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From YouTube: Committee on Government Operations on April 11, 2022
Description
Docket #0187 - Petition for a Special Law re: An Act Relative to Reorganization of the Boston School Committee
A
Good
afternoon
everyone,
I
am
city,
council,
ricardo,
royale,
chair
of
the
community,
on
government
operations.
It
is
monday
april
11
2022,
and
we
are
here
today
for
a
virtual
hearing
on
docket
number
0187
petition
for
a
special
law
regarding
an
act
relative
to
reorganization
of
the
boston
school
committee
referred
to
the
committee
on
january
26
2022.
A
This
document
was
sponsored
by
myself
and
counselor
julia
mejia
in
accordance
with
chapter
22,
of
the
acts
of
2022,
modifying
certain
requirements
of
the
open
meeting
law
and
relieving
public
bodies
of
certain
requirements,
including
the
requirement
that
public
bodies
conduct
their
meetings
in
a
public
place
that
is
open
and
physically
accessible
to
the
public.
The
city
council
will
be
conducting
this
hearing
remotely.
A
This
enables
the
city
council
to
carry
out
its
responsibilities
while
ensuring
public
access
to
its
deliberations
through
adequate
alternative
means.
The
public
may
watch
this
hearing
via
live
stream
at
www.boston.gov
citycounciltv
and
on
xfinity8
rcn
82
verizon
964..
It
will
also
be
rebroadcasted
at
a
later
dates.
Written
comments
may
be
sent
to
the
committee
email
at
ccc.gov
at
boston.gov
and
will
be
made
a
part
of
the
record
and
available
to
all
counselors.
A
If
you
wish
to
sign
up
for
public
comment
and
have
not
done
so,
you
may
email
christine
o'donnell
at
boston.gov,
for
the
link
to
do
so,
and
your
name
will
be
added
to
the
list.
This
afternoon
I'm
joined
by
my
council
colleagues,
councillor
julia
mcchia,
councillor,
liz
braden,
councillor,
lucy
louis
then,
council,
president
ed
flynn,
councillor
erin
murphy.
This
home
rule
petition
would
establish
a
transition
from
a
fully
appointed
school
committee
to
a
fully
elected
school
committee
in
the
city
of
boston.
As
currently
written.
The
legislation
takes
a
phase-in
approach
to
the
transition.
A
The
first
phase
would
begin
on
september,
6,
2022
and
add
a
voting
student
member
to
the
body.
The
second
phase
would
begin
on
january,
8
2024
and
would
add
three
at-large
school
committee
members
to
be
elected
in
the
2023
municipal
elections,
who
would
serve
alongside
a
student
member
and
seven
appointed
committee
members,
and
the
final
phase
would
begin
on
january
5th,
2026
and
complete
the
transition
to
a
fully
elected
13-member
school
committee
structure,
all
to
be
elected
in
the
2025
municipal
election.
A
This
hearing
is
an
opportunity
for
our
veteran
counselors
to
refresh
their
memories
of
the
hearing
held
last
year
and
for
new
counselors
to
hear
from
residents
and
advocates,
and
I
would
also
just
state
that
all
aspects
of
what
I
just
said
about
the
homo
petition
in
the
phases
and
all
of
those
different
things
are
still
open
and
edible.
That's
essentially
a
template
for
the
working
sessions
that
will
follow
this
hearing
into
the
rest
of
this
year,
and
so
we
will
be
fine,
honing
and
fine-tuning
all
of
those
things.
A
And
so
this
is
a
chance
to
hear
from
the
public
and
from
our
our
residents
and
advocates
and
counselors
as
to
what
they
would
like
to
see
in
the
in
the
questions
that
they
would
like
to
raise
and
and
work
on
during
those
sessions.
I'll
now
turn
it
over
to
my
co-sponsor
council
mia
for
her
opening
remarks,
followed
by
counselors
in
order
of
arrival,
counselor
mejia,
you
have
the
floor.
B
Thank
you
councillor
for
both
chairing
and
sponsoring
this
hearing.
Thank
you
to
yasmin
from
council
arroyo's
office
for
your
tireless
work
with
the
advocate,
and
thank
you
to
central
staff
for
ensuring
that
we
are
set
up
for
success
for
this
hearing
earlier
today,
our
office
chaired
a
hearing
regarding
the
speculations
of
receivership
for
bps.
B
Perhaps
one
of
the
biggest
points
brought
up
is
how
receivership
puts
barriers
to
democracy
in
place
between
the
people
closest
to
the
pain
and
the
people
closest
to
the
power
there
was
a.
There
was
near
unanimous
agreement
that
we
need
to
be
doing
more
to
increase
family
engagement,
community
interaction
and
government
accountability.
B
The
fact
that
we're
having
these
conversations
back-to-back
is
no
coincidence.
We
cannot
talk
about
the
barriers
to
democracy
without
talking
about
the
need
for
an
elected
school
committee.
As
elected
officials,
we
received
a
mandate
from
the
people
of
boston
that
an
elected
school
committee
needs
to
happen
in
our
city.
There
will
be
times
in
the
future
to
discuss
specifically
how
that
would
work,
but
this
hearing
is
meant
for
us
to
focus
on
the
why?
B
B
This
is
the
second
time
that
we've
held
a
hearing
on
this
docket,
so
I
hope
that
for
our
newcomers,
it
is
extremely
helpful
in
introducing
you
to
the
extensive
work
that
the
advocates
have
put
forth
to
get
us
here
and
the
work
that
needs
to
be
done
moving
forward
and
for
those
of
you
who
are
joining
us
for
a
second
time.
I
hope
that
we
can
use
this
opportunity
to
figure
out
what
we
need
to
do
as
a
body
to
follow
the
will
of
the
people.
B
We
have
an
extensive
group
of
panelists,
I'm
lying
here,
lined
up
here
today
and
although
we
have
panelists
with
academic
backgrounds
or
advocacy
backgrounds
or
lived
experience
in
the
spirit
of
democracy,
everyone
in
our
panel
is
an
expert
everyone
voice
here
matters
and
we
have
an
obligation
to
hear
them
and
to
follow
through
on
that
mandate
that
the
people
of
boston
have
asked
us
to
deliver
on.
So
thank
you
so
very
much
to
the
yes
on
three
coalition
and
all
of
the
folks
who
got
us
this
far.
B
A
C
Thank
you,
mr
chairman.
Thank
you
councillor,
mejia,
for
this
initiative.
I'm
really
here
this
afternoon.
