent report, and the ensuing discussion with School Committee members, was the district's transportation challenges. Over the past week, transportation issues have dominated the news, with reports indicating that nearly two-thirds of buses were late to school, marking the lowest on-time arrival rate in nine years. The Superintendent and her team addressed the situation, citing the complexities involved, including the introduction of a new technology system, Zum. While much of the discussion revolved around why these problems persist, School Committee members urged greater transparency with families, many of whom voiced their frustrations during public comments and in the media. Following the Superintendent's report, the School Committee reviewed a proposal to expand enrollment at the Edward M. Kennedy Academy of Health Careers. Earlier this year, the city announced a $38 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to increase enrollment and create new pathways with Mass General-Brigham. Last night's request sought formal approval to grow the school's enrollment to 800 students over the next few years. Committee members raised concerns about the need for a new facility, given the school's past challenges securing a permanent space, and stressed the importance of a comprehensive facilities plan to assess the broader impact of this expansion on other high schools. The Committee also voted on two items, including a proposal related to White Stadium. At the previous meeting, the Mayor's office asked the Committee to authorize the Superintendent to enter negotiations with a women's soccer team for a lease agreement. Public comments focused heavily on White Stadium, with speakers unanimously supporting the need for revitalization and improved athletic facilities for BPS students. The vote passed unanimously. The next School Committee meeting will be held in person or via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Wednesday September 25th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 8·28·24 Meeting Recap

zoom mayors superintendents bps development agency school committee mayor michelle wu boston school parks commission

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 25:22

Last night's meeting was the last meeting before Boston opens schools next week. The Superintendent spent the majority of the Superintendent's Report providing key back to school updates. While the School Committee usually has received a separate full report in years past, the Superintendent listed key promising updates including 95% of hiring complete. The School Committee's main vote of the evening was approving the Superintendent's evaluation and performance rating. There was not any public comment on the Superintendent per se, but public comments about the Superintendent's evaluation focused more on the process and criteria that the School Committee used to evaluate progress in the district and the superintendent herself. The School Committee unanimously approved the Superintendent's evaluation and performance rating. Following this vote, there was a quick report on policy revision recommendations for the student information policy and the school naming policy. The final report of the evening was about White Stadium. Over the past year, Mayor Michelle Wu and the city have been fighting legal battles over a proposed plan to renovate White Stadium in partnership with a new professional women's soccer team. This proposed $50 million commitment from the city to renovate the stadium has been criticized for its lack of community engagement and concerns about limiting access for BPS students, even as the Mayor has said that they will not fund the project without private partnership. As the plan has gone through approval rounds by the Boston Planning and Development Agency and Parks Commission, representatives from the Mayor's office asked the School Committee last night to allow the Superintendent and district to enter into lease negotiations with the soccer team. The report last night raised many questions about access to BPS students, transportation, and long-term cost commitments from the soccer team, but these concerns were left unanswered. The School Committee will vote on this at a future meeting soon. The next School Committee meeting will be held in-person or on Zoom at 6 pm on Wednesday, September 11th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 8·19·24 Meeting Recap

zoom superintendents school committee boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 26:03

**We want to hear from you! Please fill out this quick survey to provide feedback about our podcasts** Last night's meeting was a special scheduled meeting, with the School Committee sharing their summative evaluation of the Superintendent's performance. The meeting began with the Superintendent presenting her self-evaluation. The Superintendent's evaluation consisted of many topics and moves that had previously been discussed at School Committee meetings, and lacked specific reference to student data or expectations for schools and students. Member Stephen Alkins then continued by presenting the committee's summative evaluation of the Superintendent's performance, broken down by four standards: instructional leadership, management and operations, family and community engagement, and professional culture. While the summative evaluation included goals and metrics, many of the data points driving the evaluation will not be available until later this year. The summative evaluation rated the Superintendent as “proficient”; however, members varied significantly on the Superintendent's performance across the board on areas like instructional leadership and management and operations, and there was disagreement over the amount of time needed to see improvements in student outcomes. This lack of consensus among members was also present in public comment, where the majority of public commenters expressed frustration and concerns as the district prepares for the new school year. The School Committee will vote on their evaluation of the Superintendent at the next meeting. The next School Committee meeting will be held in-person or on Zoom at 6 pm on Wednesday, August 28th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep #96: Lyme Disease Fireside Chat with Kerri Axelrod

The Wellfuel Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 36:42

Welcome back to The Wellfuel Podcast! Are you ready to dive into a conversation that'll make your gut instincts tingle?

Boston School Committee: 7·17·24 Meeting Recap

zoom mayors superintendents boston globe absent school committee boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 17:21

The Boston School Committee held a shorter-than-normal meeting last night. The meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, which provided updates on summer learning, announced new technology for school buses, and presented the quarterly update on Transformation Schools. The Superintendent noted that Transformation Schools are seeing similar growth and chronic absenteeism rates as other schools—a consistent trend over the past couple of years that has raised concerns among school committee members about the lack of progress. Absent from the Superintendent's report was any mention of contract negotiations with the Boston Teachers Union or discussion of the article in the Boston Globe about the district hiring an external consultant to support the master facilities plan for next year, possibly further delaying the release and implementation of a clear facilities plan. The main report of the night was a brief overview of the Superintendent's evaluation process for the 2023-2024 year. Last year, the Superintendent provided a full self-reflection of her performance at the school committee meeting. This year, the Superintendent did not release her self-evaluation publicly, instead stating that it will be provided in writing to committee members next week. Another change this year is that the Mayor's office has assigned a staff member to support the evaluation of the Superintendent. A vote on the Superintendent's evaluation will take place on August 28, 2024. The next School Committee meeting, which will focus on the Superintendent's evaluation, is a recently scheduled meeting to be held on Zoom at 6 p.m. on August 19th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Skiing and Hot Dogs

The Seder-Skier Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 87:45

The best show ever? - Is the Norwegian Ski Federation a Klaebo-retirement away from being an absolute mess? - Is Petter Northug a real threat to win a medal at the World Champs next year? - Boston School admits to changing hockey scores to avoid embarrassing prep athletes - Skiing and Hot Dogs - The most expensive race ever? - Email on Grant Fisher and lactate levels - Bonus: Skieologians - we analyze Mika's why. Is it the same as mine? You might be surprised by the answer... - PLUS: we leave you with a question. Email us your answer at sederskier@gmail.com Want to support the show? Go to sederskier.com and become a member of GripWax Nation today!

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Boston School Committee: 6·17·24 Meeting Recap

zoom mayors union superintendents green new deal hennigan school committee boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 19:53

Last night's meeting was the last school committee meeting of the school year, with a scheduled vote to close the Lilla Frederick Middle School and close and consolidate the West Zone Early Learning Center with the Hennigan School, and a report from the school committee's student representative. The meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, with Superintendent Skipper highlighting a number of ongoing initiatives in the district. However, there was a lack of detail on how these initiatives are being implemented or their impact on student outcomes and achievement. There were also questions from members about the status of the district's negotiations with the Boston Teachers' Union. At the last meeting, the Superintendent said they were ahead of schedule, hoping to have a new contract finalized by the end of June. Last night, the Superintendent told members that negotiations are still ongoing and would not be complete by the end of June. There were around 40 speakers who came to testify at public comment, with the majority of speakers testifying against the merger of the West Zone Early Learning Center into the Hennigan. There were a few speakers who testified about a new report that was submitted to the record, which highlights discrimination and mistreatment of former administrators in the district. The main vote of the night was a proposal to close the Lilla Frederick Middle School and close and consolidate the West Zone Early Learning Center with the Hennigan. This vote came after months of discussion about the district's Green New Deal and the need to make important decisions surrounding mergers and closures. There has recently been a lot of discussion by the public about facilities, discussing the slow down of the plan by the Mayor, a deep dive into the district's declining enrollment and future city revenue projections, and continued questions about the $50 million commitment to White Stadium. Last night, none of these topics were discussed by the School Committee, and members unanimously voted to close both the Frederick and the West Zone. The next School Committee meeting will be held in-person or on Zoom at 6 pm on Wednesday, July 17th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 6·5·24 Meeting Recap

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 25:09

Last night's meeting lasted about four and a half hours, and touched on numerous subjects. The meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, where Superintendent Skipper spent most of the time discussing the negotiations with the Boston Teachers Union. The Superintendent noted that she hopes to have a deal by the end of the month, and that negotiations were going smoothly. However, numerous BTU members, including president Jessica Tang and vice president Erik Berg, testified asking the School Committee members to join negotiation and support the co-teaching model in every classroom in the district and adjust the pay for over 8,000 members of the BTU to be in line with inflation. The School Committee heard three reports last night. The first report was on Interim Salary and Non-Personnel Payments on External Funds, which was a short presentation. The second report was a proposal to rename the Jeremiah E. Burke High School to the Dr. Albert D. Holland High School of Technology. Dr. Holland has been a revered school administrator and community leader for nearly 40 years, and the majority of public commenters came to support the renaming. The third report of the evening was an update on equitable literacy. Equitable literacy has been a priority for the district for the past few years, and the School Committee has heard numerous updates from the Superintendent and her team about it. Last night's report covered updates around implementation and a centralized strategy, but there was little to no data on student outcomes nor accountability measures being taken to ensure every student in Boston is reading at grade level. The next School Committee meeting will be held in-person or on Zoom at 6 pm on Monday, June 17th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Boston School Committee: 5·22·24 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024 35:31

