• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • 5 DOUBLE-U’S
    • MASTHEAD
    • DISTRIBUTION
    • ADVERTISE
    • SUBMISSIONS
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • Close
  • BECOME A MEMBER

Dig Bos

The Dig - Boston's Only Newspaper

CURRENT STREET EDITION

DIG 23.02 – 1/28/21

TWO QS ON SCHOOLS: DOMINGOS DAROSA: (BOSTON CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE, AT-LARGE)

Written by DIG STAFF Posted August 7, 2017 Filed Under: News, NEWS+OPINIONS

 

RECORDING BY STM PRODUCTIONS

 

A former Boston youth worker who currently owns a property maintenance business, Hyde Park resident Domingos DaRosa is as civic-minded as they come, having coached hundreds of young people in various sports through the years. We asked him two questions about Boston Public Schools that we are asking all of the candidates.

 

What do you believe is the current state of Boston Public Schools? What grade would you give them now? And what grade would you give them when Marty Walsh started four years ago?

Four years ago I would say we were at like a C-minus. I say that because we didn’t have as much budget cuts. But over the last four years, the schools have received drastic budget cuts—$20 million one year, then another $15 million to $20 million. So over the last four years, the school department has lost almost $100 million in funding, which takes away from programs [and] students’ ability to receive the resources they need. Today I would give [BPS] an F-plus. We’re in a worse situation than we were four years ago and it continues to dwindle down.

 

I graduated from Madison Park High School. I am active with the school, I attend a lot of football and basketball games, I am in the alumni group. Madison, two years ago, was missing close to 70 teachers. Students were free to roam the hallways, they had no schedules. They had no guidance because they didn’t have a headmaster, and no one downtown would step up and attend to the school’s needs. Madison might get taken over by the state. It’s the only voc-tech high school in Boston, it’s a gem. It could benefit everyone across Massachusetts, because these students pick up a trade and go on.

 

Another thing for me is we are pushing testing without providing the resources so that [students] can pass these tests. Not everyone tests well. People with anxiety don’t test well.

 

 

What specifically are you going to do to improve schools? How many are you going to visit? What programs would you add or subtract? How much more money, if any, do you think the schools need?

I run the Boston Bengals, it’s a Pop Warner program. I visit as many schools as I can. The program has about 140 to 160 student athletes. As a councilor, my biggest objective would be to visit every school to see what they need. Not just to do an evaluation, and then six months later the same things still need to be fixed.

 

There are a lot of programs already here, but as a former employee of the Boston Center for Youth & Families (BCYF), [I have seen] that departments are not combined. There is no outreach… I feel that community centers should run [to complement] school hours… A lot of schools don’t have gym, or gym teachers. Well, community centers have athletic directors, athletic assistant directors. So why not bring in those people to provide services in schools? It won’t happen because of the unions, it won’t happen because of the departments, so a lot of the red tape needs to be cut out.

 

I ran a pool, I taught swimming for 21 years. I trained lifeguards all over the city. So when I was able to communicate with the youth, it was through a swimming pool. That was the avenue, and I was able to teach them a lot of the things that they needed to know for life. If you can’t tread water, you can’t swim in the deep end. It’s as simple as that. [We want to bring] those things which are already in place to the school… These things aren’t happening. Why? Because one department won’t work with the next department.

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CANDIDATE ON HIS FACEBOOK CAMPAIGN PAGE

 

READ MORE ABOUT DAROSA IN THE BAY STATE BANNER

 

READ MORE ABOUT DAROSA ON UNIVERSAL HUB

 

JOIN THE ‘BRAWL FOR CITY HALL’ FACEBOOK PAGE TO KEEP UP ON ALL LOCAL POLITICS

 

DIG STAFF

Dig Staff means this article was a collaborative effort. Teamwork, as we like to call it.

More from author
  • DIG STAFF
    https://digboston.com/author/dig-staff/
    ICONIC LINEUP COMES THROUGH TO SUPPORT NANTASKET VENUE THROUGH PANDEMIC
  • DIG STAFF
    https://digboston.com/author/dig-staff/
    INBOX: GROUP CALLS FOR BIDEN TO ABOLISH POLICE MILITARIZATION PROGRAM
  • DIG STAFF
    https://digboston.com/author/dig-staff/
    HOMEWORK FOR BEACON HILL’S COVID EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
  • DIG STAFF
    https://digboston.com/author/dig-staff/
    YOU’VE NEVER SEEN BOSTON’S EMERALD NECKLACE GLOW LIKE THIS

Filed Under: News, NEWS+OPINIONS Tagged With: #mapoli, 2017 races, BCYF, Beacon Hill, Boston politics, Brawl for City Hall, Cambridge, City Council, City Hall, corruption, coverage, Domingos DaRosa, east boston, education, Hyde Park, indictments, Joe Curtatone, Massachusetts politics, mayor Marty Walsh, Mayor tom Menino, Politics, schools, SOMERVILLE, South Boston, State House, strong mayor, Tito Jackson, weak mayor

