Podcasts about school committee

Here's what happened last night: Saying Goodbye: Committee Member Lima Barbosa announced that next month's meeting will be her last. Her departure will create an opening on the Committee, yet we did not hear about the process of filling her seat. Host Ross Wilson announced that he will look into potentially joining the committee in her stead. Public Comment: Eid, Henderson, and Equity: The Eid Coalition Group dominated public comment as multiple speakers urged the district to close schools on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The parents, students, and advocates highlighted the difficulty of having to choose whether they must miss a school day or an important holiday. Additionally, parents from the Henderson Inclusion School gave a moving statement about how the school's original inclusive mission has eroded, illustrating greater concerns raised over the past year about its decline. Votes, Votes, Votes: The School Committee ticked off a number of unanimous votes on various matters that had been previously brought up before the members. These included: authorization for student activity funds, superintendent approval authority over trust expenditures, Boston Green Academy's charter renewal, Urban Achievers High School private school application, graduation requirements amendment for alternative education, and the competency determination for the Class of 2026. Notably, there was little inquiry from any School Committee members on graduation rates for this past year. We will be on the lookout for further information about this during future meetings. Superintendent's Report: Progress, But Few Details Superintendent Mary Skipper opened her report with a thank you to this year's retiring BPS staff. She then introduced a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Boston Police Department, which outlines limited circumstances under which schools will share information with law enforcement. The agreement maintains the district's commitment to restorative justice and explicitly prohibits inquiries into students' immigration status. The quarterly update on transformation schools noted “slow and steady” progress, particularly with more coaching and monitoring around grade-level curriculum as well as excitement and school culture improvements. The Superintendent also stated that there remains major issues with chronic absenteeism throughout these schools. Superintendent Evaluation: “Proficient” The Committee presented its annual evaluation of Superintendent Skipper, giving her an overall rating of 4.0 out of 5 and labeling her “proficient.” According to the report, she showed improvement in every category over the past year. However, the evaluation relied on a BPS-specific rubric, diverging from the state's DESE model, raising questions about alignment and transparency. More critically, the Committee did not address major issues in its evaluation, including: the long-term facilities plan, ballooning White Stadium costs, declining enrollment, transportation controversy, and federal funding uncertainty. Exam Schools: Bonus Points No More? The night's final report focused on the exam school admissions policy. While no changes were proposed, as the district made clear their presentation was just an analysis, data simulations hinted at a likely shift away from the controversial “bonus points” system, especially as exam school applicants have dropped by more than 1,000 students over the past five years. Vice Chair O'Neill expressed concern about the unintended consequences of the current tier-based residency system, despite having supported the policy in the past. Two public speakers critiqued the district for their actions, stating that the information they presented was clear when they began the process of changing the admissions policy. Looking Ahead The School Committee's next meeting is scheduled for July 9th, when it will formally vote on Superintendent Skipper's evaluation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chairperson Dave Callaghan. This is a new episode of our continuing “Chalkboard Chat” series. We had our discussion in person on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. We had the opportunity to recap the School Committee meeting of May 27, 2025. We cover MICCA award recognitionsBiliteracy certificate recognitionsSchool personnel retiree recognitionsDistrict Improvement Plan/School Improvement Plan updatesOverride discussion, vote June 3; any questions, please reach out to find outThe recording runs about 42 minutes, so let's listen in.--------------Contact info for Dave Callaghan -> callaghand@franklinps.net Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBa7M7YI4A4 The agenda doc -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05272025-1761 The meeting folder where other docs will be posted after the meeting -> https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2024---25-meeting-packets/may-27%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/806450 Retiree recognition -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/fLJf4boDFr6S9MvE7 Civics Project presentation -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/oAh2AdNrLoE1Exu89 DIP/SIP presentation -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/6ipuwvmfph7khgNF8 My full set of notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CMp9pP040uUMF-aEHLahg3-LSN3ErBDV/view?usp=drive_link -------------We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.How can you help?If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowAnd if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We'll share, and show you what, and how we do what we doThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot comThe music for the intro and exit was provided by