Last night's meeting was long anticipated as the meeting where BPS would begin to actualize the actions of their long term facilities plan by announcing a comprehensive list of school closures, mergers and consolidations, but this was not the case. The meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, where she discussed a recent update she gave to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on the district's systemic improvement plan, where BESE did not raise any concern or alarm. The School Committee took action on three items, with unanimous approval of grants and a renewed charter memorandum of understanding for UP Academy Boston and Dorchester. The third vote of the evening was on opting out of the state's school choice program. Typically a routine decision to opt out of the state's school choice program, the vote sparked a lively discussion. Committee members debated the benefits of participating in the program, suggesting it could potentially boost enrollment in under-enrolled schools and help retain students forced to move out of the city due to rising housing costs. Despite these arguments and pleas to have these conversations earlier in the year, the Committee voted to opt out of the program, with one member voting to opt in and another abstaining. The only report of the evening was a report on the long-term facilities plan, where the Superintendent insisted that this is the most action taken in the last 40 years combined. Contrary to expectations of numerous school mergers and closures, the Superintendent announced only one school closure which had already been disclosed earlier this year, and a merger of two schools that share the same building. The report focused on programmatic and design changes, emphasizing the challenges of implementing a long-term plan due to secondary programming issues. Committee members pushed for a comprehensive master plan and raised concerns about budgetary implications without long-term projections. The next School Committee meeting will be held in-person or on Zoom at 6 pm on June 5th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 5·8·24 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024 25:55

Last night's meeting featured the Superintendent's Report and three reports, including reports on participating in the school choice program and the district's facilities plan. The meeting began with a brief Superintendent's Report. Members asked about the status of the district's budget, which is currently being considered by the City Council. There have been four budget hearings so far, on topics including special education and school offerings, and City Councilors have continued to express concern. The first report of the evening was an amendment to the charter memorandum of understanding for UP Academy Dorchester and Boston, slated for a vote at the next meeting. The second report addressed the Massachusetts School Choice Program for the 2024-25 school year. Annually, the School Committee decides whether to participate in this state program, and traditionally, the district has opted out. More than half of the districts in Massachusetts allow School Choice, meaning students from other districts can enroll in their schools and vice versa, while Boston and its surrounding communities do not (this map from 2017 shows interesting geographic trends across the state on school choice). Last night, the Superintendent and her team advocated against participation, citing several reasons but omitting many benefits of the program. School Committee members highlighted potential advantages like allowing families displaced by rising housing costs to remain within the district and increasing diversity in Greater Boston schools through a pilot initiative. Nevertheless, the Superintendent emphasized the program's perceived negative impacts. The final report of the evening was an update on the district's facilities planning. At the last meeting, the Superintendent announced that her team would come to the Committee on May 22nd with a list of recommendations for mergers, closures, and reconfigurations. Last night, the Superintendent's team provided updates on current projects and gave historical context, noting that they would be investing in and creating thousands of high quality seats. However, the report did not include a long-term strategy nor any budget, enrollment projections, and timeline. School Committee members continued to point out the need for a long-term plan and strategy. The Superintendent will bring forward proposals at the next School Committee meeting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 4·24·24 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024 19:14

Last night's meeting was fairly light, with only one report. The meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, where she announced that her team would have an update on the district's long-term facilities plan on May 22nd, including an initial list of closures, mergers, and reconfigurations. The Superintendent then went on to briefly discuss student assignment and demand data, where she noted the release of this past year's assignment data that shows the number of families that chose a particular school and the number of families on a school's waitlist. School Committee members highlighted the importance of this data in understanding what families want, and how it can guide the district's decision making about school closures and mergers. The Superintendent also discussed exam schools, where she highlighted baseline data from this past admissions cycle. The only report of the night was an update on summer learning. As the Superintendent's team provided an update on the increase in the number of offerings and opportunities for students, School Committee members raised some concerns, including the difficulty for parents to sign up for summer school on the website. There were also questions about the impact of ESSER funding on summer programming and future funding, as well as the usage of pools across the city and whether students would actually be able to use them this summer. Despite the light agenda, the Committee is gearing up for significant discussions in the coming weeks and months. The next School Committee meeting will be held in-person or on Zoom at 6 pm on May 8th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 4·10·24 Meeting Recap

superintendents bps school committee boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 26:53

The agenda for last night's meeting appeared to be rather light and straightforward, but the meeting proved to be much different. The meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, where the majority of the discussion centered around the exam school admissions process. The Superintendent announced that the district had released decisions to applicants at 4:30pm and applauded the BPS team for releasing the decision earlier than last year. However, this timing was not early enough, as many families were required to put down a deposit for private schools by 12 pm the same day. Given the focus on enrollment, it was surprising BPS could not move their notification a few hours earlier. The sole agenda item that evening was the district's quarterly report on transformation schools, as required by the state department of education. This report, while echoing the troubling patterns noted in previous updates, prompted School Committee members to voice their concerns and frustrations with the district's approach to addressing chronically underperforming schools. Members debated the ongoing support for these failing schools and questioned the timing for decisive interventions, including potential closures. The discussion underscored a deeper concern among committee members: the lack of urgency of district leadership in improving outcomes for all students. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 3·27·24 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 24:13

Last night's meeting concluded the district's FY25 budget process, with a vote by the School Committee to approve the Superintendent's budget proposal. Before the vote, the School Committee heard dozens of public testimony about three issues. There were about half a dozen public commenters speaking about funding cuts for librarians across the district, urging for the continuation of this funding. There were also more than a dozen families and staff from the Henderson Inclusion School community speaking about ongoing issues regarding safety and need for stable leadership. Lastly, we heard from staff members from the Dearborn STEM Academy speaking about foul odors that have gone unaddressed. Following public comment, the School Committee then heard a report about the renaming of the BCLA-McCormack school community to the Ruth Batson Academy. The School Committee then held a discussion and vote on the Superintendent's FY25 budget. For the past two months, the School Committee has held numerous discussions and budget hearings about the FY25 budget, which totals $1.52 billion. While the budget represents an increased contribution from the city, the end of federal relief money and declining enrollment has led to many schools receiving budget cuts. Multiple members expressed concerns about the budget and frustration that their questions about the budget remain unanswered, which have been highlighted over the past few weeks in policy briefs. This prompted Chair Robinson to request frequent updates about the implementation of the budget and its impacts moving forward. The Committee voted and approved the budget, with two members voting no. The budget will now move on to the City Council, where the Mayor will look to get approval from the Council as part of the city's budget. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Obituary - Linda Arlene Selby Kerrick

Monday Moms

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2024 1:29

On Sunday, March 2, 2024, Linda Arlene Selby Kerrick passed away with her family by her side. Linda was born May 6, 1947, in Warwick Rhode Island. She was a graduate of the Boston School of Design and Roger Williams College. She was a caring mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a lover of animals and was loved by all. She moved to Henrico Virginia in June of 1986 and worked at VCU virology lab, American Red Cross labs, and retiring from Home Depot. Linda was predeceased in death by her mother and father, Dorthee (Dot) Selby and Charles (Bud)...Article LinkSupport the show

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Boston School Committee: 3·20·24 Meeting Recap

committee superintendents school committee msba mayor wu boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 31:05

Last night's School Committee meeting was the last meeting before the School Committee votes on the Superintendent's FY25 budget. The meeting was preceded by the last public budget hearing for the Superintendent's FY25 budget proposal. During the hearing, nearly 30 individuals offered public comments, the bulk of which concerned the district's shift towards a new inclusion model. A considerable number of teachers shared their concerns and confusion regarding the planning and approval process for their schools, emphasizing the pressing need for adequate funding. Meanwhile, families provided heartfelt testimonies on the potential effects of these changes on their children. Comments also touched upon athletic investments, especially those related to White Stadium. These comments came after a lawsuit threatened the plan to renovate White Stadium, and comments from Mayor Wu that the project will not go forward if the planned partnership with the Boston Unity Soccer Partners does not work. Following the hearing, the School Committee meeting commenced, where the Superintendent's Report highlighted some positive news regarding athletics, facilities, and an increase in mental health funding for schools from a federal grant. Additional public comments further highlighted confusion and concern about the district's plan for full inclusion models. The School Committee then voted on a few items. They unanimously voted in favor to submit a statement of interest to the MSBA for a new building for the BCLA-McCormack. Members again raised questions about how this initiative fits within the district's broader capital planning strategy and the contingency plans if MSBA funding is not secured. The Committee also then voted in favor of the submission of renewal for the Student Opportunity Act, a requirement by the state. The evening concluded with a final discussion on the Superintendent's FY25 budget. This conversation was significantly influenced by the district's decision to move away from the Weighted Student Funding (WSF) model, which had allocated funds based on individual student needs. This strategic pivot, aimed at sustaining schools experiencing enrollment declines, prompted Committee members to express concerns about the future of funding and the usage of soft landings to continue to fund schools. Specifically, they highlighted the trend of declining enrollment, and the potential challenges of reduced tax revenue and the pressure to make effective financial decisions in the face of these changes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 2·28·24 Meeting Recap

science state massachusetts committee mathematics superintendents city council roxbury umass boston school committee west roxbury msba mayor wu boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 26:32

