City Councilor Mike Ross scored a major win for Mission Hill children, present and future, in the Boston Public Schools assignment plan changes. He requested and got a guarantee that local kids always will be eligible for enrollment at the Mission Hill K-8 School, that internationally renowned pilot school that moved to Jamaica Plain amid heated debate last year.
It’s a small point in the big picture of reforming Boston’s public schools. But it’s a big deal to retain community connection vital to that school’s unique program, and to give a chance to too many local children who are born into challenging situations.
Ross deserves great thanks for continuing to fight for Mission Hill School and its students. And BPS deserves praise for approving his request. That’s the sort of pragmatism, flexibility and justice we need to keep in mind as the public school system reform continues.