This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chairperson Dave Callaghan. This is a new episode of our continuing “Chalkboard Chat” series. We had our discussion virtually on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. We had the opportunity to recap the School Committee meeting of May 13, 2025. We cover Theatre group recognitionTraffic study and mitigations Horace Mann renaming discussionSuperintendent evaluationOverride discussion, vote on or before June 3; any questions, please reach out to find outThe recording runs about 30 minutes, so let's listen in.--------------Contact info for Dave Callaghan -> callaghand@franklinps.net Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/TPngAPt1WHs?&t=110 The meeting agenda can be found -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05132025-1735 Documents released for this agenda after the meeting can be found -> https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2024---25-meeting-packets/may-13%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/799886 Traffic presentation -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5645253/Traffic.pptx.pdf My full set of notes taken during the meeting can be found in one PDF ->https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ffAYwvHayzSws0D2bV8xmM0Fsn6c71za/view?usp=drive_link -------------We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.How can you help?If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowAnd if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We'll share, and show you what, and how we do what we doThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot comThe music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark &...

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

This session shares my conversation with Town Clerk Nancy Danello about the Special Election for the Fiscal Year 2026 Override coming up Tuesday, June 3, 2025. We briefly touch on the regular local election scheduled for November. Our conversation covers:Early in person voting starts May 16 during office hours in Clerk's OfficeLast day to register to vote is May 24Last day for absentee voting at the Office, Monday June 2 at noon.Office closed on Tuesday June 3 to run the election at Franklin High School gymnasiumJune 3 hours from 6 AM to 8 PMNovember election for Town Council, School Committee, Planning Board, Board of Assessor, Board of Health, Constables for 2 year terms. The Town Clerk is also up for a 4 year term.We'll cover this election in more detail later this summerNeither of us will tell you how to vote, we will share information on what you need to know to properly cast an informed vote on or before June 3.Our conversation recording runs about 24 minutes, so let's listen in --------------Special Election page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/1123/Special-Election-6-3-2025 Town Clerk page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/333/Town-Clerk-Elections-DivisionFY 2026 Override Info page -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/1089/Fiscal-Year-2026-Override-Information -------------We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.How can you help?If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot comThe music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.I hope you enjoy!------------------You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chairperson Dave Callaghan. This is a new episode of our continuing “Chalkboard Chat” series. We had our discussion in the Studio on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. We had the opportunity to recap the School Committee meeting of April 29, 2025. We cover Transportation, busing sign up now active, due by June 20Elementary Report Cards Letter of Support Campus Naming DiscussionOverride discussion, vote on or before June 3; any questions, please reach out to find outThe recording runs about 33 minutes, so let's listen in.--------------Contact info for Dave Callaghan -> callaghand@franklinps.net Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/ZUcSpIZK3Ms?&t=175Meeting agenda doc -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5568671/SCAGENDA_4-29-25.pdf Elementary Report Cards = https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5568674/Discussion_Action_A_-_Elem._Report_Cards.pdf Letter of Support = https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5568677/Discussion_Action_B_-_Letter_of_Support.pdf Meeting packet folder -> https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2024---25-meeting-packets/april-29%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/792078 -------------We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.How can you help?If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowAnd if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We'll share, and show you what, and how we do what we doThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot comThe music for the intro and exit was provided by...

SC67 - School Committee 4/1/25budget presentation

SC68 - School Committee 4/2/25

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

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

Hugh covers the news of the day and talks with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, Rep. Steve Scalise, Sen. John Cornyn, David Drucker, and Byron York.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

SC66 - School Committee 3/19/25

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

SC64 - School Committee 2/26/25

SC65 - School Committee 3/5/25

Welcome to Monday Night Talk podcast for March 3, 2025! Guests and topics for this podcast includes a round table discussion with Duxbury resident Megan Driscoll, Select Board member Fernando Guitart, Fire Chief Rob Reardon and School Committee member Matt Gambino about the upcoming vote for the town's FY2026 budget and a $5.8 million dollar Proposition 2 1/2 override vote on March 8, the Annual Town Meeting, and March 22, the Annual Town Election. Josh Cutler, former State Rep, current undersecretary of Labor and book author stops by to talk about his new book, Under the Golden Dome. Finally, NY Times Bestselling author Dave Wedge provides details on an Author Talk at the Bridgewater Public Library where he'll share insight on the books he's written. Do you have a topic for a future show or info on an upcoming community event? Email us at mondaynighttalk@gmail.com If you're a fan of the show and enjoy our segments, you can either download your favorite segment from this site or subscribe to our podcasts through iTunes & Spotify today!  Monday Night Talk with Kevin Tocci, Copyright © 2025.

