As your City Council president and a product of our Boston Public School (BPS) system, I have seen and experienced firsthand the achievements and challenges of our educational institutions. The recent decisions to merge, rename, and consider closing schools mark serious and significant changes for our BPS community as we start off the school year.

The path and journey to get here has been long and hard, with many promises and difficult decisions deferred. Yet, the challenge of our infrastructure is not just about school buildings; rather, it is about people.

I reflect on a recent visit to the BCLA/McCormack in Dorchester, where I was reminded of the diversity that defines our schools. Seeing so many multilingual learners – particularly native Spanish speakers – learning in an inclusive environment underscored what we are working toward: a school system that truly serves all students. The BCLA and McCormack (where I went to middle school) communities have merged into a new school – the Ruth Batson Academy. My elementary school, the Charles H. Taylor, has recently merged with the P.A. Shaw.

The community conversations around these mergers were not easy and the school communities continue to point out resources needed to make the mergers more seamless, but there is reason to believe that we are moving in the right direction.

The need to reevaluate the number of BPS facilities becomes more and more evident each year. Decisions to merge or close schools are never easy and should not be taken lightly. BPS’s recent decision to hire an outside consultant to guide the process of school closures and mergers is an important step. While this type of external guidance can help navigate complex decisions, it is essential that this process remains accountable and grounded in the realities and needs of our communities.

Specifically, the voices of those most affected must be heard, respected, and integrated into decisions. This external support does not overshadow the voices of our students, parents, and educators.

History has shown us that restructuring our schools can disrupt communities, but it also offers an opportunity to rebuild and strengthen. The process must be painfully honest, transparent, and responsive to the communities that have historically been affected by school closures, specifically our Black and Brown communities.

I applaud Mayor Wu and Superintendent Mary Skipper for taking a measured and thoughtful approach as they consider many of these changes while learning from past experiences. The start of the school year is a reminder of the hope and potential each new year brings, and it is up to all of us to make sure that every student in Boston Public Schools has the opportunity to thrive, and where every decision made, every dollar spent, brings us closer to providing each child with the dignity affirming education that they deserve.

I recently attended the ribbon-cutting for the newly renovated Josiah Quincy Upper School in Chinatown. It is now a world-class facility in a global city serving our incredible students. As we do the difficult work of merging and closing schools, we also commit to ensuring that our school buildings affirm the dignity of each one of our students and open a gateway to new worlds.

I challenge us to embrace this new school year with a sense of shared commitment to making our schools places of possibilities. By focusing on building new construction and renovating existing schools independently of mergers, consolidations or closures, we can ensure a stable and supportive learning environment for all students.

City Councillor-at-Large Ruthzee Louijeune is the president of the Boston City Council.