Last night's meeting featured a significant announcement about school facilities, a focus on student data and the continued theme of School Committee members advocating for more detailed planning. The meeting also saw City Councilor Brian Worrell emphasizing the City Council's intention to play a greater role in managing the school department's budget. The meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, in which Superintendent Skipper revealed that the O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science will stay in Roxbury, reversing the previously suggested move to West Roxbury. This decision came after months of public testimony supporting its retention in Roxbury. Additionally, Superintendent Skipper reiterated plans to renovate Madison Park Technical Vocational High School but did not provide essential details such as the project's budget, enrollment projections, or an overarching vision. The Superintendent then discussed transformation schools as part of her state-mandated quarterly update to the School Committee. She shared data highlighting troubling trends, including low student growth and literacy rates, coupled with high levels of chronic absenteeism at the high school level. These findings led School Committee members to voice their concerns and call for substantial improvements. The evening's first report concerned an application to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for a new building for the BCLA/McCormack. In last month's State of the City address, Mayor Wu announced a partnership between the BCLA/McCormack and UMass Boston to create a community hub school. The report outlined the district's request for MSBA funding for a new facility but lacked crucial details such as the budget, curriculum strategy, partnership dynamics with UMass Boston, community demand data, and potential impacts on other school communities. The absence of these details prompted numerous questions from School Committee members about the strategy and broader vision, especially given the lack of a comprehensive master facilities plan. The second report addressed the Student Opportunity Act, a legislative initiative aimed at providing additional funding to Massachusetts districts to close achievement gaps and enhance educational quality. It covered initiatives and data points that seem to have a limited impact on student outcomes, leading some Committee members to reserve their support pending further clarification of their questions and concerns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 2·7·24 Meeting Recap

zoom committee superintendents bps school committee boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 24:23

Last night's meeting initiated the district's annual budget process. It started with the Superintendent's Report, followed by concerns from school committee members about their previously requested agenda items not being addressed. Members Brandon Cardet-Hernandez and Stephen Alkins requested updates on several issues, including student outcome data for the district's key initiatives and the level of support school leaders are receiving from the central office, but received no responses. The Committee voted on applying for Massachusetts School Building Authority funding to repair eight BPS schools. Cardet-Hernandez questioned the alignment of these repairs with the district's broader facilities strategy, highlighting a concern of repairing buildings that might soon be closed. The night's main report was Superintendent Skipper's presentation of the FY25 preliminary budget proposal, which outlines a $1.6 billion budget. This amount represents a $200 million increase from last year's budget, despite the district's declining enrollment and a per pupil expenditure now exceeding $33k. However, the presentation offered limited details on the impact this budget would have on individual school budgets, even as several school communities testified about the detrimental effects of budget cuts on their school. When committee members sought to ask clarifying questions, Chair Jeri Robinson urged them to limit their questions to only the most crucial ones and to submit any additional questions in writing. This approach frustrated members and left many questions unanswered. Over the next several weeks, the School Committee will hold several public budget hearings (February 15th @ 5pm, March 4th @ 5pm, March 20th @ 5pm) and will vote on the final budget on March 27th. The next School Committee meeting will be on February 28th at 5pm on Zoom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 1·24·24 Meeting Recap

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 21:27

Last night's meeting lasted about five hours with only one report and nearly 50 speakers testifying during public comment. The meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, where Superintendent Skipper spent the majority of the time discussing the School Quality Framework (SQF). The district made changes to the SQF last month without a full presentation or discussion, and School Committee members have been seeking clarification since those changes were announced. Member Cardet Hernandez requested a formal presentation to look into these changes and discuss how every student has equal access to high quality schools. The meeting then moved onto public comment. The majority of speakers testified against the proposal to move the O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science to the former West Roxbury Academy building The remainder of public commenters spoke on different topics, including ongoing issues at the Gardner Pilot Academy, the exam school admissions policy, and the potential impact of budget proposals on school communities. The only report of the evening was a mid-year update, given by the Superintendent and her team. The report covered updates on transportation, health and safety, access to grade level learning, and other areas the district is focusing on. However, the contents of the report did not include any data on student outcomes or school performance, leaving School Committee members asking for more clarification and actual outcome data to help understand the impact of the work the district is doing. With no discussion on performance data or outcomes, the Committee was left with outstanding questions going into the budget process regarding which investments are impacting student outcomes. The School Committee was originally supposed to have a discussion on task forces, but after discussing further with members, Chair Robinson announced that this discussion would be tabled to a future meeting. The meeting ended with new business from Committee members asking to continue discussion on a few key topics, including concerns raised in public comment about the Gardner, further conversation about the SQF, and revisiting areas from the Superintendent's evaluation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Boston School Committee: 1·10·24 Meeting Recap

state committee superintendents elementary secondary education umass boston school committee mayor michelle wu boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 34:42

Last night's meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, where Superintendent Skipper spent the majority of her report discussing the district's recently released long-term facilities plan. This long-term facilities plan was submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, as required by the state's Systemic Improvement Plan, and indicated that as many as half of current buildings could close. The Superintendent clarified in her report that this would not be happening and that the School Committee will receive a list of proposed mergers and closures later this spring and each subsequent spring. However, Member Brandon Cardet-Hernandez questioned the lack of projections and details in the plan to help make decisions, and he pushed the Superintendent for a comprehensive master plan that gives members an understanding of how decisions will impact neighborhoods and other school communities. The Superintendent also discussed the announcement of a new partnership between the Boston Community Leadership Academy, McCormack School, and UMass Boston, which was announced by Mayor Michelle Wu in her State of the City address earlier this week. The announcement lacked specificity on details or timeline, and Vice Chair Michael O'Neill reminded the Superintendent that the facility is in need of immediate repairs, including basic needs, like toilets and lockers. The School Committee's only action item of the evening was a vote on modifications to the exam school admissions policy. At the last meeting, the Superintendent proposed modifying the number of bonus points a student who attends a Title 1 school (40% or more students living below the poverty line) receives based on the tier they live in. Member Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, who has consistently pushed for a different remedy involving the allocation of bonus points directly to students rather than schools, continued to express his frustration at the lack of consideration of this alternative, highlighting concerns about the timing of this change in the midst of school choice season and calling for a reevaluation of the current tiers. Many parents and students echoed these concerns during public comment. The School Committee voted unanimously to approve the modifications to the policy, which will be implemented for the current enrollment cycle. There were two other brief reports last night. The first was on a proposed merger between UP Academy Dorchester and UP Academy Boston due to a dramatic drop in enrollment in the last three years. The second was a discussion on School Committee task forces. Chair Jeri Robinson proposed that Task Forces will no longer report to the School Committee and instead will work under the purview of the Superintendent. While there was little discussion about this change, this would remove power from the School Committee and limit the public's ability to hear from these task force leaders at Committee meetings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E204: Journey into Boabom: A Tibetan style of meditation, relaxation and self-defense with Yemado

The Art of Living Well Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 50:08

Yemado is the foremost teacher in North America of Boabom, an ancient Tibetan system of meditation, relaxation, and self defense. He has brought this practice to thousands of students around the world for over more than two decades of teaching, and he has trained Boabom teachers around the world. Yemado is the creator of Boabom Journey, a new 5 star app and video course that allows anyone to learn Boabom on their own schedule. He is the director of the Boston School of Boabom, the principal school dedicated to Boabom in North America. Yemado is also the co-translator and editor of a number of books about Boabom. In this episode we learn: What is Boabom and how can it benefit everyone. How Boabom incorporates both physical and psychological self-defense in the face of life's challenges. A short breathing technique and meditation. How movement-based meditation can be helpful for people that struggle to sit still. Helpful links and resources: www.boabom.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/boabom IG: https://www.instagram.com/boabomjourney/ Boabom Journey - A video course and app where you can learn Boabom from Yemado and other expert teachers from around the world. Special offer: www.boabom.com/gift our listeners can access a free Boabom class. --------------------------------------------------------- Thanks to our amazing Sponsor, ENERGYbits. ENERGYbits are a fast and easy for you and your family to get the nutrients you need. Effortless to take and organically grown, these “bits of food” are the most nutrient-dense, antioxidant-rich, high-protein food in the world. Just swallow or chew a few tablets each morning or whenever you are tired/hungry to improve your mitochondria, energy, gut health and focus or reduce hunger, cravings or the need for caffeine. Just swallow and go. https://energybits.com/ Use code: living for 20% off your entire order ----------------------------------------------------------- Thanks to our amazing Sponsor, ZBiotics ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Just remember to drink ZBiotics before drinking alcohol, drink responsibly, and get a good night's sleep to feel your best tomorrow. ZBiotics is backed with 100% money back guarantee so if you're unsatisfied for any reason, they'll refund your money, no questions asked. Go to ZBiotics to get 15% off your first order when you use code AOLW at checkout. ----------------------------------------------------------- It's not too late to sign up for our 14 Day January 2024 Liver Detox (we started Jan 7th but you can start anytime). Join with a friend and receive $25 off your registration. Just email us to get your promo code after they register. Sign-up here ----------------------------------------------------------- Ask us a question/make a recommentation We'd love to hear from you! Click here to share your feedback and suggestions. ----------------------------------------------------------- Sign-up for your 15 minute Health Transformation Audit - Click here. ----------------------------------------------------------- Need more protein in your day? Check out these amazing, high quality products from Kion, especially their essential amino acids, which we both use daily. Use code 'ARTOFLIVING' for a discount off your purchase. ----------------------------------------------------------- Let us help you get to the root cause of your unwanted symptoms. Schedule a 15 minute consultation to discuss at-home functional medicine lab testing here. ----------------------------------------------------------- How can you support our podcast? Apple users, please subscribe and review our show on Apple Podcasts,we make sure to read them all. Android users, please be sure to subscribe to our show on Google Podcasts so that you don't miss any of the action. Tell a friend about The Art of Living Well Podcast® and our community programs. Share your favorite episode on social media and don't forget to tag us @theartofliving_well. Subscribe to our Youtube chanel Shop our Favorite Products: https://www.theartoflivingwell.us/products Connect with us on social media: IG: @theartofliving_well FB: theartoflivingwell Get on our list so you don't miss out on announcements, programs and events. You can download our guests' favorite reads here. Learn more about your hosts: Marnie Dachis Marmet Stephanie May Potter

Boston School Committee: 12·13·23 Meeting Recap

office equity committee tier superintendents tiers bps central office school committee boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 30:12

Last night was the last Boston School Committee meeting of 2023, and for the second consecutive week, the Superintendent's Report included a memo with information typically presented as a larger standalone report. This week's memo shared an annual update from the Office of Equity regarding increased incidents of student-on-student misconduct - a topic that has been highlighted in recent news coverage - and members asked that the Superintendent come back with more information in a fuller report at a future meeting. The Superintendent also revisited last week's memo about updates to the School Quality Framework, saying her team has received questions from members about the underlying data and will come back with a further analysis at the next meeting. The School Quality Framework is a key component to school choice, dictating which schools students can access based on the quality of schools in their neighborhoods. The updated scores released last week included troubling discrepancies between statewide accountability scores and BPS tier rankings, leading members to question the data's accuracy and intent, with several members noting that parents should not rely on these rankings to make school decisions (despite the fact that they are required to do so). There were two reports last night, one on a new proposal to amend the exam school admissions policy, and the second a finance update. The finance update is a yearly presentation that precedes the annual budget process. While the key budgetary information will be presented in the coming months, this presentation did note that more than $125 million in school and Central Office positions is currently funded by federal relief money set to expire next year, and this will have consequences for school budgets. The second report was a proposal from Superintendent Skipper to amend the exam school admission policy. Superintendent Skipper announced that, after considering five potential alterations to the current policy, BPS is proposing adjusting the number of bonus points a student who attends a Title 1 school (40% or more low-income) receives based on the tier where they live. In the current policy, students who attend a Title 1 school in any tier school receive 10 bonus points, creating a scenario in which some students in higher tiers were mathematically excluded from getting into their first choice exam school. To address this issue, under this new proposal, students in Title 1 schools will receive a different number of bonus points based on their socioeconomic tier, with the point value calculated using the point differential between Title 1 and non-Title 1 schools in that tier the previous year. This means that, for next year, students in Title 1 schools in Tier 1 would receive 9 bonus points and those in Tier 2 would receive 11, while those students in Tiers 7 and 8 would receive 4 and 2 points, respectively. Member Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, who has been pushing the Committee to reopen this policy and advocating for the points to be allocated to individuals rather than whole schools, expressed his frustration with the lack of consideration of his suggestion. Members acknowledged that this is a step in the right direction and they are pleased to see the district's new willingness to address this current policy's flaws, and Chair Jeri Robinson noted that the underlying issue is the lack of strong schools across the district to prepare more Boston students for success in high school and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 12·6·23 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 15:50

Last night's meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, where Superintendent Skipper discussed two memos released earlier that day. The first memo addressed long-term facility planning, a comprehensive plan for which is due to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) by the end of the year. The memo noted that just 71 out of 119 schools meet standards for optimal school size, and just 18% of school buildings provide most or all of the elements defined by BPS as necessary for a “high-quality student experience.” The memo also outlined a timeline for school closures and mergers, noting that decisions will be announced this upcoming spring and planning will take place during the 2024-25 school year, with mergers and closures beginning in the fall of 2025. Notably, these decisions will be announced after both this year's budget process and the school choice season, meaning students will be choosing schools without knowing if they might be closed after next year. The second memo discussed during the Superintendent's report was an update to the school quality framework scores - the first update since 2019. Each school is given a composite score out of 100 based on 75% student performance and 25% survey responses from students, faculty, and families, and schools are then ranked from tier 1 to tier 4, with the highest quality schools in tier 1. The memo did not provide individual school scores nor any underlying data for the calculations, and the data included in the memo was surprising. For example, the Sarah Greenwood School has a 7% accountability score from DESE and is tier 1. The Blackstone School has a 6% accountability score and is tier 2. English High School has a 3% accountability score and is in tier 2, while Boston Latin School, which has a 96% accountability score, is also in tier 2, having moved down from tier 1 in this new ranking. While annual updates to the school quality framework are typically presented as a standalone report to the School Committee, last night it was only mentioned during the Superintendent's remarks, and no questions were asked about this data by members of the School Committee. The Superintendent ended her remarks by announcing that she will propose changes to the exam school policy at next week's School Committee meeting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Darrell Jones on Boston school banning USA Day

NewsTalk STL

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2023 13:34

Mike Ferguson in the Morning 11-22-23 Darrell Jones from the Herzog Foundation talks about a Boston-area school banning USA Day, school choice issues in Wisconsin, and Kevin Sorbo pushing conservative values in Hollywood. Get your free subscription to The Lion newsletter here: https://readlion.com/ Darrell's info here: (https://herzogfoundation.com) (https://readlion.com) (@pastordrj) Website: https://newstalkstl.com/ Livestream 24/7: http://bit.ly/newstalkstlstream Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsTalkSTLSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Boston School Committee: 11·15·23 Meeting Recap

vice chair superintendents elementary state department bps dese school committee boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 17:31

Last night's School Committee meeting was primarily focused on discussion of a new facility rubric released last week by BPS to guide decisions around school closures, mergers, and new construction. The meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, after which the School Committee Chair and Vice Chair shared their experience from a recent visit to the BCLA/McCormack School, expressing concern that the renovations promised by BPS have not been implemented. The Superintendent also responded to questions about pursuing changes to the exam school process, saying that she is looking to bring in higher education partners to look at the policy and will raise it again at a future meeting. This exam school issue was raised multiple times during last night's public comment session, with parents sharing frustrations with BPS leaders' unwillingness to amend the policy in spite of consensus on the current policy's flaws. Additional commenters testified about a concerning lack of data in the BPS facility rubric, a topic which dominated the remainder of the meeting. Following public comment, the Superintendent's team presented the facilities rubric. This rubric comes as the district is required to submit a master facilities plan to the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) by next month - a requirement included in the district's Systemic Improvement Plan. However, the presentation last night did not include data on enrollment trends, family demand, budget, or timeline, leading School Committee members to press the Superintendent for further details and question whether this will satisfy the DESE requirement for a master plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 211: Yemado — How to Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Habits Through Mindful Breath and Movement

Think Act Be: Aligning thought, action, and presence

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2023 51:13

My guest this week is Yemado. He's the director of the Boston School of Boabom, and he's been teaching Boabom for over 20 years. As you'll hear, Boabom is a Tibetan system of meditation, relaxation, and self-defense, and this was such an interesting discussion. The topics Yemado and I explored were really familiar ones, and they were also in a whole new context. One of the most valuable parts of this conversation for me was his description of “crashing into yourself” when you pursue consistent practice with something like yoga or meditation or Boabom. Eventually you'll discover inconvenient truths about yourself, and with persistence you can learn better ways to work with yourself. Toward the end you can follow along as Yemado leads us through a brief guided meditation. Topics we got into included: How Yemado discovered Boabom A book Yemado translated called Recycling with the Mind (affiliate link) What it means to meditate Habitual pathways in the mind, and creating new, more intentional pathways Meditation as rerouting the pathways in the mind Connections among the different benefits of meditation, such as relaxation and mental focus Meditation through movement Finding a “just-right challenge” in meditation Seeing through unhelpful assumptions The risk in skipping from one form of practice to another, and the value in practicing one approach over time “Crashing into yourself” through consistent focused practice Discovering truths about yourself that you're not happy with through meditation Psychological self-defense as not taking on unnecessary additional stress A brief guided meditation from the Boabom approach Yemado is the foremost teacher in North America of Boabom, an ancient Tibetan system of meditation, relaxation, and self defense. He has brought this practice to thousands of students around the world over more than two decades of teaching, and he has trained Boabom teachers around the world. Yemado is the creator of Boabom Journey, a new 5 star app and video course that allows anyone to learn Boabom on their own schedule. He is the director of the Boston School of Boabom, the principal school dedicated to Boabom in North America. Yemado is also the co-translator and editor of a number of books about Boabom. You can download the highly-rated Boabom app here. Check out a free Boabom class, and learn more about Boston Boabom where Yemado is the Director and senior teacher.

A Global Shift in Higher Education Requires a New Business Model

Changing Higher Ed

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2023 36:07

Navigating New Frontiers in Higher Education In the quest for sustainability and relevance, universities worldwide are confronting a pivotal moment that calls for a transformative rethinking of their traditional business models. The Ernst & Young white paper: How are you balancing the books for a digital future? discussed in the episode, created in partnership with Times Higher Education, delves into the global challenges facing the sector. The findings underscore a pressing narrative: enrollment numbers are plummeting, costs are escalating, and the old ways of cost-cutting are no longer sufficient lifelines. The Crux of Financial Sustainability Rising costs, shrinking domestic enrollments, and stagnant government funding are painting a stark picture for universities. With employment rates soaring, the allure of higher education is under scrutiny, especially as alternative learning pathways burgeon. The conversation with Catherine Friday reveals that the value proposition of universities is increasingly contested, leading to softer financial outcomes and the necessity for strategic innovation. A Paradigm Shift: Strategy, Scale, and Digitalization The traditional response to financial duress, such as downsizing and selling assets, is a mere stopgap, insufficient for long-term viability. Instead, universities are being urged to leverage their underutilized assets, like sprawling campuses now operating at a fraction of their capacity. The success stories of today's educational landscape are those institutions that understand their target students, deliver high-end educational experiences, and cultivate distinctive, tailored offerings. The Digital Transformation of Education Digital integration stands as a cornerstone of the modern educational transformation. It's not merely about transitioning analog to digital, but reimagining the very essence of educational delivery. Leading universities are employing digital strategies to create personalized, accessible, and engaging learning experiences, harnessing AI, data analytics, and innovative technologies like AR and VR to enhance the academic journey. Empowering Educators and Students Alike A resounding theme throughout the episode is the importance of teaching educators how to effectively employ digital tools to foster personalization and engagement. Students crave meaningful connections with faculty who are not just knowledgeable but also adept at nurturing these connections through digital means. Universities that excel in equipping their educators with these skills are seeing improved retention and student outcomes. The Power of Collaboration and Distinctiveness Mergers and partnerships are emerging as strategic maneuvers for universities to achieve scale and distinctiveness. The episode highlights examples like the merger of Wheelock College and Boston School of Education, which combined high-quality curriculum with robust enrollment figures, underscoring the potential of such collaborations. Rethinking Leadership and Engagement As universities navigate these changes, the role of leadership is pivotal. Transformation must be championed from within, with faculty and staff actively engaged in shaping and embracing the new direction. True leadership in higher education is about fostering collaboration, supporting innovation, and guiding institutions toward a sustainable and impactful future. Three Key Takeaways for University Presidents and Boards: Prioritize People: Focus on the individuals within the institution — the academics, students, and administrative staff — recognizing that they are the cornerstone of any transformative change. Ensuring that the needs and skills of these people are at the forefront can guide a university through change successfully. Embrace Discomfort in Change: When strategies for change evoke discomfort, it often indicates a move toward meaningful progress. Leaders should not shy away from decisions that challenge the status quo if they believe these changes can lead to a better future for the institution. Seek External Validation: Utilize external resources like consulting firms or peer networks for a "sanity check" on new strategies. This peer review approach can provide critical insights and validation, ensuring that new initiatives are sound and have considered various perspectives. This comprehensive exploration not only encapsulates the current state of higher education but also charts a course for institutions to stay afloat and thrive amidst the changing tides. It emphasizes the urgency for non-Ivy League universities to recalibrate their strategies, embrace digital innovation, and foster deep connections with their academic communities to secure a prosperous future in the rapidly evolving educational landscape. Read the transcript on our website → About Our Podcast Guest Catherine Friday EY Oceania Managing Partner, Government and Health Sciences; EY Global Education Leader Catherine has spent much of her career providing services to state and federal departments and regulators, ministerial councils, not-for-profits and NGOs in every state and territory in Australia, and in New Zealand. The implications of the work she does are far-reaching, delivering the best outcomes for citizens across education, health, human services, defense, transport and infrastructure, and central agencies. Catherine Friday on LinkedIn → About the Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton, host of Changing Higher Ed®, is a consultant to higher education institutions in governance, accreditation, strategy and change, and mergers. To learn more about his services and other thought leadership pieces, visit his firm's website: https://changinghighered.com/. The Change Leader's Social Media Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdrumm/ Twitter: @thechangeldr Email: podcast@changinghighered.com #ShiftsInHigherEducation #HigherEdBusinessModel #HigherEdSustainability

Boston School Committee: 11·1·23 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2023 23:44

Last night was a short meeting beginning with the Superintendent's Report, in which Superintendent Skipper addressed the news earlier this week that nine members of the School Committee's English Learners (EL) Task Force resigned in response to the BPS inclusion plan presented at the last meeting. The plan called for full inclusion of multilingual learners and students with disabilities into general education classrooms, but it did not include information about budget, professional development, or teacher recruitment, nor did it address support for increased bilingual education programs in which multilingual learners learn core subjects in their native languages while learning English. This led Task Force members – who represent the leading minds in multilingual learning across Boston – to resign their seats while continuing to advocate for a better path forward. Superintendent Skipper doubled down on the district's proposed inclusion plan, which is awaiting feedback from the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The Superintendent then discussed a memo released by BPS as the meeting was beginning on the new exam school admissions policy – outlining the 2021 process that led to the new policy, data from the first full year of implementation, and recommendations for further study. (For a full recap of the 2021 exam school process, check out yesterday's special episode of “Last Night at School Committee.”) The memo highlighted outcome disparities among students who received bonus points despite not being economically disadvantaged and students who are economically disadvantaged but did not receive bonus points, calling into question whether the bonus points are necessary or are accomplishing their intended goal. Among the recommendations in the memo is further consideration of allocating these points to individuals rather than whole schools, a change that has been recommended by School Committee member Brandon Cardet-Hernandez. The only report of the night was a presentation from the Office of Human Capital – an annual update on hiring and workforce diversity. This presentation mirrored the presentation that is given every year at this time, and it lacked key data on teacher performance, evaluation, metrics, or goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston School Committee: 10·18·23 Meeting Recap

state public concerns committee bus superintendents school committee west roxbury boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2023 33:03

Last night's meeting began with the Superintendent's Report, in which we heard positive updates on transportation. Superintendent Skipper shared that on-time bus performance has dramatically improved since last year, with data from September showing 84% of buses were on time in the morning and 96% arrived within fifteen minutes. Bus times in the afternoon showed similar trends. The Superintendent spent the rest of her report providing an update on the exam school admissions process. At the last School Committee meeting, the Committee had a lengthy discussion about amending the allocation of ten bonus points. Last night, Superintendent Skipper announced that she is compiling data requested by Committee members on the timeline and rationale behind the new admissions policy and will share that memo at the next meeting. Members asked several questions about transportation, exam schools, and the recently released facilities condition dashboard, with one member pointing out that the confusing layout and lack of underlying data in the dashboard makes it difficult for parents to understand the condition of their child's school. Concern around the exam school admissions policy was also a major focus of public comment last night, with many students testifying that they feel they are “unintended consequences” of the new policy as it is mathematically impossible for them to gain admission to their first choice school. Public comment also featured testimony from numerous students and community members at the O'Bryant who expressed frustration with the proposed relocation of the school to West Roxbury. The School Committee heard two reports last night, beginning with a state-mandated quarterly report on transformation schools, which are schools labeled by the State as requiring intervention. The Superintendent's team highlighted concerning trends regarding certain student subgroups and showed data demonstrating low growth among students at transformation schools, leading members to question why the district is doubling down with more resources to its existing transformation schools approach. The second and final report of the evening was on inclusive education in the district.The Superintendent's team outlined a vision for every classroom to be fully inclusive, with special education students and multilingual learners all learning in general education classrooms alongside their peers. Concerning data was presented regarding students in certain subgroups who are disproportionately deemed to need special education services, but there was no discussion of the root causes of this issue or how it will be addressed. There was also no clear plan for moving to a full inclusion model, nor was there information about budget, staffing, or process for engaging families. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Exploring Mindfulness Through Boabom with Yemado

Task, Time, Energy: The Purpose-Filled Productivity Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 38:33

What is Boabom? And what does it have to do with mindfulness?We've talked about mindfulness a lot in recent episodes. We've talked about research involving mindfulness, learned how mindfulness is being used in healthcare settings, and heard from successful people who find that mindfulness practice plays an important role in their lives.But it's useful and interesting to remember that meditation and mindfulness have been studied and practiced for thousands of years. Today, all around the world, people are still learning and exploring mindfulness practices that have roots in these ancient traditions.Yemado is the foremost teacher in North America of Boabom, a system of meditation, relaxation, and self defense. He has brought this practice to thousands of students around the world through more than two decades of teaching.Yemado is the Director of the Boston School of Boabom, the only school dedicated to Boabom in North America. He is the co-translator and editor of a number of books about Boabom, and is the creator of Boabom Journey, a new 5 star app that allows anyone to learn Boabom on their own schedule.In this episode, we talk about developing healthy habits, dealing with stress, and building confidence. Yemado describes how students of Boabom develop these abilities by starting with small challenges and working their way up to greater ones.Boabom Journey app: https://www.boabom.com/gift/Boabom on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boabomInstagram: @boabomjourneyTransform your relationship with time. Visit https://scottmillercoaching.com/.

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A Short Breathing Meditation with Yemado (Bonus Episode)

Task, Time, Energy: The Purpose-Filled Productivity Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2023 5:15

Yemado is the Director of the Boston School of Boabom and the founder of the Boabom Journey App and Video Course.In this bonus episode, Yemado guides us through a short breathing exercise and breathing meditation.The Boston School of Boabom is at https://bostonboabom.com/Transform your relationship with time. Visit https://scottmillercoaching.com/.

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Pudding, Cake ... History Yes Please!

A Pinch of Honesty

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2023 16:55

Cottage pudding recipe from the Boston School of Cooking Cookbook leads me down a rabbit hole on the history of cakes, puddings, loaves, and other sweet bakes. Take a trip down history lane.

history cake cottages pudding boston school

Deep Dive - Boston School Committee Saga

Bostopia News

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2023 57:03

I jump back and forth in time between the Boston School Committee restructuring of 1984-1992 and the most recent Boston City Council debate and Wu veto. I go into the material and ideological conditions that produced the current Boston School Committee and how the debate back then (in some ways) mirrors our own today.

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Boston school nurses ready for another uncertain year

uncertain school nurses boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2022 14:40

Marta Bausmer from Boston Green Academy and Heidi Winston from Boston Teachers Union Pilot School join to discuss their new, ever-changing normal.

Mental Health + Anxiety and Your Gut {Episode 46 with Kerri Axelrod}

A Gutsy Girl

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2022 47:52

Your best self comes with peace throughout your entire body so I brought a guest on the podcast today for more on anxiety and am also giving you an anxiety self care checklist as a bonus!You are no stranger to this conversation around stress, anxiety, depression and all things mood-related as they relate to the gut.We are constantly talking about them in the A Gutsy Girl community because they are 100% part of you healing your gut; or vice-versa.The good news is that I have so many awesome experts to help address both to continue providing information for you to utilize in the best way possible.Anxiety Self Care Checklist {Episode 46 with Kerri Axelrod}Click HERE to save this episode for later.ResourcesVagus Nerve Home Remedy {11 Ways for Stimulation}Anxiety and Your Gut (Episode 36 with Alison Seponara)Why Stress May be Your Worst Enemy {Episode 39, Short #1}Best Teas for Stress and Depression {11 Teas to Boost Mood}Enteric Nervous System information HEREButyrate FoodsSelf-Care During Massive GriefSelf-Love Guided Journal {21-days of prompts for your healing journey}Types of MagnesiumKerri recommends a beef liver capsule. THESE are the ones I love. (When you use this link you'll automatically save 15%. PLUS, when you order 3 bottles or more you'll receive FREE shipping and handling.)Kerri's Instagram HEREFunctional Nutrition and Lifestyle for Mental Health (Kerri's website) HEREWork with Kerri HERE Digestive system are overlapping with emotional symptoms. – Kerri Don't Miss These ThoughtsWho is Kerri Axelrod?After becoming a Functional Medicine Nutritionist, what made Kerri want to help women focus on anxiety in their daily life + gut issues?What are some signs and symptoms, both with physical health and emotional health, that there might be an anxiety and gut problem overlap?Besides poor gut health, what are other root causes of anxiety?What is the correlation between food, a balanced diet, and gut + anxiety problems? And how does gut health affect mental health?When someone comes to you with gut and anxiety concerns, where do Kerri start? What testing do you find to be most valuable?Why does Kerri think there are so many gut and anxiety problems?What are three mistakes making anxiety worse and what to do instead?Do you find there are certain supplements that can help address the gut-brain axis?When it comes to anxiety and the gut, what is something Kerri thinks most people get wrong?Does Kerri have tips for a daily self-care checklist or a self-care routine that people might find helpful? (This one is also expanded upon below.)All about Kerri's course, “The Anxiety Blueprint.” What is it? Who is it helpful for?Kerri's 3 convictions around gut health and gut healing. The gut and the brain are physically, chemically, and emotionally connected. – Kerri Axelrod Anxiety Self-Care PracticesClick HERE to save this checklist of the things described below.As promised, I wanted to put together a checklist of sorts so you can utilize it for your personal needs.Here is a routine checklist for many different aspects of your life to consider:Get adequate sleep. Yes, this all starts with getting enough sleep at the end of the day, and taking small steps towards getting more. If you are highly anxious, sad, depressed, stressed, etc. ask yourself, “When was the last time I got a sound 8+ hours of sleep?”Develop a morning routine. Get fresh air, journal, sit in silence, meditate, whatever. The point is to devote enough time for setting your day's intentions on the right track. And, in fact, did you know that this is also one of my constipation hacks? Watch it HERE for exactly how I do it.Adequate mineral support. This one Kerrie provided in detail during our conversation. Minerals: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, sulfur, cobalt, copper, fluoride, manganese, and selenium.Circadian rhythm support. Kerrie also provided this one, which goes along with other simple acts on this list, but she says” 20-30 grams of protein in the morning, natural, bright morning light, and proper sleep hygiene.”Get regular exercise. This is, in my opinion, one of the very best stress relief activities out there. But do remember that if you are also desperate for healing your gut, you need to make it easy exercise vs. strenuous. You don't need intense workouts in order to reap the benefits of exercise for overall health.Tap into emotional needs. Kerrie mentions that one root cause of anxiety is unprocessed emotional needs and neglecting these basic needs.Deep breaths. Breathing is a basic human need. And yet, how often do you find yourself not breathing? HERE is a very simple breathing exercise that you can implement today.Learn a new skill. Find something new to enjoy for overall better health. There are a million things to choose from in our leisure time; you just have to find something for you. HERE are 21 ideas.Self care journal. I swear by journaling for every last thing we can do to increase our health and happiness. More on this below.Create personal goals. There is nothing quite like believing in yourself. YOU are your own best friend and there is no one in the world who can take better care of you than you. So create some personal goals for yourself based on any specific needs. These can include different things like: a) Read three personal development books in the next 6 months. b) Walk 1 mile, 3 days per week. c) Write 100 words in a journal every single day for 30 days.Get off of social media. Seriously. Get. off. of. social media. If you can't live without it, then at least create some guidelines for yourself around your online habits. i.e. read a blog post that will provide me value, “scroll” for 20 minutes or less each day, connect with awesome online community groups who provide productive ways for healing my gut or healthy habits for overall mental health care.Therapy sessions. Whenever possible, I highly recommend regular visits with a therapist. They can truly change your life and address anything and everything for your own needs in all areas of your life.Self-Care Planner Meets Gut Healing JournalIn case you've never had Healing Bloom from Within, the 90-day gut healing journal, let me share with you why it's called that to begin with because it will give you context for why it's also a self-care planner meets gut healing journal:HEALING REALLY DOES BLOOM FROM WITHIN.WITHOUT PROPERLY PLANTING, WATERING, AND NURTURING THE INSIDE, IT'S HARD TO FLOWER ON THE OUTSIDE. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING GOING ON INSIDE (PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL), THE OUTSIDE STRUGGLES.This journal is not just for teaching you how to record food for healing, but it also includes:Space for writing a short gratitude line on a daily basis.Inspirational quotes for further inspiration and motivation.Mini vision board. A page for you to create a mini vision board that you can constantly have with you. I believe the vision board is one way to see our self-care goals come to fruition.Customizable. This journal is a bullet meets healing meets regular journal. In other words, everyone has different needs but I know the pieces that make for a successful gut healing + life journal. My method allows for it no matter what your daily routine is.Take a closer look at this journal, Healing Blooms from Within HERE. p.s. my book, A Gutsy Girl's Bible: a 21-day approach to healing the gut is also a journal of sorts for personal growth. There are 21-days of prompts for your healing journey. Read more about it HERE.More from A Gutsy GirlWant to learn even more about the gut and ways to heal it?Learn all the secrets via my signature book, A Gutsy Girl's Bible: a 21-day approach to healing the gut. Grab your copy on Amazon HERE. Welcome to A Gutsy Girl PodcastHang out on InstagramBFF's on YouTubeFree resource: The Master Gutsy SpreadsheetRated-G Email ClubWrap UpTime to wrap this up. As always, a huge goal for this show is to connect with even more people. Feel free to send an email to our team at podcast@agutsygirl.com. We want to hear questions, comments, show ideas, etc.Did you enjoy this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Kerri Axelrod BioKerri Axelrod is a functional medicine nutritionist and a leading expert in a holistic approach to gut health and mental health. She has been featured in PureWow, Real Simple, Byrdie, Reader's Digest, Prevention Magazine, and Well + Good.Kerri trained at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, has completed numerous advanced trainings in functional medicine nutrition, received her 200-hour yoga training from Boston School of Yoga, her Ayurvedic training through Boston Ayurveda School, and completed the Stress Management and Resiliency training at Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.She is currently completing her degree in dietetics at Simmons University in Boston, MA.Before her work in nutrition, Kerri has over a decade of experience as a media spokesperson and marketing communications strategist and began her career in political communications.She served as the Pennsylvania Communications Director for Organizing for America, where she handled communications on behalf of the Democratic National Committee in one of the country's key battleground states.She holds a B.S. in International Relations focusing on U.S. Foreign Policy from American University in Washington, DC.To connect with Kerri, follow her on Instagram or visit her website.If you liked this episode, you might also enjoy:What Role Does the Gut Play in Mood and Brain Health {Episode 37 with Tina Anderson}Your Brain on Food {Episode 19 with Dr. Uma Naidoo}No More Fight or Flight Digestion {Is How We Eat as Important as What We Eat?}Xox,SKH Connect with A Gutsy GirlThrough the websiteOn InstagramVia LinkedIn