Welcome to Monday Night Talk podcast for March 3, 2025! Guests and topics for this podcast includes a round table discussion with Duxbury resident Megan Driscoll, Select Board member Fernando Guitart, Fire Chief Rob Reardon and School Committee member Matt Gambino to better inform residents about the upcoming vote for the town's FY2026 budget and a $5.8 million dollar Proposition 2 1/2 override vote on March 8, the Annual Town Meeting, and March 22, the Annual Town Election.  Do you have a topic for a future show or info on an upcoming community event? Email us at mondaynighttalk@gmail.com If you're a fan of the show and enjoy our segments, you can either download your favorite segment from this site or subscribe to our podcasts through iTunes & Spotify today!  Monday Night Talk with Kevin Tocci, Copyright © 2025.

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

SC62 - School Committee 2/5/25

School committee budget forum 2/10/25

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

As President Trump has implemented sweeping changes in how the government functions and continues to try and re-write the rules of the game, many people are feeling overwhelmed trying to keep up. In this month's episode, we speak with Jeffery Thielman, President & CEO of the International Institute of New England, to unpack the various changes and enforcement actions implemented in the first couple weeks of the new administration. From a stated desire to remove up to 11 million undocumented people from the country, to activating the military and empowering them to directly engage in deportations, there is a lot to keep up with. There are long ranging implications for these efforts, many of which will be challenged in courts, and it remains important for people to know what is really going on and to hold their government accountable. Jeffery Thielman - Since becoming the President and CEO of the International Institute of New England in 2015, Jeff has been a leader in the effort to preserve the U.S. refugee resettlement program and to protect the rights of immigrants in New England. Under his direction, IINE has expanded services to more refugees and immigrants, reinstated its legal services program, and expanded career services to more cities and towns in the region.Prior to joining IINE, he co-founded the national Cristo Rey Network and spent nearly two decades creating schools that today serve 13,000 low income and immigrant students in 24 U.S. states and boast of more than 21,000 graduates. Jeff oversaw the start-up of the first 24 Cristo Rey schools and served as President of Cristo Rey Boston High School.Early in his professional career, Jeff was a trial attorney in Boston and worked in the financial services industry. Between college and law school, he served as a Jesuit International Volunteer in Tacna, Peru, where he was a teacher and founder of a program for street children called the Center for the Working Child, which has been replicated in several cities in Peru. He is co-author of Volunteer: With the Poor in Peru, holds undergraduate and law degrees from Boston College, and is fluent in Spanish.Jeff lives with his wife and three children in Arlington, Massachusetts, where he serves on the town's School Committee.View the Pew Research Center's Chart on Immigration Encounters since 2000.

In the next months, each individual School District in Massachusetts will have to formally adopt requirements that confer a diploma. Listen in as the girls discuss the considerations inherent in this process and check out your local District's School Committee to find out more about what the local requirements in your town will be.Join Abby, Robin and Angela while they review the DESE Guidance 2.0 (12/11/24)Please tell us how you found us by completing this surveyEmail us at ASTALPodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram @astalpodcast