I
know
we
had
a
hearing
on
this
in
our
last
term
and
we're
revisiting
it
again.
I
was,
I
was
almost
expecting
a
working
session
this
afternoon,
but
I'm
I'm
happy
to
listen
to
what
the
advocates
have
to
say
and
and
hear
the
different
points
of
view
on
this
on
this
issue.
Thank
you.
A
Thank
you,
councillor
braden,
the
working
session's
next.
This
is
this
is
the
final
step
before
we
get
to
that
counselor
rusi
louis
jen,
followed
by
council
president
ed
flynn,
who
will
then
be
followed
by
councilor
murphy,
who
will
then
be
followed
by
counselor
clarity.
So
with
that
counselor
louis
gem,
the
floor
is
yours.
D
Thank
you,
mr
chair,
for
this
hearing
and
to
the
sponsors
for
putting
the
issue
of
elected
school
committee
back
front
and
center
and,
of
course,
the
advocates
for
really
pushing
on
this
issue.
There
was
a
mandate
we
received
from
the
city
of
boston
that
residents
not
in
clare
want
an
elected
school
community.
It
is
important
that
we
are
bringing
people
into
democracy
and
that
we
have
more
accountability
and
an
elected
school
committee
gets
us
there.
D
Gene
maguire,
the
first
at-large
black
woman
elected
to
the
boston
city,
council,
boston
city,
boston,
school
committee.
We
have
her
legacy
to
look
up
to
and
to
really
build
upon,
so
that
we
are
drawing
in
more
of
our
parents
more
of
our
english
language
learner
parents,
so
that
we
can
have
true
representation
in
what
are
what
our
schools
look
like.
Obviously,
this
would
be
a
structural
change,
an
important
one
and
there's
a
lot
more
work
to
do
in
improving
our
schools.
D
I
just
want
to
have
two
flags
that
I've
I've
always
flagged
in
the
elected
school
committee.
Discussion
is
one
you
know.
Expensive
elections
can
be
expensive,
so
it'd
be
interesting
to
see.
If
we
can
couple
anywhere
from
with
ideas
of
public
campaign
finance
to
help,
it
ease
the
load
on
folks
and
running
for
office,
and
the
second
issue
is
that
you
know,
elections
are
subject
to
private
capture
and
we
know
here
in
massachusetts
and
in
boston.
We
have
a
very
strong
private
interest
in
public
education.
D
That
does
not
do
good
for
any
of
our
students.
So
I
just
got
to
be
careful
about
that
as
well,
but
just
my
hats
off
to
the
advocates
on
all
the
work
here
fully
supportive
of
having
students
on
the
school
committee
with
voting
power,
because
we
need
to
make
sure
that
we're
listening
to
our
young
people
in
discussion
so
happy
to
be
here
and
happy
to
listen
as
a
new
city
councilor
supporter
of
this
work.
Thank
you.
E
Earlier
today
we
had
a
discussion
about
this
possible
state
receivership
of
boston,
public
school
system
that
I
I
stated
receivership
will
disproportionately
impact
students
of
color.
I
came
out
against
against
that.
I
know
we
have
excellent
teachers
in
our
school
and
now
is
not
the
time
to
turn
our
backs
on
students,
teachers
in
bps
families.
E
Now
getting
getting
to
this
issue,
I
was,
I
was
in
support
of
an
all-elected
school
committee.
I
still,
I
still
probably
feel
that
way.
I
just
want
to
ask
the
question
of
the
timing.
As
we
head
into
the
possible
receivership,
we
have
a
new
mayor.
That's
only
been
here
for
several
months,
we're
in
the
process
of
hiring
a
school
superintendent.
E
We
have
a
struggling
school
system
is
now
the
time
for
is
now
the
time
for
this,
or
should
we
give
or
should
we
give
the
opportunity
for
mayor
wu
to
have
more
time
to
continue,
hopefully
making
progress
with
the
with
the
boston
public
school
system?
Just
some
questions
to
think
about
the
other
question
or
the
other
fact
I
wanted
to
highlight
during
the
most
recent
mayoral
campaign,
I
believe
four
out
of
five
of
the
candidates
were
for
basically
for
a
hybrid
option.
E
I
know
that
wasn't
on
the
ballot,
it
was.
Are
you
in
favor
of
an
elected
school
committee
or
not,
but
four
of
the
five
candidates
running
for
mayor
supported
a
hybrid
option,
just
something
to
think
about
as
well.
We
all
want
what's
best
for
our
students
for
our
children,
for
our
bps
families,
but
we
have
some
serious
questions
that
we
need
to
answer
as
well.
So
thank
you,
mr
chair,
for
giving
me
the
opportunity
to
weigh.
F
Thank
you
thank
you
to
the
chairs
and
for
the
sponsors
of
this
bill
as
an
educator.
I
am
happy
that
I've
spent
my
day
in
meetings
today,
centered
around
education,
and
I
do
know
that
you
know
this
passed
overwhelmingly
in
the
election.
I
really
think
it's
a
mandate
that
the
residents,
the
city
of
boston,
are
not
happy
with
the
boston
public
schools
and
they
want
to
see
change.
F
I
do
just
want
to
echo
what
council
of
flint
said
the
option
of
a
hybrid
wasn't
there.
I
do
think
the
overwhelming
passing
of
this
was
because
that
was
a
stamp
saying.
What's
going
on
now
is
not
working.
We
really
want
a
voice
and
have
a
say,
and
how
do
we
make
this
better?
So
I'm
looking
forward
to
this
conversation
and
the
working
sessions
ahead.
So
thank
you
very
much.
A
A
H
All
right,
thank
you
very
much,
counselor
arroyo
and
counselor
mahia
for
hosting
this
hearing.
Today.
My
name
is
suleika
sotong.
I
have
two
girls
who
attend
boston,
public
schools.
My
oldest
is
at
tech,
boston,
academy
in
dorchester
and
my
youngest
attends
blackstone
elementary
and
the
south
end
where
we
live,
I'm
proud
to
be
a
bps
graduate
and
now,
as
a
parent,
I
am
an
active
member
in
my
school
parent
council,
school
side,
council
and
citywide
parent
council.
H
I
am
also
very
proud
to
be
a
parent
organizer
for
the
boston,
education,
justice
alliance
and
co-founder
of
bps
families
for
covet
safety.
So
again,
thank
you
for
giving
me
the
opportunity
to
speak.
So,
as
I
mentioned,
I
am
one
of
the
many
active
parents
advocating
every
chance
we
get
many
times
for
basic
things,
but
always
for
a
better
boston,
public
schools.
