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A Community Vision for Boston’s Students and FamiliesChapter 2: A Green New Deal for BPS

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Chapter Summary

Schools are more than just buildings. Schools are networks of relationships—among students, teachers, staff, administrators, families, and community members—all of which are shaped by the built environment that surrounds them. Yet our approach to managing school buildings in Boston has jeopardized these relationships, resulting in deep-rooted mistrust, incoherent and inconsistent timelines for improvement, and facilities that continue to fail our children and our City.

BPS needs a wholesale shift in how we manage our school facilities to lift up our school communities, build healthy and nurturing physical environments, and align with our broader civic goals of equity, opportunity, engagement. In short, we need a Green New Deal for BPS. This isn’t just a plan to invest in our school facilities—it’s about leveraging the creativity and passion of all Boston residents to reimagine our schools as full-service community hubs that can adapt to meet the evolving needs of our students and our City.

  • Foundations for every school facility, including learning space, technological capacity, administrative space, space for healthcare and supportive services, hygienic bathrooms and safe common space, outdoor space, and kitchen space.

  • Environmental health and justice for school communities, with clean air, safe water, comfortable temperature and humidity, reduced noise, and ease of navigation.

  • Schools as comprehensive community centers, with a community-driven process to open up school buildings to performances, pop-up farmers markets, community events, public art installations, championship games and more. 

  • Transportation that works for students and families, including a more efficient, electrified yellow school bus program, more options for cycling, walking and public transit, and an emphasis on safe streets infrastructure near schools. 

  • Schools as climate hubs to meet our commitment to net-zero carbon emissions in municipal buildings by 2024, with expanded programming for BPS students and families to prepare for green jobs and a recommitment to zero waste standards.

  • Community planning and capital investments with clear timelines and genuine public input, full integration with City planning, centralized procurement, and more resources for maintenance and upkeep.