Looking for Mayor's Youth Council Members

[Brigid Byrne-Rowlings]

Hello all.

As you've likely heard, Superintendent Carol Johnson recently announced that she'd like Boston Latin Academy to move to Hyde Park in 2012.  Today, several concerned teachers, parents, and alumni met to discuss this.  After looking at floor plans of the Hyde Park facility, which does not have enough room to accommodate our current student body, as well as the amount of time it would take Latin Academy students to travel to Hyde Park (Allston/Brighton students would be looking at 90 minutes, East Boston and Charlestown at least 70 minutes), the distance Hyde Park is from our athletic facilities (the Reggie Lewis track center, White Stadium and Franklin Park, the Condon Pool in South Boston), and the lack of parking (no more St. Mark's lot for students, and no lot at all for teachers and parents), we concluded that this move is not in the best interest of our students.

We will be working hard to present a case to the superintendent, the city council, the school committee and the mayor.  We need the help of students and parents.  First and foremost, we need students and parents to contact the superintendent's office, your city councilor as well as the 4 at large councilors, and the mayor.  Contact information for each of these can be found here:   https://sites.google.com/site/205townsendaction/  Please pass this on to all of your classmates and their parents.

We are also looking for Latin Academy students who are or have been members of the Mayor's Youth Council who might be willing to try to set up a meeting with the mayor about this move.  Within the next few days, I'd be able to provide you with a data sheet that you can share with the mayor that details why this move would not benefit the student body.  But, it is also important that the mayor hear your individual voices, thoughts, and concerns as well.  If you are or know anyone who is or has been on the Mayor's Youth Council, please contact me.  I'd be happy to meet with you and to share in more detail what the parents, alumni, and faculty discussed at today's meeting in advance of your contacting the mayor.

Thanks so much!
Ms. Byrne
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Brigid Byrne-Rowlings
National Board Certified Teacher
History Department
Boston Latin Academy