Boston Public Schools to Host Community Meetings on Water Access in Schools

From Boston Public Schools:

The Boston Public Schools (BPS) has announced that nine community meetings will be held to address water access in school facilities. As a proactive, precautionary measure, BPS tested the water in all school facilities with functioning drinking fountains this spring.

"The School Committee felt it was necessary to provide additional in-person opportunities for families to receive information about water access," said Boston School Committee Chairman Michael O'Neill. "We will continue working very closely with BPS to ensure our water policy is a national leader, appropriately so, in protecting our students and staff, while ensuring that all in our schools are receiving quality water access."

Out of 126 BPS facilities, 38 facilities with working water fountains were tested, and the results have been tripled verified by Boston Public Schools, Boston Water & Sewer Commission and a third-party contractor.

"There is nothing more important than the health and well-being of our students and staff," said Superintendent Tommy Chang. "Boston Public Schools is committed to using a multi-pronged approach to provide data and resources to keep our families well-informed. This entails delivering messages in multiple languages, and through multiple mediums."

The Boston Public Schools will host a series of community meetings open to the public: Wednesday, June 1 at 6 p.m. (Mather Elementary School, 24 Parish St. in Dorchester); Wednesday, June 1 at 5 p.m. (Another Course to College and Boston Green Academy, 20 Warren St. in Brighton); Thursday, June 2 at 5:30 p.m. (Kenny Elementary School, 19 Oakton Ave. in Dorchester); Thursday, June 2 at 6 p.m. (Curley K-8 School, 493 Centre St. in Jamaica Plain); Monday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m. (Murphy K-8 School, 1 Worrell St. in Dorchester); Tuesday, June 7 at 5 p.m. (Trotter School, 135 Humboldt Ave. in Dorchester); Wednesday, June 8 at 5 p.m. (Boston Latin Academy, 205 Townsend St. in Dorchester); Thursday, June 9 at 5 p.m. (Lee K-8 School, 155 Talbot Ave. in Dorchester) and Monday, June 13 at 6 p.m. (Hernandez K-8 School, 61 School St. in Roxbury).

The Boston School Committee is scheduled to vote on the BPS Water Access Policy at its regular meeting on Wednesday, June 8 at 6 p.m. at the Bruce C. Bolling Building, located at 2300 Washington St. in Roxbury.

Further information is available through the Boston Public Schools website.