We
as
parents,
students,
educators
and
community
members,
need
and
have
to
have
a
voice
in
the
policy
decisions
voted
on
by
the
boston
school
committee.
H
We
need
to
restore
trust
and
accountability
and
outcomes
and,
like
almost
100,
000
boston
voters.
I
too
believe
the
only
way
to
do
this
is
by
returning
to
an
elected
school
committee,
one
who
serves
in
the
best
interest
of
and
is
accountable
and
responsive
to
parents,
students,
educators
and
our
school
communities
and
city
as
a
whole.
My
first
experience
with
the
boston
school
committee
was
shortly
after
I
learned
about
some
budget
cuts
that
schools
were
facing
in
march
of
2019,
while
picking
my
daughters
up.
H
I
learned
from
another
parent
that,
due
to
the
budget
cuts,
the
blackstone
elementary
was
losing
hundreds
of
thousands
of
dollars
and
with
it
you
know
they
were
set
to
lose
key
teacher
positions
that
supported
students
with
disabilities.
Specifically,
we
were
also
set
to
lose
women
which
to
me
as
a
parent,
is
like
I'm
very
lucky
to
have
a
school
that
has
women,
because
we
know
that
you
know
many
schools.
H
Don't
have
that,
and
students
of
color
have,
you
know:
don't
have
access
to
learning
how
to
swim
because
of
lack
of
access
to
pools
and
resources,
or
what
have
you
so
to
top
things
off.
I
also
learned
at
that
time
that
the
blackstone
there
were
certain
classrooms
that
had
no
walls
and
doors,
which
was
not
only
on
space
because
all
the
school
shootings
that
were
happening
and
we
were
hearing
around
the
country,
but
you
know
it
was
also
very
disruptive
to
students
learning,
especially
my
daughter.
H
You
know
who
has
adhd,
so
we
were
desperate
for
a
solution
at
that
time.
For
someone
to
hear
us
out,
we
marched
with
hundreds
of
other
parents,
students,
educators
and
community
members,
and
we
sat
in
the
school
community
committee
chambers
at
that
time
I
was
in
person
and
we
were
doing
that
in
protests
and
to
plead
not
only
for
our
budgets
not
to
get
cut
but
for
the
safety
of
our
children
to
be
taken
into
consideration.
H
H
You
know
they
have
this
quality
guarantee
that
they're
working
on,
but
a
lot
of
those
ideas
were
brought
on
with
my
parents,
who
you
know
want
to
advocate
for
simple
things
like
clean
bathrooms,
working
sinks,
supportive
staff
right
more
resources,
rather
than
have
to
deal
with
budget
cuts.
So
for
many
weeks
we
went
to
school
committee,
we
testified
and
we
thought
our
voices
were
heard
when
we
left
right
at
the
end,
we
were
promised
five
million
dollars
for
swords
and
walls.
H
You
know,
and
although
we
were
going
to
lose
women,
you
know
we
were
still
satisfied
and
we
thought
that
our
voices
were
heard.
We
came
out
of
there
feeling
hopeful,
but
unfortunately,
under
the
leadership
of
an
appointed
school
committee,
there
is
no
one
to
hold
accountable
for
the
promises
that
were
broken
and
continue
to
be.
We
are
now
on
the
third
mayor,
third
school
committee
chair
and
soon
to
be
third
superintendent
and
the
same
folks
in
the
budget
office.
But
one
thing
that
remains
the
same
is
the
broken
promises.
H
The
lack
of
accountability
for
keeping
these
promises
and
school
communities
continue
to
be
pitted
against
each
other
when
some
receive
resources
that
the
others
that,
for
others,
is
just
the
dream.
So
now
we
have
to
plan
to
advocate,
to
a
new
superintendent
right
and
to
a
new
school
committee
or
to
you
know,
to
a
new
mayor
to
new
everything.
But
again
the
promises
still
remain
broken.
Now
we
have
the
threat
of
receivership,
which
would
make
it
even
worse.
H
You
know
that
would
we
would
lose
more
of
a
voice
which
you
know
now.
At
least
we
could
go
to
school
committee,
but
you
know
we're
not
always
heard
we
have
no
one
to
hold
accountable
for
the
promises
until
the
last
hearing
where
I
connected
to
an
nbc
reporter
and
it
was
published
on
the
news
we
hadn't
heard
anything
until
after
the
news
was
published
like.
Why
does
it
take
a
news
story
for
the
school
committee
and
bps
to
make
changes?
H
Why
do
parents
have
to
protest
in
order
to
get
basic
resources?
And
I
say
that:
that's
because
there
is
no
accountability
and
thank
you,
councillor
flynn,
for
bringing
up
the
thing
around
timing,
but
I
think
now
is
the
time
I
think
it's
been
years
and
years
of
years
of
parents
dealing
with
the
same.
You
know
mayor
after
mayor
school
committee,
after
school
committee,
there's
still
no
accountability,
it's
been
years
and
you
know,
although
we're
hopeful
once
again,
the
news
story
was
out
and
they're
now
promising
a
school
building.
H
I
can't
help
but
feel
guilty
as
a
parent
that
it's
in
the
weeds,
because
I
know
that
the
horace
mann
was
also
promised
the
school
building
and
you
know
now
they
don't
know.
What's
gonna
happen
so
again,
you
know
the
sort
of
the
cycle
of
broken
promises
keeps
on
happening.
So
I
just
wanted
to
say
that
we,
as
parents,
students
and
educators
and
community
members
again
need
and
have
to
have,
a
voice.
H
We
need
to
hold
folks
accountable
and
the
way
to
do
that
is
to
return
to
an
elected
school
committee,
because
you
know
if,
if
we
haven't
been
satisfied,
I'm
not
going
to
say
with
the
mayor's
work
right,
I'm
not
going
to
say
what
the
superintendent's
work.
The
school
committee
votes
to
pass
these
policies
that
pit
against
you
know
pit
us
against
each
other,
and
once
that's
done,
you
know
there's
nothing
that
we
can
do
so
again.
H
A
A
A
G
It
thank
you.
I
appreciate
your
patience,
mr
chair,
thank
you
for
putting
this
together
and
for
the
league
sponsors
efforts.
We
know
what
the
issues
are.
We've
got.
A
third
of
our
students
have
been
habitually
absent.
We've
got
chronically
underperforming
schools,
we've
got
student
athletes
not
able
to
compete
due
to
errors
with
the
city's
athletic
director's
department.
We've
got
fluctuating
graduation
rates,
not
enough.
G
Our
kids
are
getting
into
some
of
the
best
colleges
and
universities
in
the
world
that
call
boston
their
home
and
as
of
late,
we've
got
a
superintendent's
office,
that's
become
a
revolving
door,
so
we
know
what
the
issues
are.
I'm
hoping
that
we're
going
to
start
to
do
some
things
different
and
we're
going
to
start
to
focus
on
teaching
and
learning
and
academic
excellence
and
having
a
curriculum
that
speaks
to
boston's
economy.
G
Our
kids
in
their
families
deserve
no
less
we're
so
boastful
of
having
the
best
colleges
and
universities
in
the
world,
but
we're
not
as
boastful
when
it
comes
to
our
boston,
public
schools.
We
need
to
turn
that
we
need
to
turn
that
around
and
we
need
to
make
sure
we're
putting
our
best
foot
forward,
providing
the
best
quality
education
we
can
for
all
of
our
kids.
All
is
in
all,
including
you
know,
english
language
learners
in
our
special
needs
students,
but
at
the
end
of
the
day
we
can.
G
We
cannot
continue
to
to
pay
what
we're
paying
per
pupil
as
enrollment
continues
to
steadily
decline
and
we're
not
putting
a
good
product
out
there.
So
I
know
that
we
have
a
lot
of
people
that
care.
I
know
that
we
have
a
lot
of
dedicated
professional
teachers
and
and
faculty
and
other
staff
that
are
doing
the
best
they
can,
but
we
cannot
continue
just
to
continue
to
throw
money
somewhere
when
there's
no
accountability.
G
So
my
hope
is
that
an
elected
school
committee
will
be
the
start
of
accountability
and
we
can
start
to
turn
around
these
habitual
and
chronic
issues
that
continue
to
to
dog
our
school
system.
So
with
that,
look
forward
to
the
testimony
and
really
want
to
get
to
how
this
will
work,
how
do
we
envision
an
elected
school
committee
working
in
boston?
What
other
models
out
there
can
we
draw
from
in?
They
need
to
be
successful
models.
They
need
to
be
models
that
we
want
to
emulate
here.
G
I
As
you
might
know,
the
mccormick
has
found
itself
in
the
crosshairs
of
school
committee
decision
making
several
times
over
the
past
three
years
in
2018
school
committee
was
asked
to
vote
to
close
our
school
and
hand
over
the
renovated
building
to
another
high
school.
In
spite
of
our
having
been
engaged
in
a
7-12
expansion
planning
process
for
multiple
years
and
then
in
2019
and
2020,
they
were
asked
to
first
subdivide
and
then
give
away
our
students
only
green
space
access
to
a
local
non-profit
seeking
to
construct
a
field
house.
I
In
both
cases,
our
community's
experience
of
school
committee
was
that
we
had
no
ability
to
access
school
committee
members
outside
of
two-minute
testimonies
in
meetings
that
ran
late
into
the
night.
When
we
asked
to
meet
with
school
committee
members
to
discuss
the
proposal
to
close
our
school,
we
were
told
they
were
not
allowed
to
meet
with
us
alone.
When
we
raised
concerns
about
the
rigged
rfp
process
for
the
field
house
on
mount
vernon
street,
a
process
from
which
our
school
community
was
entirely
excluded.
I
The
previous
school
committee,
chair
simply
kicked
our
concerns
back
to
the
same
central
office.
Employees
who
had
excluded
our
community
in
the
first
place,
what's
become
patently
clear
through
these
experiences
is
that
we,
the
students,
families
and
educators,
are
not
the
constituents
of
the
boston
school
committee.
Instead
of
seeking
to
understand
our
concerns
and
our
needs
through
outreach.
As
an
elected
official,
might
we
find
ourselves
begging
to
be
heard,
knowing
all
the
while
that
our
testimony
is
largely
performative,
as
the
decisions
have
already
been
made
behind
closed
doors
prior
to
actual
votes?
I
I
I
A
A
We
are
joined
by
senator
dianne
wilkerson
from
the
naacp
boston
branch,
education
committee,
beth
wong,
director
of
the
massachusetts
voter
table,
susan
neymark,
former
boston
school
committee,
member
and
ruby
reyes,
director
of
the
boston
education,
justice
alliance.
I'm
going
to
go
to
we're
going
to
start
with
senator
dianne
wilkerson
if
she's
ready.
J
It
is
a
choice
that
the
adults
made
not
to
take
the
step
necessary
to
move
forward
to
segregate
our
neighborhoods,
and
so
in
the
meantime,
we
keep
moving
the
kids
around
and
using
the
kids
as
a
means
to
to
profess
to
be
a
gold
focused
on
a
goal
of
equity.
We
haven't
gotten
there
yet
but
say
the
school
committee
is
among
other
things.
Historically,
and
not
just
for
massachusetts,
I
would
say
across
the
country
school
committees,
local
school
committees
have
been
the
springboard
for
women
all
over.
J
It
is
significant
to
note
that
75
of
bps
students
are
black
and
latino,
and
the
story
of
bussing
is
not
the
whole
story
of
our
system,
but
I
will
tell
you
that
it
started
in
1977,
because
that
is
the
year.
After
almost
two
decades
of
trying,
the
black
latino
and
white
community
allies
were
finally
able
to
deliver
the
first
city-wide
school
committee
person
of
a
seven-minute
seven-person
all-city-wide
counselor
school
committee
at
that
time,
and
that
was
john
d
o'brien.
J
Four
years
later,
gene
mcguire
became
the
second
elected
black
person
to
the
city
council
citywide,
but
also
of
note
in
that
two
years
later,
when
the
the
city.
Actually
I'm
sorry,
I
don't
want
to
read
this
because
it's
too
long
and
I'm
trying
to
go
quickly
but
just
say
that
four
years
later,
gene
mcguire
was
elected
to
the
school
committee
in
1981.
J
It
was
in
1989
that
mayor
raymond
flynn
moved
a
non-binding
question,
just
like
the
one
we
had
in
november
2021,
but
in
1989
that
non-binding
question
was
a
ballot
to
move
to
an
appointed
school
committee.
So,
of
course
you
know
the
history
we
finally
get
there
we
finally
arrived.
We
finally
have
numbers
and
they
changed
the
rules
again
and
they
did.
J
The
business
community
was
very
public
in
their
support
to
abolish
the
school
committee
and,
in
fact,
put
one
million
dollars
on
the
table,
hired
a
campaign
manager
to
really
go
into
the
black
and
latino
community
to
gain
support
to
abolish
the
school
committee
and
what
the
council
should
know
is.
It
did
not
work.
The
black
and
latino
community
in
in
that
time
overwhelmingly
rejected
the
abolition
of
the
school
committee
and
it
really
only
passed
the
city
by
a
1.5
margin.
J
So
when
we
talk
of
a
79
margin
of
victory
and
a
vote,
a
non-binding
vote
in
the
november
of
2021
that
passed
where
in
every
single
precinct
and
every
single
ward
in
the
city,
you
have
to
really
kind
of
take
a
breath
to
think
about
what
that
means,
because
we've
never
had
a
a
question
council.
I
know
you
said
last
week.
I
know
that's
true,
it
is
true.
We've
never
had
you
said
you
thought
it
probably
was
you're
right.
J
J
Some
of
us
believe
the
same
thing
is
happening
now
in
terms
of
the
the
business
community
whispering
and
because
that's
the
only
thing
that
we
could
think
of
that,
would
that
would
justify
the
mayor's
hands-off
attitude
and
unwillingness
to
talk
to
the
people
who
were
involved
in
putting
this
one,
organizing,
the
ballot
question
and
delivering
this
overwhelming
overwhelming
mandate.
We
called
the
65
000
votes
that
the
mayor
received
the
mandate
and
I
think
that
it
was.
J
But
if
you
believe
that
65
000
votes
were
a
mandate,
then
what
say
you
about
99
000
votes,
because
that's
what
this
question
got.
So
if,
if
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
you
again,
I'm
going
to
end
in
there,
I
could
go
on
forever.
But
I
won't
thank
you,
mr
chairman.
Thank
you,
councillor,
mejia,
and
to
the
new
counselors.
J
J
J
But
you
are
our
eyes,
you
are
protector,
our
monitors,
please
get
this
home
rule
petition,
drafted
and
done
and
and
to
the
mayor
and
let
us
let
us
go
to
work
and
and
get
this
to
the
state
legislature,
so
we
can
get
on
with
the
business
of
democracy
in
our
educational
system
in
boston.
Thank
you,
mr
chairman.
K
K
In
my
role
at
baysia,
I
have
sat
through
four
and
a
half
years
of
school
committee
meetings.
I've
given
testimony
at
about
80
to
90
of
those.
I
joined
many
families
in
school
communities
every
two
weeks
worried
about
the
desperate
need
of
our
schools
and
wondering
if
our
school
committee
will
even
mention
them
with
an
appointed
committee.
The
only
official
lever
of
advocacy
that
currently
exists
is
the
two
minutes
allowed
for
public
testimony
at
school
committee
meetings.
K
School
committee
members
are
not
supposed
to
respond
and
many
times
what
families
ask
for
does
not
make
it
to
the
agenda
or
even
get
acknowledged
school
communities
pour
their
hearts
out
in
testimony,
parents
join
in
to
watch
in
the
midst
of
making
family
dinner
parents
who
don't
speak
english
courageously
share
their
experiences
through
an
interpreter
school
communities.
Desperate
for
answers
are
met
with
a
two-minute
time
clock
and
a
sharp
reminder
that,
as
we
share,
our
crisis
for
two
minutes
are
up.
K
This
is
why
the
appointed
committee
doesn't
work
policy
after
policy
being
passed
and
decisions
are
being
made
that
hurt
our
students,
families
and
school
communities.
There's
no
accountability
in
the
structure,
because
the
mayor
selects
people
to
make
decisions
that
are
not
accountable
to
our
families.
K
Central
office
leadership
give
mediocre
and
equitable
presentations
and
share
decisions
that
have
already
been
made
and
get
praised
for
it
by
our
appointed
school
committee
members.
We
have
an
equity
tool
that
involves
pulling
together
a
few
people
as
an
afterthought
to
check
off
stakeholder
input.
Meanwhile,
schools
are
being
closed.
We
have
a
chief
academic
officer,
the
fourth.
In
the
past
four
and
a
half
years,
families
are
being
denied
special
education
and
english
learner
services
and
superintendent.
Dr
coselius
and
central
office
staff
talk
about
quote
unquote,
holding
themselves
accountable
under
normal
circumstances.
K
The
role
of
an
elected
school
committee
member
should
be
to
hold
central
office
accountable
based
on
parent
and
student
continuances.
School
communities
have
to
bear
the
brunt
of
bad
decisions.
Being
made
by
a
superintendent
in
central
office,
who
quote
unquote
hold
themselves
accountable,
school
communities
have
had
to
bear
the
brunt
of
former
school
committee
chair,
michael
lacanto,
making
fun
of
parents
names.
K
School
communities
have
been
to
bear
the
brunt
of
nate
cooter
chief
financial
officer,
explaining
that
the
district
was
going
to
be
transparent
and
communicate
to
school
communities
about
build
bps
less
than
two
weeks
later,
cooter
publicly
refused
to
transparently
share
plans
about
the
future
of
the
horus
man
school
for
the
deaf
and
continues
to
do
so.
Shaw.
Students
had
to
have
a
rally
in
front
of
their
school
to
get
a
fourth
grade.
K
Even
though
they've
been
promised
much
more
over
the
past
10
years,
our
school
communities
have
had
to
bear
the
brunt
of
a
broken
appointed
school
committee
structure.
Some
of
the
pushback
for
an
elected
school
committee
structure
has
been
the
concern
of
special
interest
groups
pushing
their
agendas.
This
currently
happens
in
our
mayoral
appointed
school
committee.
The
decision
to
give
away
the
mccormick
school's
green
space
to
the
boys
and
girls
club
was
a
clear
political
favor.
K
The
mccormick
and
surrounding
communities
came
out
in
droves
and
spoke
in
favor
of
keeping
their
green
space
as
cobit
put
an
increased
importance
on
the
need
for
green
space.
The
decision
was
passed
by
our
appointed
school
committee
anyways
and
what
has
not
been
reversed
by
our
new
mayor
in
may
2019.
K
L
Good
afternoon,
can
you
hear
me?
Okay,
yes,
okay,
my
name's
susan
neymar,
I'm
president
of
jamaica,
plain
thank
you
counselors,
arroyo
and
mejia
for
putting
this
together
the
hearing
together.
So
I
served
on
the
appointed
school
committee
from
1997
until
2005
and
I'm
here
to
share
my
support
for
returning
to
an
elected
school
committee.
L
L
L
When
I
served
on
the
appointed
school
committee,
I
was
constantly
frustrated
that
we
were
not
doing
the
things
that
we
know:
work
to
engage
people
to
engage
families
and
specifically
to
get
input
from
those
who've
been
disenfranchised:
low-income
families,
black
and
other
people
of
color
english
language
learners.
So
I
took
the
lead
to
organize
community
forums
on
behalf
of
the
school
committee,
and
I
had
several
of
my
fellow
committee
members
and
senior
schools
staff
department,
staff
voice,
concerns
like
why
would
we
want
to
set
ourselves
up
to
be
yelled
at
for
three
hours?
L
But
we
held
these
forums
community
forums
over
a
couple
of
years
to
gain
input
on
policy
decisions
in
front
of
us,
and
we
did
I
we
did
the
things
that
engage,
that
we
know
engage
people.
You
know
we
did
personal
outreach
to
parent
groups
and
grassroot
groups
and
youth
groups
and
neighborhood
groups,
and
we
had
child
care
and
translator,
and
then
we
set
up
the
forum
so
that
everybody
had
a
chance
to
talk
to
each
other
and
listen
to
each
other.
L
Hundreds
of
people
showed
up
and
we
got
a
lot
of
really
valuable
input
on
some
of
the
policy
issues
we
were
dealing
with
at
the
time
and
we
also
got
a
lot
of
appreciation
and
thank
yous
and
often
from
the
folks
who
had
been
the
ones
yelling
at
us.
But
this
level
of
input
was
not
the
norm
and
it
still
isn't
for
the
appointed
school
committee
and,
as
others
have
said,
you
know
structurally.
There
is
just
not
the
pressure
to
be
accountable
to
the
families
served
by
our
schools.
L
These
forums
took
a
lot
of
effort
and
they
were
like
a
drop
in
the
bucket
in
terms
of
the
goodwill
and
trust
that
was
lacking
and
obviously
still
is,
and
I
think
we
underestimate
how
much
that
lack
of
trust
undermines
partnership
with
families
and
communities,
and
we
that's
a
missing
piece.
It's
not
just
the
pedagogy
and
the
product,
but
it's
the
process.
L
Trust
is
a
hard
thing
to
measure,
so
it
doesn't
so
it
often
gets
overlooked,
but
you
know
think
about
when
you
don't
trust
an
institution.
What
happens
you
know
you
go
back
to
a
store
or
service
that
didn't
deliver
on
what
it
said
or
where
you
felt
disrespected
or
not
listened
to.
You
know
no
right.
So
how
do
we
build
trust?
You
know
a
number
of
you
spoke
to
the
you
know.
L
The
people
spoke
last
november
and
that's
one
way
is:
we
need
to
listen
to
that
mandate,
that
the
vote
delivered
to
us,
and
you
know,
I
think,
when
we
look
at
the
persisting
racial
achievement
gap.
You
know
the
fixes
have
as
much
to
do
with
that
voice
and
trust
and
democracy
as
they
do
with
pedagogy.
L
You
know
if
there's
one
thing
I
learned
sitting
on
the
school
committee
is
that
when
people
did
feel
her,
they
were
more
likely
to
accept
decisions
that
they
may
not
have
agreed
to
than
when
they
didn't
even
have
any
real
voice
in
in
making
those
decisions.
It's
it's
not
rocket
science,
so
I
just
want
to
end
by
appreciating
the
the
you
know.
L
The
specifics
of
returning
to
the
elected
school
committee
are
not
yet
spelled
out
and
that
you're
going
through
a
process
to
include
those
most
impacted
in
figuring
out
sort
of
what's
the
sequence,
and
what
might
it
look
like
because
that
models,
the
inclusion
that
we
need
in
the
boston
public
school
decision
making
at
the
policy
level?
And
I'm
just
going
to
end
with
a
quote.
I
think
it's
from
peter
sengay,
who
said
change,
moves
at
the
speed
of
trust.
L
You
know
so
we've
all
talked
about.
We
need
change.
Everybody
knows
the
schools
need
change,
but
without
that
trust,
it's
it's
not
going
to
happen,
and
you
know
I
just
would
say
that
returning
to
the
elected,
I
don't
think
by
itself
is
going
to
fix
all
the
problems,
but
it's
an
important
piece
of
the
equation.
L
B
A
B
Just
start
off
with
nasa's
nasa
is
a
bps
student
she's
going
to
be
going
off
to
howard
university,
so
congratulations
and
asajj
is
also
a
very
active
young
person
in
our
boston,
public
schools,
and
I
think
that
her
testimony
really
goes
to
amplify
the
importance
of
having
youth
voice,
not
only
just
a
czech
box
that
we
have
youth,
but
that
young
people
are
also
able
to
vote
on
matters
that
are
impacting
young
people.
So
I'm
curious
nisaj.
What
would
what
would
you
say?
B
M
My
I
envision
having,
if
not
one
at
least
two
student
representatives
are
elected
as
well
on
the
school
committee.
Reason
being
that
again,
like
you
said,
counselors
student
voice
is
very
important
and
I
just
feel
like
students
are
the
people
that
are
directly
impacted
by
all
the
policies
that
are
made
by
the
superintendent
and
school
committee.
So
it's
only
right
that
they
have
a
voice
and
seat
at
the
table,
also
being
that
they're
in
these
schools
and
they're
directly
working
with
their
peers,
so
they
know
what's
best
for
the
students.
M
B
Thank
you
for
that
nasa.
I
just
have
a
few
questions
and
I'm
going
to
kick
it
over
to
my
colleagues
council
arroyo
just
because
I
know
we
have
a
lot
of
folks
who
are
signed
up
for
testimony
as
well.
So
I
I
think
that
it's
really
important
for
us
to
really
underscore
the
importance
of
family
voice,
and
I
love
susan's
comments
in
regards
to
the
best
way
to
in
regards
to
the
whole
trust
factor.
I
see
this
as
a
as
a
bad
relationship.
B
You
know
when
someone
does
some,
you
know
when
you're
involved
in
a
relationship
and
things
fall
apart,
it's
hard
for
you
to
really
rebuild
that
trust,
and
I
think
that
if
we
don't
rip
the
band-aid
off
and
at
this
moment
and
say
now
is
the
time
for
us
to,
because
there's
so
much
transition
happening.
Now
is
the
time
for
us
to
have
an
elected
school
committee
so
that
we
can
ensure
that
folks
who
are
elected
are
able
to
make
sound
decisions
that
are
not
going
to
be
based
on
political,
political.
B
B
You
know
this
whole
idea
and
what
I
have
to
say
is
what
I
see
is
that
as
soon
as
black
and
brown
people
started
really
gaining
political
power,
if
you
will
that's
when
they
decided
to
pump
the
brakes-
and
you
know
I'm
not
going
to
say
that
that
was
what
led
to
it.
But
it
just
feels
to
me
another
way
of
oppressing
the
will
of
the
people
and
and
the
voices
of
communities
that
are
mostly
impacted
by
the
decisions
that
are
being
made
in
our
public
education
system.
B
So
I
just
thought
that
I
was
also
very
interesting
in
terms
of
just
the
timing,
but
we
just
had
our
hearing
on
receivership,
which
many
of
you
attended.
So,
thank
you
so
much
and
I
just
wanted
to
reserve
some
space
to
hear
from
any
of
the
members
of
our
panel
to
talk
about
how
you
see
the
topic
of
an
elected
school
committee
and
receivership
intersecting.
K
K
A
lot
of
the
the
sixth
grade,
expansion
holding
the
the
school
committee
accountable
for
for
adhering
to
their
own
decision
to
have
a
k-6
7-12
model.
First
for
all
schools
that
is
largely
being
pushed
by
families.
The
school
committee
themselves
and
mbps
leadership
are
not
the
ones
really
upholding
to
their
own
policies.
K
H
Yes,
thank
you
yeah
and
I
I
also
wanted
to
say
the
same
thing
like
for
you
to
not
want
receivership,
and
then
you
know,
and
then
you
know
like
receivership
and
an
appointed
school
committee
to
me
are
all
in
the
same
there's
something
that
you
said
earlier
in
earlier
is
hearing,
which
is
we
need
more
democracy,
not
bureaucracy,
and
that's
something
that
really
like
resonated
right.
If
we
go
into
receivership,
that's
going
to
be
a
bureaucracy
and
that's
what
we
currently
have
like
ruby
mentioned.
H
You
know,
they're,
like
everyone
has
says,
there's
no
one
to
hold
accountable
right
now.
The
school
committee
is
supposed
to
hold
the
superintendent
accountable.
Just
like
you
know,
we
we
we
want
more
accountability,
we
don't
want
less
of
it,
so
I
just
think
it
would
be
hypocritical
to
be
you
know,
for
you
know,
or
you
know,
if
you
don't,
if
you
support
one
thing
and
not
the
other
like
that's,
it
doesn't
make
sense.
H
They
both
go
hand
in
hand
they're
both
about
the
one
is
about
retaining
voices
of
families
and
one,
and
it's
more
about
giving
more
voices
to
families
right
like
we
don't
need.
The
opposite,
I
think,
moving
towards
receivership
will
do
the
opposite
of
that
would
undermine
the
voices
of
families
and
of
the
city
of
boston.
I
think
that
we
know
what
our
school
needs
and
that's
why
we
show
up
at
school
committee
and
that's
why
you
know
we
try
to
do
whatever
we
can
to
hold
them
accountable.
H
B
L
Oh
yeah,
just
very
quickly
that
you
know
what
ruby
and
suleika
talked
about.
Yes
and
it
needs
to
be
structural.
You
know
there
needs
to
be
a
systemic
and
structural
way
to
ensure
family
voice,
and
you
know
this
state
can
say
whatever
they
want,
but
that's
there's,
no
structural
guarantee
with
that,
going
that
direction.
K
It
feels
like
part
of
the
the
trust
component
right
is
that
decisions
get
made
without
families,
and
then
families
are
fighting
to
either
maintain
or
push
back
these
like
false
promises,
and
so
that
is
exhausting
for
bps
families,
it's
exhausting
and
and
that's
what
feeds
the
mistrust
right,
and
that
is
part
of
why
structurally
it's
unhealthy,
because
our
families
are
exhausted
and
then
with
the
pandemic.
It
doesn't
help
that
that
exhaustion
is
further
exacerbated
yeah.
B
So
even
just
the
structural
changes
that
we
need
to
make
in
terms
of
who
has
the
right
to
speak,
and
I
think
that
once
you
have
someone
who's
elected,
then
you
feel
like
you're
represent
that
you're
being
represented,
and
so
are
the
issues
and
the
things
that
you
deeply
care
about.
Because
you
put
that
person
in
office.
You
can
also
take
them
out
and
there's
a
didn't.
There's
that's
actually
more
empowering
to
families,
and
I
think
that
that
will
also
help
rebuild
that
trust.
So
I'm
gonna
yield
the
rest
of
whatever
time.
A
C
Thank
you,
mr
chair.
I
was
just
wondering
you
know
in
terms
of
I
found
the
historic
history
lesson
by
senator
wilkerson,
very,
very
helpful,
because
I
I
know
that
it's
a
relatively
recent
thing
that
we've
had
district
one
district
city
councillors
and
that
changed
the
game
completely
for
our
districts
when
we
had
someone
from
the
district
who
understood
the
issues
and
was
able
to
speak
to
those
issues
at
city
in
city
hall
in
the
council.
So
have
we
thought
about
that?
C
A
Yes,
and
so
just
to
be
clear.
Obviously
all
of
this
is
still
moldable
in
working
sessions,
but
currently
the
way
that
it's
written.
We
have
exactly
nine
district
seats
available
similar
lines
and
we
can
figure
all
that
out
in
the
working
sessions
as
to
whether
or
not
it
looks
the
same
or
how
we
craft
that
or
what
that
looks
like.
But,
yes,
there's
at
large
seats
student
seats
and
district
seats
in
the
model
currently.
C
The
think
that
was
really
my
main
question.
It's
been
very,
very
instructional
this
evening
to
really
listen
to
all
the
different
presentations
and
the
role.
I
then,
in
terms
of
my
counselor
flynn,
president
flynn's
concern
about
the
timing,
the
rollout.
When
do
we
expect
that
the
whole
thing
would
be
completely
ruled
out.
A
It
depends
on
the
process,
so
the
phasing
in
of
the
so
the
template
itself
is
modeled
off
of
chicago,
which
went
from
an
appointed
school
committee
to
a
elected
school
committee
within
the
last
two
years,
and
the
format
in
which
they
used
was
a
phased-in
approach.
In
order
to
allow
the
folks
that
are
currently
appointed
to
end
their
terms
and
have
sort
of
a
natural
process
of
replacing
them.
