Superintendent Reacts To Mass. State Board Vo-School Admissions Change

Chaiel Schaffel

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
With interest growing in the trades, tech schools are a
burgeoning alternative to regular high schools in Massachusetts.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
We've seen the applications increase over the last fifteen years.

Speaker 1 (00:08):
Heidi Richio is the superintendent of Essex Tech. She and
other tech school heads are skeptical of a recent state
board decision that will make admissions to the schools a lottery.
Right now, they can pick and choose the students who
get in. Heidi says the new weighted lottery system is
too lax, allowing kids into her high school that miss
dozens of days of class.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
We don't think that that really reflects a student at
all in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
But supporters of the change argue this fixes a growing
issue with the schools getting more selective when they were
intended for non traditional students in the first place. Heidi
would perform more state money to make more room for kids.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
But having that infrastructure money to be able to expand seats,
I think it's critical.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
Kyle Schaffield WBZ, Boston's news radio