WHAT’S NEW

SPECIAL FEATURE: THE CRUEL AND USUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN MASS PRISONS

SPECIAL FEATURE: THE CRUEL AND USUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN MASS PRISONS

INBOX: GROUP CALLS FOR BIDEN TO ABOLISH POLICE MILITARIZATION PROGRAM

INBOX: GROUP CALLS FOR BIDEN TO ABOLISH POLICE MILITARIZATION PROGRAM

WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE CITY AND STATE TO FINALLY SUPPORT MINORITY BUSINESS?

WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE CITY AND STATE TO FINALLY SUPPORT MINORITY BUSINESS?

HOMEWORK FOR BEACON HILL’S COVID EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

HOMEWORK FOR BEACON HILL’S COVID EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

A FIREFIGHTER ELECTION

A FIREFIGHTER ELECTION

LEGISLATION AIMS TO HELP UNDOCUMENTED ATTAIN DRIVERS' LICENSES

LEGISLATION AIMS TO HELP UNDOCUMENTED ATTAIN DRIVERS’ LICENSES

Primary Sidebar

HEMPIRE FREEDOM PACK 25% OFF

FEATURED EVENT

Most Popular

  • SPECIAL FEATURE ON THE MASS STATE POLICE: TROOPER WILSON’S WAR by CHRIS FARAONE
  • DOES THE FORMER BPD COMMISSIONER EVEN LIVE IN BOSTON? by ZACK HUFFMAN
  • [UPDATE: WE GOT IT!] WHERE IS THE CONTRACT FOR MASSACHUSETTS’ VACCINE APPOINTMENT SOFTWARE? by POLINA WHITEHOUSE
  • BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY GRADS FIGHT FOR REPRESENTATION IN ALUMNI GROUP by CHRIS FARAONE
  • MASS KEEPS TRYING TO BUILD A NEW WOMEN’S PRISON OUTSIDE OF PUBLIC VIEW by DAN ATKINSON

READ CURRENT MEMBER EDITION

DIG Member 1.9 – 11/26/20

READ CURRENT STREET ISSUE

DIG 23.02 – 1/28/21

Footer

digbos

Nominations now open! Vote for your favorite busin Nominations now open! Vote for your favorite businesses today. 

Are you a business? Are you the best at what you do? Encourage your fans to cast their votes! DM us to get our social media materials to promote your business and ensure your win. #bostontops #digboston
Bill sponsors, #Framingham mayor, and MA district Bill sponsors, #Framingham mayor, and MA district attorney will explain the Work & Family Mobility Act at a press conference. https://digboston.com/driving-families-forward-coalition-aims-to-help-undocumented-attain-drivers-licenses/ #politics #undocumented #immigration #driving #license #Massachusetts
Today at 4pm, cast your votes! #digboston Today at 4pm, cast your votes! #digboston
At a virtual summit, leaders sought to educate and At a virtual summit, leaders sought to educate and engage on the need for change. https://digboston.com/officials-advocates-speak-to-immigration-reform-and-economic-recovery/ #immigration #reform #economy #politics #Massachusetts
When it comes to special packaging and limited edi When it comes to special packaging and limited editions, Jack’s Abby and subsidiary Springdale out in Framingham are top players. https://digboston.com/video-unboxing-springdale-beers-limited-edition-neipa-music-box-set/ #beer #fun
Industrial Arts Brewing in NY’s Hudson Valley is Industrial Arts Brewing in NY’s Hudson Valley is well worth the look out of state ... https://digboston.com/video-pocket-wrench-by-industrial-arts-brewing-is-a-super-satisfying-session/ #beer #fun
Some who are civilly committed for #addiction in M Some who are civilly committed for #addiction in Mass face abusive #prison conditions. Still, some families say it’s better than the alternative https://digboston.com/the-commitments-addiction-treatment-behind-bars-in-massachusetts/ #treatment #Massachusetts
“Then this thing happened. I decided to pivot. I “Then this thing happened. I decided to pivot. It was probably my best shot at attracting some national attention to #Nebraska.” https://digboston.com/interview-with-rural-rebellion-author-ross-benes/ #interview #book #politics #USA #MAGA
Mark your calendars! Mark your calendars!
“There’s a history of #music being made that w “There’s a history of #music being made that way going back to the mid-’70s.” https://buff.ly/3d5Yfyu #interview #Boston #Massachusetts #coronavirus #COVID19
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Submissions

Advertise

Privacy Policy

Customer Service

Distribution

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an e-mail blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: [email protected] To reach Editorial: [email protected] For internship opportunities: [email protected]