School board OK's some aspects of overhaul

But postpones votes on closures

In an emotionally charged meeting last night, the School Committee approved several components of a scaled-back overhaul of Boston's schools, but delayed votes until later this month on which buildings to vacate.

The plan included another set of suggested changes - the second during the last week - by Superintendent Carol R. Johnson amid public scrutiny. This time, she abandoned plans to close Odyssey High School at the South Boston Education Complex and postponed proposals to expand two schools and open a truancy center, while hinting at further revisions not yet approved.

The committee held back on deciding school closures after the Black Educators' Alliance of Massachusetts last night questioned whether various school closings and consolidations could lead to a resegregation of the city's schools. There has been growing concern about the changes in the Roxbury area, which has experienced a disproportionately large number of school closings over the last three decades.

Johnson emphasized that the plan, which includes closing Roxbury's Higginson Elementary School, would not resegregate schools. She noted that although the number of seats at schools in the Roxbury area are several hundred fewer than the number of students who live in that neighborhood, many remain empty because more than half of the neighborhood students choose to go to school in other parts of the city.

"I don't object to people raising important questions about equity so we don't make the same mistakes that were made in the past," Johnson said after the meeting.

While the plan aims to boost school quality, bleak finances are shaping the plan, which includes vacating six buildings and reducing some bus routes. But at least one government watchdog group has predicted more significant cuts in coming months because the proposal's cost-savings are thought to be too low.

The School Department estimates the plan's overall savings will be $3.1 million next year. But the School Department - which received two $10 million bailouts from City Hall in the last year - is projecting that salary and benefits will rise by $30 million, while it also is bracing for expected state aid cuts.

"I think that the superintendent and the committee have to recognize that the plan is only the first round of cuts and cost savings that have to be dealt with in next year's budget," Sam Tyler, president of the Boston Municipal Research Bureau, an independent government watchdog group, said before the meeting.

Among the proposals that received green lights last night were the expansion of two pilot schools, Tech Boston Academy and Young Achievers; the merger of the Academy of Public Service and Noonan Business Academy; and the creation of seven grammar schools that would serve pupils in kindergarten through Grade 8 by merging schools.

Elizabeth Reilinger, chairwoman of the School Committee, said members were confronting difficult decisions as they attempt to rein in spending while boosting quality.

"I don't know if any one of us can ignore the reality of the economy," Reilinger said. "A lot of thought has been put into this proposal. . . . Is it perfect? Absolutely not."

James Vaznis can be reached at jvaznis@globe.com.