SC60 - School Committee 1/8/25

SC61 - School Committee 1/22/25

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

This is a juicy episode— and a really important one for all concerned about the mental health trends with our teens. After thirty-five years in the mental health field, Lynn addresses very directly her concerns about the messages teens are receiving, and articulating, about their mental health. It's time to be candid about toxic trends, misinformation, and where our teens are heading. Can we shift this paradigm for them? [This is a recast of an episode from Season 5.] Here's the previous Flusterclux episode Lynn references in today's show: https://www.flusterclux.com/5-parenting-phrases-you-should-use-at-every-age/ WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freeflusterclux! Head to lumen.me/FLUSTER for 15% off your purchase. Get 15% off Oak Essentials with the code [FLUSTERCLUX15] at oakessentials.com/FLUSTERCLUX15. Just for listeners of FlusterClux, get 20% off sitewide and a FREE travel case and countertop stand at GETQUIP.COM/FLUSTER. As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/FLUSTERCLUX. Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1. Call to order 2. Approve December 18, 2024 Agenda 3. Public Comment (Policy BEDH-15 minutes) 4. Superintendent's Report a. Milton High School Site Council Presentation (Attachment) b. Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Board Meeting 1. Warrant Articles based on MSBA (Vote) 5. Chair's Report a. 2025-2026 School Year Calendar (Attachment) (Vote) 6. Finance Subcommittee Report a. FY26 Budget b. Proposed FY26 Fees (Attachment) (Vote) c. Approval of Vendor Warrants (Vote) 7. Policy Subcommittee Report a. First Reading, Sections J, K, L Recommendations (Vote) 8. Facilities Advisory Committee 9. School Building Committee Report 10. Approval of Minutes 11. Next Meeting Agenda Items 12. Adjourn

Two (really) stressed gals show up for this episode to talk about injecting fun and playfulness into holiday events. Robin and Lynn share lots of ideas wrapped up in a little encouragement, and by the end, they both feel better. We think you will, too! WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freeflusterclux! Head to lumen.me/FLUSTER for 15% off your purchase. Get 15% off Oak Essentials with the code [FLUSTERCLUX15] at oakessentials.com/FLUSTERCLUX15. Just for listeners of FlusterClux, get 20% off sitewide and a FREE travel case and countertop stand at GETQUIP.COM/FLUSTER. As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/FLUSTERCLUX. Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

On December 9, the Supreme Court denied certiorari in Boston Parent Coalition for Academic Excellence v. The School Committee for the City of Boston. The case involved an equal protection challenge to a change in admissions policy in Boston, where a competitive public school altered its admissions criteria in a manner that reduced the number […]

On December 9, the Supreme Court denied certiorari in Boston Parent Coalition for Academic Excellence v. The School Committee for the City of Boston. The case involved an equal protection challenge to a change in admissions policy in Boston, where a competitive public school altered its admissions criteria in a manner that reduced the number of Asian and Caucasian students. The lower courts rejected the challenge, with the First Circuit indicating that an equal protection challenge to a facially neutral policy—like admissions criteria that do not mention race—must establish that the impact on the targeted race was so severe as to reduce their numerical presence in the school below their demographic numbers in the relevant population.By denying certiorari, the Court left the First Circuit’s opinion in place. Justice Alito, joined by Justice Thomas, issued a dissent from denial, as they had in a similar case earlier this year called Coalition for TJ. Justice Gorsuch issued a statement respecting the denial, stating that he largely agreed with Justice Alito’s dissent.This litigation update will evaluate the state of the law when it comes to “proxy discrimination” measures, and whether an equal protection claim must establish a particularly onerous disparate impact on the targeted race at issue.Featuring: Christopher M. Kieser, Senior Attorney, Pacific Legal Foundation(Moderator) William E. Trachman, General Counsel, Mountain States Legal Foundation

SC58 - School Committee 12/4/24

Human beings are judgy creatures. It's part of being social animals. But want to guarantee conflict during the holidays? Start judging other family member's parenting. Too much sugar for your cousin's toddler? The horror! Not enough emotional expression allowed by your brother-in-law? Disappointing! Whether you are the judge or the judged (and we're often both), shifting your approach during holiday gatherings will benefit everyone. Let's talk strategy, reality, and talking at least 85% less.  WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freeflusterclux! Head to lumen.me/FLUSTER for 15% off your purchase. Get 15% off Oak Essentials with the code [FLUSTERCLUX15] at oakessentials.com/FLUSTERCLUX15. Just for listeners of FlusterClux, get 20% off sitewide and a FREE travel case and countertop stand at GETQUIP.COM/FLUSTER. As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/FLUSTERCLUX. Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode we answer two listener questions: our first mom is trying to sort through her toddler's discomfort with anything “messy” and his demands to clean things up. Her family is concerned, and she wants to know what's normal. Another mom is noticing how her own anxious thoughts are anticipating a health problem with her daughter, even when all is well. It's a habit of worrying, and she wants to break it.  Here's the episode that Lynn & Robin mention that they recorded with "The Poop Lady": https://www.flusterclux.com/anxiety-tummy-aches-and-constipation/ WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freeflusterclux! Head to lumen.me/FLUSTER for 15% off your purchase. Get 15% off Oak Essentials with the code [FLUSTERCLUX15] at oakessentials.com/FLUSTERCLUX15. Just for listeners of FlusterClux, get 20% off sitewide and a FREE travel case and countertop stand at GETQUIP.COM/FLUSTER. As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/FLUSTERCLUX. Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Although the holidays can be special, the patterns that show up in people are predictable, even if it is Thanksgiving or Christmas. Critical parent? Passive aggressive sibling? Catastrophic you? In this episode, we talk about the most common and stressful holiday traps and how you and your family can disrupt them. WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/FLUSTERCLUX. Head to lumen.me/FLUSTER for 15% off your purchase. Get 20% off your first order when you go to LIQUIDIV.com and use code FLUSTER at checkout. Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freeflusterclux! Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SC56 - School Committee 11/6/24

