Brookline School Staff Children's Center: Denied New Location

Representatives of BSSCC (Brookline School Staff Children's Center) met with the Superintendent and members of Brookline School Committee on Thursday, October 21, 2019 to learn if the program would be able to remain housed within the Brookline Public Schools after the end of the '19-'20 school year.

Representatives of BSSCC shared that the meeting did not result in an extension of BSSCC's time at the Baldwin School (where they have been housed for the last 26 years) nor an alternative space within the Brookline Public Schools. The School Committee went on to explain that PSB will be unable to offer any financial support to aid in the relocation effort. They expressed that this decision does not represent a lack of belief in or support for the BSSCC program, rather it is a reality of the unprecedented space and budgetary constraints facing the Brookline Public Schools.

The BSSCC is a parent co-op that has been existence for forty years. It was started in 1979 by a group of parents who taught in the Brookline schools. These teachers were fortunate to obtain the support of the school committee and the Superintendent of schools, who donated space for the preschool program in the Lincoln Primary school.

When BSSCC was initially told they would not be able to remain at the Baldwin School, they looked into renovating a Brookline-owned building at 55 Newton St. at Larz Anderson. However, the cost and zoning regulations combined have made this location not feasible.

The BSSCC is now on their own to raise the funds needed to move, as well as to find and fund a new location immediately. BSSCC parent representatives have been exploring commercial spaces, as well as partnerships with local churches, synagogues and private schools in order to keep the program alive. They have started a Go Fund Me campaign to help with their efforts. Donations can be made through this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/bsscc

Read more about the BSSCC here: https://www.staffchildrenscenter.org/.