Mayor Marty Walsh Rolls out 10-Year Plan for Boston Public Schools

Boston was the birthplace of public education, and local leaders want to make sure the city continues to provide the best education possible.

Mayor Marty Walsh's 10 year plan, which could cost more than $1 billion, aims to do that.

The McKay Elementary School in East Boston, which was built in 1926, is a great place that the students, parents and faculty love, but there's always room for improvement.

"We do a great job, a great job, of making sure this building is clean and inviting," McKay principal Jordan Weymer said, but added that it could use upgrades.

Tuesday morning, the mayor toured the McKay and formally launched his 10-year master plan for updating the city's 122 school buildings, 60 percent of which were built before World War II. It's the city's first district-wide capital plan for schools in 20 years.

"We're launching a project that will ultimately reshape resources in this city so that schools can meet the educational needs of children in the 21st Century," Boston Public Schools superintendent Tommy Chang said.

Walsh says the entire program could cost at least $1 billion, but the other, more controversial part of his plan will be the consolidation and even closing of some neighborhood schools.

"It's going to be controversial in some ways, but it's going to be the right thing to do to make sure our young people get the best education in the best buildings with the best principals and the best teachers in the city," the mayor said.

Walsh is asking residents to keep an open mind.

There will be numerous community meetings to get residents' opinions over the next 18 months, and a final report won't be submitted to the school committee until the end of the year. 

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