SC57 - School Committee 11/20/24

Cindy Pierce returns, sharing her immense knowledge on pornography and its impact on young people. Get ready because we go there! Cindy talks directly about the disconnection, misinformation, and other serious consequences of porn use. Cindy tells us that parents are the most influential sources of healthy sexual information. More awkward conversations? You bet. But she'll help us through.  WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/FLUSTERCLUX. Head to lumen.me/FLUSTER for 15% off your purchase. Get 20% off your first order when you go to LIQUIDIV.com and use code FLUSTER at checkout. Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freeflusterclux! Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first of a two-part conversation, Cindy Pierce, social sexuality expert, speaker and author, is here to help parents talk to their kids about sex. Do we want to have these conversations? Probably not. Do they make us anxious? Of course! But Cindy gives us language and encouragement and pulls no punches about why it's so important to step into the awkwardness.  WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/FLUSTERCLUX. Head to lumen.me/FLUSTER for 15% off your purchase. Get 20% off your first order when you go to LIQUIDIV.com and use code FLUSTER at checkout. Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freeflusterclux! Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We answer a listener question in this episode from a mom who wonders if her young son's rigidity is sensory-driven, an anxiety issue, or both. When do we accommodate and how do we promote more flexibility? When needing things “just right” gets in the way of normal and fun activities, what's a mom to do?  WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/FLUSTERCLUX. Head to lumen.me/FLUSTER for 15% off your purchase. Get 20% off your first order when you go to LIQUIDIV.com and use code FLUSTER at checkout. Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freeflusterclux! Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're anxious as a parent, are your kids doomed? Not necessarily, but there are risk factors you have to pay attention to and patterns to interrupt.  WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/FLUSTERCLUX. Head to lumen.me/FLUSTER for 15% off your purchase. Get 20% off your first order when you go to LIQUIDIV.com and use code FLUSTER at checkout. Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freeflusterclux! Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lynn had too little sleep and too much coffee, so she's telling it like it is with Robin's complete endorsement. What are the three things Lynn keeps hearing from parents and therapists that we need to stop doing? Buckle up for some straight talk.  WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: Listen to StrollerCoaster! This award-winning, top-ranked parenting podcast is created by Munchkin - the Most Loved Baby Lifestyle Brand in the World. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freeflusterclux! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code FLUSTERCLUX and you'll receive up to $300 off air purifiers and a free three-year warranty on any unit, an additional $84 value! Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Go to lumen.me and use code FLUSTER to get 15% off your LUMEN order. Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest this episode is Jessica Lahey, author of The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation. Her goal is to provide straightforward facts to parents about kids and substance use. You know how much we love talking prevention and myth busting, and Jessica is happy to oblige.  WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: Listen to StrollerCoaster! This award-winning, top-ranked parenting podcast is created by Munchkin - the Most Loved Baby Lifestyle Brand in the World. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freeflusterclux! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code FLUSTERCLUX and you'll receive up to $300 off air purifiers and a free three-year warranty on any unit, an additional $84 value! Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Go to lumen.me and use code FLUSTER to get 15% off your LUMEN order. Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you are a new or veteran listener of the podcast, Lynn Lyons and Robin Hutson talk about how to use the podcast best to help learn anxiety management skills for adults and children. Listen up and hear how to address the situations in your own family with these strategies. WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: Listen to StrollerCoaster! This award-winning, top-ranked parenting podcast is created by Munchkin - the Most Loved Baby Lifestyle Brand in the World. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freeflusterclux! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code FLUSTERCLUX and you'll receive up to $300 off air purifiers and a free three-year warranty on any unit, an additional $84 value! Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Go to lumen.me and use code FLUSTER to get 15% off your LUMEN order. Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Flusterclux, we love focusing on prevention. What are the big picture “moves” we can incorporate into our families now that lessen risk for struggles later on? In this episode, we talk about the role of ritual and tradition in families, with an important emphasis on the everyday routines that bolster connection. Family dinners? Reading together before bed? Weekend errands and worship services? It's worth the effort!  Hear The Deerfields on Apple Music & on Spotify. WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: Listen to StrollerCoaster! This award-winning, top-ranked parenting podcast is created by Munchkin - the Most Loved Baby Lifestyle Brand in the World. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freeflusterclux! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code FLUSTERCLUX and you'll receive up to $300 off air purifiers and a free three-year warranty on any unit, an additional $84 value! Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Go to lumen.me and use code FLUSTER to get 15% off your LUMEN order. Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We received a listener question about handling a child's extreme discomfort with her parents' “alone time.” Robin thinks this a unique issue. Nope! says Lynn. WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code FLUSTERCLUX and you'll receive up to $300 off air purifiers and a free three-year warranty on any unit, an additional $84 value! Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Go to hellobello.com/FLUSTER, to get thirty percent off your first customized bundle, AND a full-size freebie product of your choice. Go to HelloFresh.com/flusterkids to unlock this exclusive offer. One free kids' meal per box for two months while subscription is active. That's FREE kids' meals just by going to HelloFresh.com/flusterkids. Get 20% off your first order when you go to LIQUIDIV.com and use code FLUSTER at checkout. Go to lumen.me and use code FLUSTER to get 15% off your LUMEN order. As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/FLUSTERCLUX. Go to zocdoc.com/FLUSTER and download the ZOCDOC app for free. Then find and book a top-rated doctor today. Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do a 3 year old and a 13 year old have in common? A temperament that makes it tricky for parents to help navigate how and when to “step in.” And is this type of temperament a problem? Not necessarily when connection is the goal.  WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code FLUSTERCLUX and you'll receive up to $300 off air purifiers and a free three-year warranty on any unit, an additional $84 value! Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Go to hellobello.com/FLUSTER, to get thirty percent off your first customized bundle, AND a full-size freebie product of your choice. Go to HelloFresh.com/flusterkids to unlock this exclusive offer. One free kids' meal per box for two months while subscription is active. That's FREE kids' meals just by going to HelloFresh.com/flusterkids. Get 20% off your first order when you go to LIQUIDIV.com and use code FLUSTER at checkout. Go to lumen.me and use code FLUSTER to get 15% off your LUMEN order. As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/FLUSTERCLUX. Go to zocdoc.com/FLUSTER and download the ZOCDOC app for free. Then find and book a top-rated doctor today. Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phones, phones, phones! Everybody's talking about them (including us!) In this episode, we share a hopeful report on school phone policies, and then help out a mom who has discovered some disturbing group chat conversations on her middle schooler's phone.  WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our listener survey. We hope it is you!   FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code FLUSTERCLUX and you'll receive up to $300 off air purifiers and a free three-year warranty on any unit, an additional $84 value! Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/FLUSTER. Go to hellobello.com/FLUSTER, to get thirty percent off your first customized bundle, AND a full-size freebie product of your choice. Go to HelloFresh.com/flusterkids to unlock this exclusive offer. One free kids' meal per box for two months while subscription is active. That's FREE kids' meals just by going to HelloFresh.com/flusterkids. Get 20% off your first order when you go to LIQUIDIV.com and use code FLUSTER at checkout. Go to lumen.me and use code FLUSTER to get 15% off your LUMEN order. As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get $40 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go to SkylightCal.com/FLUSTERCLUX. Go to zocdoc.com/FLUSTER and download the ZOCDOC app for free. Then find and book a top-rated doctor today. Search “Last Night at School Committee” wherever you listen to podcasts for highlights on the big decisions that are affecting students, using Boston as a real-world example. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices