The Boston City Council extended the deadline for universities to submit student housing data and discussed the Boston Public Schools’ Exam Schools’ admissions policy and city composting services during its Wednesday meeting.
City Councilor At-Large Henry Santana recommended a docket to review the admission policies for Boston Public Schools’ Exam Schools — following a public hearing Sept. 29 — to remain in committee.
“We have to have a system here that rewards not just kids who test well, but kids who would have tested well if they had the same economic advantages as the kids who score highly on the test,” said Councilor Benjamin Weber.
Santana said the city’s “advocacy for the best” extends to not just exam schools but all schools in the BPS system.
“We have a commitment to the city ensuring our students have the best education possible,” he said.
Councilors Enrique Pepén and Sharon Durkan co-sponsored a hearing to discuss the city’s composing services and the need to expand them.
Durkan described city composting initiatives as “incredibly popular” among Bostonians.
“Demand has outpaced capacity at our contracted composting facility, underscoring both the success and potential of these new programs,” she said.
Despite successes, Pepén emphasized the need to double the amount of food waste diverted annually in the next five years to meet the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan. The plan aims to divert 780,000 tons of food waste annually by 2030.
The order was referred to the Committee on City Services and Innovation Technology for further discussion.
City Council also adopted amendments, introduced by Durkan, to the University Accountability requirements in the city’s Municipal Code.
The code, created in 2004 by former Councilor Michael Ross, requires Boston universities to report enrollment numbers and student residence data annually.
The amendments extend the deadline for universities to submit housing data from Oct. 1 to Nov. 1 and require an annual hearing for the student housing trends report to review the findings.
“These changes will help the University Accountability Ordinance ensure that we have reliable data and help us balance the needs of students, universities and neighborhoods, while addressing housing affordability and stability across our city for years to come,” Durkan said.
