After School Closure Plan Vote, Parents Consider Alternatives

It's official. The Boston School Committee has unanimously endorsed a plan to close or consolidate 17 schools in the city. The panel has been considering various proposals from the superintendent since October, and reached its decision Wednesday night amid last-minute appeals from staff and parents at the affected schools.

Judith Randolph was among those protesting the vote. She's a teacher at Emerson Elementary School in Roxbury.

"We're extremely upset, we've been two months defending our school. They haven't even come to visit our school, they haven't even talked to the children, they haven't even met the children," Randolph said. "They haven't even made a plan."

The focus now turns to what's next for students and their parents. Jack Pelletier has two children at the Lee Academy Pilot School in Dorchester, which is set to merge with another school next fall. He spoke with WBUR's Bob Oakes during Thursday's Morning Edition to give a first-hand account of the choices his family faces in searching for a new school for his children.

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