Mattapan school to get grades restored

Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang announced the new “Mattapan Early Learning Center” will be restoring upper grades sooner than expected, a reversal that surprised many parents who have been concerned about where their kids will go to school.

The early learning center — slated to open next fall to replace the Mattahunt Elementary School — will serve kindergartners and first grade students.

In the meantime, older kids have had to reapply to other schools — 23 percent have been assigned to Level 1 schools, 38 percent to Level 2 schools and 23 percent to Level 3 schools.

But at last night’s School Committee meeting, Chang said adding classrooms for older kids may happen sooner than previously thought.

“If there’s a demand, hopefully we can add grade levels sooner than later,” he said. “We may not have to wait three years.”

Several community members, many of whom complained about being left in the dark, called on school officials to include them in the expansion plans.

“We’d like to enter into a transparent and authentic partnership when it comes to the grade expansion,” said Lincoln Larmond of Mattapan United.

Chang also announced progress in the effort to rename the school, saying it will either remain under the “Mattahunt” name or be called Toussaint Louverture. Other names considered included Barack and Michelle Obama Elementary School, the Frederick Douglass and the Linda Dorcena Forry Community School.

Community members who spoke at the meeting said they’d prefer to keep the “Mattahunt” name.