Mental Health + Anxiety and Your Gut {Episode 46 with Kerri Axelrod}

A Gutsy Girl

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2022 47:52

Your best self comes with peace throughout your entire body so I brought a guest on the podcast today for more on anxiety and am also giving you an anxiety self care checklist as a bonus!You are no stranger to this conversation around stress, anxiety, depression and all things mood-related as they relate to the gut.We are constantly talking about them in the A Gutsy Girl community because they are 100% part of you healing your gut; or vice-versa.The good news is that I have so many awesome experts to help address both to continue providing information for you to utilize in the best way possible.Anxiety Self Care Checklist {Episode 46 with Kerri Axelrod}Click HERE to save this episode for later.ResourcesVagus Nerve Home Remedy {11 Ways for Stimulation}Anxiety and Your Gut (Episode 36 with Alison Seponara)Why Stress May be Your Worst Enemy {Episode 39, Short #1}Best Teas for Stress and Depression {11 Teas to Boost Mood}Enteric Nervous System information HEREButyrate FoodsSelf-Care During Massive GriefSelf-Love Guided Journal {21-days of prompts for your healing journey}Types of MagnesiumKerri recommends a beef liver capsule. THESE are the ones I love. (When you use this link you'll automatically save 15%. PLUS, when you order 3 bottles or more you'll receive FREE shipping and handling.)Kerri's Instagram HEREFunctional Nutrition and Lifestyle for Mental Health (Kerri's website) HEREWork with Kerri HEREDigestive system are overlapping with emotional symptoms. – KerriDon't Miss These ThoughtsWho is Kerri Axelrod?After becoming a Functional Medicine Nutritionist, what made Kerri want to help women focus on anxiety in their daily life + gut issues?What are some signs and symptoms, both with physical health and emotional health, that there might be an anxiety and gut problem overlap?Besides poor gut health, what are other root causes of anxiety?What is the correlation between food, a balanced diet, and gut + anxiety problems? And how does gut health affect mental health?When someone comes to you with gut and anxiety concerns, where do Kerri start? What testing do you find to be most valuable?Why does Kerri think there are so many gut and anxiety problems?What are three mistakes making anxiety worse and what to do instead?Do you find there are certain supplements that can help address the gut-brain axis?When it comes to anxiety and the gut, what is something Kerri thinks most people get wrong?Does Kerri have tips for a daily self-care checklist or a self-care routine that people might find helpful? (This one is also expanded upon below.)All about Kerri's course, “The Anxiety Blueprint.” What is it? Who is it helpful for?Kerri's 3 convictions around gut health and gut healing.The gut and the brain are physically, chemically, and emotionally connected. – Kerri AxelrodAnxiety Self-Care PracticesClick HERE to save this checklist of the things described below.As promised, I wanted to put together a checklist of sorts so you can utilize it for your personal needs.Here is a routine checklist for many different aspects of your life to consider:Get adequate sleep. Yes, this all starts with getting enough sleep at the end of the day, and taking small steps towards getting more. If you are highly anxious, sad, depressed, stressed, etc. ask yourself, “When was the last time I got a sound 8+ hours of sleep?”Develop a morning routine. Get fresh air, journal, sit in silence, meditate, whatever. The point is to devote enough time for setting your day's intentions on the right track. And, in fact, did you know that this is also one of my constipation hacks? Watch it HERE for exactly how I do it.Adequate mineral support. This one Kerrie provided in detail during our conversation. Minerals: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, sulfur, cobalt, copper, fluoride, manganese, and selenium.Circadian rhythm support. Kerrie also provided this one, which goes along with other simple acts on this list, but she says” 20-30 grams of protein in the morning, natural, bright morning light, and proper sleep hygiene.”Get regular exercise. This is, in my opinion, one of the very best stress relief activities out there. But do remember that if you are also desperate for healing your gut, you need to make it easy exercise vs. strenuous. You don't need intense workouts in order to reap the benefits of exercise for overall health.Tap into emotional needs. Kerrie mentions that one root cause of anxiety is unprocessed emotional needs and neglecting these basic needs.Deep breaths. Breathing is a basic human need. And yet, how often do you find yourself not breathing? HERE is a very simple breathing exercise that you can implement today.Learn a new skill. Find something new to enjoy for overall better health. There are a million things to choose from in our leisure time; you just have to find something for you. HERE are 21 ideas.Self care journal. I swear by journaling for every last thing we can do to increase our health and happiness. More on this below.Create personal goals. There is nothing quite like believing in yourself. YOU are your own best friend and there is no one in the world who can take better care of you than you. So create some personal goals for yourself based on any specific needs. These can include different things like: a) Read three personal development books in the next 6 months. b) Walk 1 mile, 3 days per week. c) Write 100 words in a journal every single day for 30 days.Get off of social media. Seriously. Get. off. of. social media. If you can't live without it, then at least create some guidelines for yourself around your online habits. i.e. read a blog post that will provide me value, “scroll” for 20 minutes or less each day, connect with awesome online community groups who provide productive ways for healing my gut or healthy habits for overall mental health care.Therapy sessions. Whenever possible, I highly recommend regular visits with a therapist. They can truly change your life and address anything and everything for your own needs in all areas of your life.Self-Care Planner Meets Gut Healing JournalIn case you've never had Healing Bloom from Within, the 90-day gut healing journal, let me share with you why it's called that to begin with because it will give you context for why it's also a self-care planner meets gut healing journal:HEALING REALLY DOES BLOOM FROM WITHIN.WITHOUT PROPERLY PLANTING, WATERING, AND NURTURING THE INSIDE, IT'S HARD TO FLOWER ON THE OUTSIDE. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING GOING ON INSIDE (PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL), THE OUTSIDE STRUGGLES.This journal is not just for teaching you how to record food for healing, but it also includes:Space for writing a short gratitude line on a daily basis.Inspirational quotes for further inspiration and motivation.Mini vision board. A page for you to create a mini vision board that you can constantly have with you. I believe the vision board is one way to see our self-care goals come to fruition.Customizable. This journal is a bullet meets healing meets regular journal. In other words, everyone has different needs but I know the pieces that make for a successful gut healing + life journal. My method allows for it no matter what your daily routine is.Take a closer look at this journal, Healing Blooms from Within HERE. p.s. my book, A Gutsy Girl's Bible: a 21-day approach to healing the gut is also a journal of sorts for personal growth. There are 21-days of prompts for your healing journey. Read more about it HERE.More from A Gutsy GirlWant to learn even more about the gut and ways to heal it?Learn all the secrets via my signature book, A Gutsy Girl's Bible: a 21-day approach to healing the gut. Grab your copy on Amazon HERE. Welcome to A Gutsy Girl PodcastHang out on InstagramBFF's on YouTubeFree resource: The Master Gutsy SpreadsheetRated-G Email ClubWrap UpTime to wrap this up. As always, a huge goal for this show is to connect with even more people. Feel free to send an email to our team at podcast@agutsygirl.com. We want to hear questions, comments, show ideas, etc.Did you enjoy this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Kerri Axelrod BioKerri Axelrod is a functional medicine nutritionist and a leading expert in a holistic approach to gut health and mental health. She has been featured in PureWow, Real Simple, Byrdie, Reader's Digest, Prevention Magazine, and Well + Good.Kerri trained at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, has completed numerous advanced trainings in functional medicine nutrition, received her 200-hour yoga training from Boston School of Yoga, her Ayurvedic training through Boston Ayurveda School, and completed the Stress Management and Resiliency training at Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.She is currently completing her degree in dietetics at Simmons University in Boston, MA.Before her work in nutrition, Kerri has over a decade of experience as a media spokesperson and marketing communications strategist and began her career in political communications.She served as the Pennsylvania Communications Director for Organizing for America, where she handled communications on behalf of the Democratic National Committee in one of the country's key battleground states.She holds a B.S. in International Relations focusing on U.S. Foreign Policy from American University in Washington, DC.To connect with Kerri, follow her on Instagram or visit her website.If you liked this episode, you might also enjoy:What Role Does the Gut Play in Mood and Brain Health {Episode 37 with Tina Anderson}Your Brain on Food {Episode 19 with Dr. Uma Naidoo}No More Fight or Flight Digestion {Is How We Eat as Important as What We Eat?}Xox,SKH

Brian Ruka UPDATE! We're going to beat the Boston School District and make them respect religious rights!

Home Education Today

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2022 26:50

Brian updates us on his recent decision to file a lawsuit again the Boston public schools for violating his Constitutional and parental rights. This is your opportunity to contribute to a cause that could potentially stop the Leftists in their tracks and start to reverse the rot that has taken hold in the public schools. Give just a few dollars and repost this interview and link!https://wethepatriotsusa.org/translawsuit/

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GetUp Crew: What's Hot and Trending (Monday,5/2)

The GetUp Crew

Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2022 7:05

A bullet found at a Boston School, DJ Khaled can't find a McDonald's Happy Meal

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More Than 1,000 Boston School Staff Out Sick As Districts Face COVID Wave

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Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2022 0:42

Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said not all of those out sick had COVID, but to expect the numbers to grow. More on that from WBZ's James Rojas:

Boston School Committee Votes To Close Three Middle Schools

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Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2021 0:49

WBZ's James Rojas has more

Mexican Ninja Beats US Military

The Rum Runnas Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2021 112:53

On this week's episode Jarred and Kyle discuss the weirdest and most interesting news articles from all over the internet, covering everything from: A Boston School has to book a party bus equipped with stripper poles for a school field trip amid bus driver shortages for some reason this was a problem, a Kansas City man is arrested after trying to sell a catalytic converter...with meth in the picture, Shakira is attacked and robbed by wild boars also she has an entourage of 70 people apparently, a Ninja that we assume was Mexican went up against US Special Forces there were 2 injuries it was the soldiers the police had to step in to stop this possibly Latin Shinobi, and finally Australia has such an issue with carp that they are planning on giving them all herpes; Also what's the best dipping sauces and Kyle's old person taste in cereal. We Read The Click Bait So You Don't Have To! Follow Us On: Website: www.rumrunnaspodcastnetwork.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RumRunnas/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RumRunnas/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rumpod Support Us @: https://www.patreon.com/Rumrunnas An associated podcast of the Rum Runnas Podcast Network distributed under AgeofRadio https://www.ageofradio.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Boston School Bus Drivers Asking For Postponement Of First Day Of School

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Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2021 0:40

WBZ's Laurie Kirby explains how this comes in the wake of a bus driver shortage

Judge Gertner On The Law: Boston School Texts, DACA

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2021 16:48

We're joined by Nancy Gertner, retired federal judge, senior lecturer at Harvard Law School, and WBUR Legal Analyst.

