BPS to Hold Nine Community Meetings on Water Access in Schools

Boston Public Schools announced Tuesday that it would hold nine community meetings in the upcoming weeks to address water access in school buildings.

Earlier this year, the 38 facilities in the BPS system with working water fountains were tested, and the results were verified by Boston Public Schools, Boston Water & Sewer Commission and a third-party contractor.

"The School Committee felt it was necessary to provide additional in-person opportunities for families to receive information about water access," Boston School Committee Chairman Michael O'Neill said in a press release. "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."

The meetings will be open to the public and hosted at a series of schools in the Boston community.

"There is nothing more important than the health and well-being of our students and staff," Superintendent Tommy Chang said in the release. "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."

Here's a look at the schedule of meetings:

• Wed. June 1, 6 pm, Mather Elementary School
  • 24 Parish Street, Dorchester
• Wed., June 1, 5 pm, Another Course to College and Boston Green Academy
  • 20 Warren Street, Brighton
• Thurs., June 2, 5:30 pm, Kenny Elementary School
  • 19 Oakton Avenue, Dorchester
• Thurs., June 2, 6 pm, Curley K-8 School
  • 493 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain
• Mon., June 6, 6:30 pm, Murphy K-8 School
  • 1 Worrell Street, Dorchester
• Tues., June 7, 5 pm, Trotter School
  • 135 Humboldt Avenue, Dorchester
• Wed., June 8, 5 pm, Boston Latin Academy
  • 205 Townsend Street, Dorchester
• Thurs., June 9, 5 pm, Lee K-8 School
  • 155 Talbot Avenue, Dorchester
• Mon., June 13, 6 pm, Hernandez K-8 School
  • 61 School Street, Roxbury

The Boston School Committee is set to vote on the BPS Water Access Policy at its meeting on Wed., June 8 at 6 pm at the Bruce C. Bolling Building, 2300 Washington Street in Roxbury. For more information, visit: bostonpublicschools.org/water and follow @BostonSchools on Twitter and Instagram.

Photo courtesy of Rishabh Mishra via Flickr