kennedy, I'd like to see every public school operate as a charter school and have a voucher system which makes individual schools competitive for students. Teacher's unions have eroded the quality of public schools for decades because of the focus on creating good jobs for teachers, while not necessarily having the best interest of the students in mind. That is typically the problem with unions in any enterprise, in that the customer and quality of service no longer matters as much as creating a good job for the union members. A system of charter schools, and choice through vouchers, would create competition between ALL schools. Irregardless of unionization or lack thereof, teachers would have to focus on the fundamentals and the overall quality of education to keep their jobs. Having different schools would still allow for some experimental education, in that the parents whom wanted it, would have specific schools to send their children too.
I'm flat out against METCO and busing because they are racists and only waste millions in moving problems around, rather than directly solving them. They are a politicians wet dream, a never ending problem with a huge stream of revenue, and a social/racial taboo which prevents argument against such programs. The perfect golden goose for career hacks.
As far as Back Bay having a local public school, the Prince School on Newbury Street was just that. But the city wanted to sell that off to become ugly condos and GAP stores. If the city wants to plop a school in Back Bay, the parking lot adjacent to Newbury @ Dartmouth, steps to the Copley station, should be large enough.