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Boston School Committee Overhauls Admissions Process For City Exam Schools

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Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2021 0:44

It was after 10 p.m., on Wednesday night, when the unanimous vote came in that gave lower-income students a better chance of getting into the city's exam schools. WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas Reports.

Boston School Committee Changes How It Admits Students To Its Prestigious Exam Schools

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Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2021 14:46

For the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, Boston has changed the way it admits students to its prestigious exam schools.

Kate Lamie: EFT Tapping!

Well2You Podcast

Play Episode Play 50 sec Highlight Listen Later Jul 13, 2021 59:05

Katie Lamie has been teaching and studying tapping for the last five years. She teaches virtual group classes through The Energy Barre studio and also works with clients one-on-one. She loves the power tapping has to help shift you mentally and energetically in to new thought patterns and behaviors. In addition, she is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, a 200-hr certified yoga teacher, reiki practitioner and a graduate of the Boston School of Herbal Studies Aromatherapy program. Katie shares her journey with:Anxiety + IBSHow having panic attacks is what led her to try tappingHow she used tapping to manage high stress situations and create opportunities in her lifeStepping into her power + owning that she has the power tool of EFT tapping to share with the world. “ The power in tapping is that we always start with the truth of how we feel. There is no bad emotion”. ~KatieTapping Resources:Joe DispenzaEnergy Medicine by Donna EdenMargaret Lynch Brad Yates ( youtube)Dala Darling ( youtube)Reach out to Katie here:https://www.katielamie.com/https://www.instagram.com/katelamie/Thank you for listening! Please take a moment to subscribe and review.This supports the Well2You Podcast in reaching more people who need to be connected to these impactful conversations.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/well2you-podcast/id1547156150?i=1000504170074https://open.spotify.com/show/7AE1vZFmBoxPvYfn5Abr1T?si=RjrXrOWoToKvZ5bmCcJSgwwww.well2you.org/w2ypodcast

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Boston School Committee Chair's Racially Charged Texts Don't Shock Anyone - 6.8.21 - Hour 4

The Howie Carr Radio Network

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 39:37

Howie talks about Boston School Committee members who resigned after racially charged texts they shared disparaging families of students and city officials.

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Controversy In The Boston School Committee

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Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 5:48

Two Boston School Committee members have stepped down over racially charged text messages they exchanged during a committee meeting in October.

Boston School Committee Chair Resigns After Racially-Charged Text Exchange

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Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 0:47

Ep 39 with Susan Diamond: Artist

Metralla Rosa

Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2021 61:41

ArtistYou can also watch this episode on Youtube where English, Italian and Spanish subtitles are available or visit the Metralla Rosa website for more details.Visions of perfectly proportioned giant women, sitting amongst skyscrapers with red nails and fabulous platforms or walking through the night with glam punk hairstyles and faces made up in scandalous colours. Women without ethnicity, holding flowers that are daggers, fiercely dressed or proudly nude – sometimes with penis and testicles. Her painted protagonists are anonymous legends, rock stars and futuristic warriors – all visions of a controversial universe exuding pop art fantasies and Rock and Roll attitudes, whilst inhabiting the pictorial ecosystems that Susan Diamond has created from glimpses reflected back at her in the mirrors through which she lives her life – a life full of risk and adventure.Susan’s paintings – and subsequent limited edition prints of the paintings – are large format and high impact. They inevitably contain subliminal messages that, intentionally or not, seem designed to simultaneously awaken the troublemaker and the philosopher that lie within us all, awaiting patiently for some unexpected stimulus. Born in Montgomery, Massachusetts to a Polish father and Russian mother, Susan studied Fashion Illustration at the Boston School of Fashion and, shortly after, decided to travel around Europe before eventually settling in London, where she met Mark Charles who is, to this day, her accomplice in love and her closest creative ally. After years of dedicating herself to both music (with the rebellious electro-noise band Gobsausage) and fashion (with the highly successful glam-punk brand, Charles of London), Susan has returned, and is fully dedicated to, her former love of painting.This episode is a walk through the life and work of an explosively creative mind, a colourful journey through the experiences of an artist who has lived a career full of adventure and fascinating stories, and through which you will be lovingly guided by Metralla Rosa.And now, enjoy the interview!_____________________Related LinksSusan Diamond: Website | InstagramCharles of London: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube_____________________For further information about this interview, including links to anything mentioned by Susan, or to continue reading this text in Spanish, English and Italian, visit the Metralla Rosa website.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/metrallarosa)

Ep: 25, Last Night at School Committee: 2/3 Meeting Recap

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Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2021 36:30

In this episode of Last Night at School Committee, Jill and Ross recap the highlights of last night’s BPS School Committee meeting. During this 4-hour meeting: The Superintendent provided a concerning update on student attendance A number of students provided spirited testimony about their voices not being heard in decision making The Committee voted to approve one-year of flexibilities for graduation requirements, promotion, grading and advanced work class admission The Superintendent and her team unveiled a preliminary FY 2022 budget to the School Committee. The presentation included a breakdown of the $1.3 billion of funding, the allocation of the funds and discussion about the sustainability of the investments the Superintendent and her team are recommending given the short term nature of the funding and continued declining enrollment. The approval of the FY2022 budget will take place in late March, and there are multiple opportunities to express your thoughts and opinions to the district and the School Committee. We are left with the following questions in reflecting on this meeting... Do teachers have what they need to teach simultaneously with more than 7000 students with high needs returning to in-person learning today and tomorrow? How many families have changed their preference from remote to in-person hybrid learning? What are the strategies to improve students' attendance? How will the system address their learning and social emotional needs? The presented budget begins July 1st. What will summer look like for our students? What will school look like in the fall? Will hybrid and remote learning continue? For how long? What tools should be in place to support teaching students both in person and remote simultaneously? What measures will be necessary to return all students to in-person learning? Will each student and staff member be tested for Covid-19, utilizing the state’s testing program, at least once per week in their respective school? What is the plan for teacher vaccination? What are the outcomes of the interim exam school’s admissions policy this year? In the listening sessions that begin this week, will the Committee provide real numbers instead of the X’s used in her stated goals and guardrails? Will this year’s budget be aligned to these goals. Ways to Engage and Resources: Attend a Budget Hearing First hearing: February 11th, 5 p.m. Review your school’s proposed funding for FY22 Reach out to your City Councilor and tell them what you think about the budget Attend a School Committee Community Meeting and push for “X’s” to be defined as well as clarification on alignment with existing stated goals, the superintendent's strategic plan and the superintendent's performance evaluation goals. February 6th, 10 - 11:30 a.m. February 8th, 5:30 - 7 p.m. Email the School Committee and the Superintendent and encourage them to take advantage of the state’s Covid-19 pooled surveillance testing program. Learn more about the state’s K-12 pooled testing program Review last night’s meeting presentation and materials: Request for Flexibilities on the Following BPS Policies due to COVID for SY 2020-2021 Superintendent’s Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Preliminary Budget Recommendation PowerPoint BPS School Year Dashboard Check out the Boston School’s Fund blog on the BPS budget

Boston School Superintendent Joins Us

Matty in the Morning

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2021 6:22

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Centenarians ... Thousands are still Active, Healthy and Happy! with Dr. Stacy Anderson, PhD.

FathersAfter50

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2020 28:52

For over 20 years, Dr Stacy Andersen has conducted clinical research on why individuals live to be 100 years and older. The study is of the largest number of centenarians in the world. Conducted through the Boston School of Medicine, studying centenarians gives hope that we can all learn to delay disease and disability until the end of our life. The idea is to age well. To be healthy and have a sharp mind at 100 we need to take care of ourselves today!

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Week In Review: Coronavirus Concerns Delay Boston School Plans, Trump Returns To White House, ICE Agents Stop A Black Jogger

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Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2020 37:35

We take calls and discuss it all with our Week in Review panelists.

Episode 26 - Intersecting Paths of Zen Meditation and Ashtanga Yoga w/ Rich Ray

Native Yoga Toddcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2020 51:31

Join me for an enlightening discussion about the Intersecting Paths of Zen Mediation and Ashtanga Yoga with Rich Ray. Rich has been practicing meditation and yoga for over 20 years. He trained as a resident monk for 4 years at a silent monastery. He taught yoga and meditation at state prisons in California and New Hampshire and started a meditation program at a women’s county jail in Boston, Massachusetts.Rich is a KPJAYI Level 2 authorized teacher and co-directs a Mysore yoga program at Down Under Yoga in Brookline, MA and Ashtanga Portland Maine with Kate O’Donnell. He has made a multitude of trips to India for study. He holds 200 hour and 700 hour yoga certificates and a 200 hour Ayurvedic certificate from the Boston School of Ayurveda. A practicing bodyworker for seven years, he was a licensed LMT. Rich dedicates his time guiding people to realize their inherent wholeness and embodied experience of wisdom.You can find Rich online at ashangaportlandme.com and at richraymeditation.com. You can also follow him on IG at @richrayyoga.

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Boston School Superintendent Calls In

Matty in the Morning

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2020 6:41

superintendents school superintendents boston school

Boston School Superintendent Brenda Cassellius Calls In!

Karson & Kennedy

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2020 9:21

Boston Superintendent of Schools Brenda Cassellius joined us today to talk about how school is going to look this year. She gave us so much great information and, more importantly, told us how she thinks the Bruins are going to do in the playoffs!

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Boston School Nurses Protest School Reopening Plan

covid-19 school coronavirus protests nurses plaza regal school nurses school reopening boston school

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2020 0:42

WBZ NewsRadio's Karyn Regal reports

Boston School Nurses Protest School Reopening Plan