Panel backs neighborhood schools

Boston schools should adopt a plan that sends more children to elementary schools in their neighborhoods, the most drastic change proposed for the city's school assignment system in 30 years, the majority of a task force recommended yesterday.

As several hundred parents and others packed the auditorium of English High School in Jamaica Plain last night, the 14-member panel of educators and parents delivered its long-awaited report to the Boston School Committee.

The School Committee set up the task force in January to devise a new policy that would reflect Boston residents' views and also reduce busing costs.

The panel members, whose report was greeted with a mix of boos and cheers at times, said they did not reach a consensus, but that two thirds supported doubling the number of elementary attendance zones to six to allow more neighborhood schools. The majority also recommended keeping three zones for middle schoolers. High school students, who have citywide choice of campuses, would not be affected by any change.

Ted Landsmark, chairman of the task force, said the group's support of more neighborhood schools was the best compromise it could reach as it tried to respond to the diverse opinions of city residents.

''It is our hope the School Committee will adopt all of the recommendations," Landsmark said.

But one third of the task force dissented from the majority view, saying that school officials should keep the present system in place, despite the expense of busing students across large sections of the city.

Busing the system's approximately 60,000 students cost more than $59 million last year. School officials have said they believe the system could save up to $10 million by 2010 if it starts reducing busing next school year.

The report disappointed many parents, who wanted all elementary age children citywide to attend schools in their neighborhood. Task force members have said all along that they could not endorse a system of all neighborhood schools, because the city doesn't have enough schools to accommodate a growing number of school-aged children.

Other parents thought the report went too far. Lucia Santana, a Jamaica Plain parent with four children in the public schools, objected to the task force's push for more neighborhood schools. That would be unfair to children in less desirable areas, she said.

''It's great to see parents wanting their children close to home, but it's different when walking to school is better for one community where their school has better grades, better teachers, better resources for children than in other communities," Santana said.

''The Boston Public Schools can't provide my kids what they need in a neighborhood where I live," she added.

Some parents embraced the task force report.

''They sound like reasonable recommendations to me," said Jamaica Plain resident Eric Berg, a second-grade teacher who has two children in the school system. ''I think I can handle six zones, and I like their idea of creating more K-8 schools."

Berg was leery about changing the policy, given Boston's history of busing. But after the meeting, he changed his mind.

''I'm more hopeful for the future of the city than I was an hour ago," he said.

The task force has been working since January to figure out how best to change the city's controversial student assignment policy. If the School Committee approves more neighborhood schools, it would be the first major change to the assignment policy since court-ordered desegregation sparked racial turmoil in the 1970's. The School Committee's goal has been to make a decision this fall, so changes could begin in the fall of 2005.

The group's recommendations also include:

Simplifying the student assignment lottery system.

Letting families who live within a quarter of a mile of a zone boundary choose schools on either side of the border.

Increasing the number of citywide K-8 schools.

Dedicate savings from transportation to a trust fund and require that the money go toward improving struggling schools. The school system would establish a process to fairly allocate the money to needy schools.

Keeping preference for siblings so they can attend same school.

Ensuring that the school system follows its policy of reserving 50 percent of a school's seats for students who walk to school.

The city currently is split into three geographical zones for middle and elementary school students; entering high school students pick from campuses all over the city, and the school system plans to keep that policy as is.

Parents must list their top choices within their geographic zones, and a computer lottery system assigns students to schools. They can be bused out of their zones if no seats are left in their chosen schools.

The task force, which had held several public forums, found that pleasing everyone was a challenge.

Some residents -- particularly those in West Roxbury, where many of the system's most popular schools are located -- have long clamored for a return to neighborhood schools.

Others, mostly in the city's predominantly black and Hispanic neighborhoods, opposed a return to neighborhood schools until the schools in their neighborhoods improve.

The majority of the task force believes it came up with a plan that addresses several concerns, including some parents' desire for more choice.

For example, as a part of the new six-zone model, parents would pick a first choice from the attendance area they live in and then could choose a second option from another zone the school system designated.

As a result, parents would still get several choices, because they can choose from two areas, members said.

Superintendent Thomas Payzant said school officials would review the recommendations and prepare a cost estimate to present at a public hearing on Oct. 7, one of four that would be held by Oct. 20 on the task force's report.