Chapter 2: The Ironies of Accountability

The Boston University/Chelsea Partnership, which concluded on June 30, 2008, remains the only instance of a university assuming responsibility for the day-to-day operations of an entire school district. The tale of Boston University’s engagement in Chelsea is a cautionary tale—but not because the Partnership didn’t deliver. Any reasonably dispassionate and fair accounting of the nearly 20-year history would describe an extensive list of accomplishments, all the more significant for their magnitude within a relatively short time period. For those of us close to the project over the long haul, a fair and dispassionate accounting (not easy if a project has consumed a good part of your life and career) would include the blunders.