Former top BPS official: Time to bust up BPS and remake it

By adamg on Sun, 11/03/2013 - 1:53pm

Michael Contompasis, who served as Boston Latin headmaster and BPS superintendent between Payzant and Johnson, now says he regrets not trying to break apart the centralized system:

I should have been bolder. When I look back on my years as chief operating officer and superintendent of the Boston Public Schools, I can see now that I was too focused on incremental changes that produced marginal results. I failed to see that, absent significant structural changes to the district, we would be unable to realize dramatic - and necessary - improvements in student outcomes.

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Boston

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Politics

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Boston Public Schools

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Comments

Spelling error

By anon on Sun, 11/03/2013 - 2:55pm.

'Boson' Latin...?

Fixed

By adamg on Sun, 11/03/2013 - 3:13pm.

Since I'm reasonably sure his field of learning did not involve the search for sub-atomic particles.

Ha Ha

By John Costello on Sun, 11/03/2013 - 3:05pm.

I finally am feeling schadenfreude for him yelling at me after me and Sean M. threw the plywood of the back of a bus seat out of window of the Latin to Adams Corner bus in 1985. Just kidding.

As it relates to the link above, It shows you how entrenched and non flexible the BPS culture is to change and actual getting kids smarter and better prepared for life if Mean Mike attempt couldn't change things. John or Marty have to attack and attack quick when elected to kill this beast. Of course, anyone trying to do what is right for their kids at the expense of the culture of the BPS is racist.

Red and Purple Man

By massmarrier on Sun, 11/03/2013 - 3:36pm.

As a parent of two BLS grads, I have vivid memories of him, the drama queen, and Cornelia, the viper. Mike C. was infamous for his tirades, when he yelled at the auditorium of students (and sometimes us parents) over trivial matters. He'd turn many colors and scream.

It was no surprise to me when he moved to Court Street that his administration didn't fix things. Now he comes around with the answers he didn't have when he could have made a difference. No thanks.

There are

By Kathode on Sun, 11/03/2013 - 9:41pm.

People and communities in those schools. Tread carefully.