I
also
think
the
phased-in
approach
gives
folks
an
opportunity
to
run
actual
campaigns
and
to
put
together
sort
of
the
community
information.
A
We
haven't
voted
for
school
committee
members
in
quite
some
time,
and
so
you
have
to
do
community
education
on
the
fact
that
this
is
now
an
elected
seat,
and
it
will
be
on
your
municipal
ballots
and
those
kinds
of
things.
But
the
phased-in
approach
currently
starts
with
as
currently
written,
which
obviously
can
change
depending
on
when
this
gets
signed
and
when
this
ultimately
gets
to
the
house
and
all
those
things.
A
But
it
currently
starts
with
2022
student
seat
being
officialized
as
a
voting
seat
and
then
so
with
this
this
coming
school
year
and
then
the
second
phase
would
be
january,
8
2024,
which
would
add
three
at-large
school
committee
members
who
would
be
elected
in
the
2023
municipal
election.
So
it
would
not
be
a
special
election.
It
would
be
on
the
same
ballot
as
all
the
city
council
races.
A
Obviously
it's
a
mayoral
off
year
and
then
in
2026
you
would
see
the
which
would
be
the
2025
election.
You
would
see
the
rest
of
them
transitioning
to
a
fully
elected
school
committee
and
so
you're
talking
about
having
a
fully
elected
school
committee
under
the
model
on
this
on
this
ordinance
by
2026.
A
A
Thank
you
councillor
braden,
and
that
is
a
concern.
I
think
that
many
of
us
share
regarding
excuse
me
regarding
fundraising
and
what
this
would
look
like
for
for
the
school
committee
in
the
future,
but
thank
you
councillor,
brayden
councillor,
louis
jen.
The
floor
is
yours.
If
you
are
already
thank.
D
You,
mr
chair,
and
thank
you
to
everyone
who
spoke.
I
just
have
one
thing
that
I'd
like,
I
think
nasa
to
speak
to
a
little
bit
and
that's
about
student
voting
power
on
the
school
committee
and,
ideally,
what
what
you
think
would
be
best
in
terms
of
the
number
of
students
on
the
elected
school
committee
and
and
why
you
think
that
would
be
the
right
answer.
B
D
D
It
can
be
a
very
daunting
process
when
you
have
a
bunch
of
you
know,
adults
around
saying
you
know
talking,
and
it
could
be
very
intimidating
for
that
young
person
to
feel
like
they
have
their
voice
heard
or
that
they
can.
You
have
a
partner
on
among
the
adults,
so
just
just
advocating
for
multiple
student
voices
on
the
school
committee
with
voting
power.
Of
course,.
E
One
of
them
is,
and
this
isn't
a
reason
for
it
or
against
it's
just
something
just
something
to
consider.
I
know
some
of
my
colleagues
mentioned
it
if
we
have
an
elected
school
committee
which
which
I
support,
but
if
we
have
an
elected
school
committee,
is
there
a
possibility?
Can
we
look
across
the
country
and
see
if
this
has
happened?
Are
there
organizations
in
support
of
charter
schools?
Are
there
organizations
in
support
of
voucher
programs
that
weigh
heavily
financially
in
support
of
one
particular
candidate
and
against
another
candidate?
A
So
we
certainly
know
that
school
privatization,
money
and
charter
money
plays
a
role
in
every
election.
I
mean
in
our
last
mayoral
election.
We
certainly
saw
a
lot
of
money
come
from
those
camps
through
independent
expenditure,
super
pacs,
things
of
that
nature,
and
so
I
I
can
tell
you
that
I
know
that
they've
played
a
role
in
funding
in
other
races.
A
E
Yeah
yeah.
Thank
you,
mr
chair.
I
think
that's
a
that's.
An
important
part
of
this
discussion
is,
I
just
want
to
want
to
see.
I
want
to
want
to
see
some
business
group
come
in
here
with
three
hundred
thousand
dollars
and
put
it
on
on
a
candidate
and
that
candidate
win
and
then
that
person
on
the
school
committee
is
owned
by
the
by
the
charter
school
of
voucher
programs.
That's
my
that's
one
of
my
concerns.
The.
A
E
Thank
you
yeah
thank
thank
you,
council,
mejia
and-
and
I
guess
my
final
question
of
council
royal
chair
royal,
is,
is
just
a
comment
or
a
question.
If
you
want
to
respond
to
it,
but
as
we
continue
the
process
of
seeking
a
school
superintendent,
just
thinking
out
loud,
what
what
impact
would
this
have
on
potential
potential
candidates
that
want
to
be
superintendent?
E
Knowing
that
this
is
likely
a
change
in
the
school
committee
structure?
Do
we
have
we
reached
out
at
all?
I
guess
my
question
is:
have
we
reached
out
at
all
to
the
to
the
search
committee?
It's
a
group
out
of
texas
that
have
we
reached
out
to
the
the
search
committee,
letting
them
know
that
it's
likely
that
we're
heading
towards
an
elected
school
committee
and
that
the
incoming
superintendent
will
likely
be
working
with
a
an
elected
school
committee.
A
So
I
have
not,
I
can't
speak
for
other
counselors
or
whether
or
not
the
administration
has
made
that
central
to
any
conversation
with
the
search
committee.
I'm
sure
it's
something
that
the
incoming
superintendent
will
have
to
consider
upon
a
decision
to
ultimately
take
this
job
or
not.
But
what
I
would
say
is
one
of
the
things
that
has
most
pushed
me
in
the
direction
of
supporting
an
elected
school
committee.
A
Is
that
currently,
as
written
in
the
appointed
school
committee,
is
supposed
to
hire
and
fire
and
make
those
calls
on
our
our
school
superintendents,
and
particularly
under
the
last
administration,
where
we
had
superintendent,
tommy
chang
fired
and
it
didn't
seem
like
the
school
committee,
even
knew
that
was
happening.
And
then
you
had
a
replacement
in
place
in
the
interim
with
laura
perriel
and
they
didn't
seem
to
know
that
was
happening
at
the
time
and
then
finally,
we
made
it
higher.
A
It
feels
like
that
process
is
often
the
superintendent
serves
at
the
pleasure
of
the
mayor
more
than
at
the
pleasure
of
the
school
committee,
which
is
who
is
supposed
to
be
grading
and
holding
them
accountable
to
their
job,
hiring
and
firing
them.
So
I'm
not
sure
how
much
you
know.
Obviously
it's
a
big
change
to
go
from
from
that
to
an
elected
school
committee.
A
I
know
with
the
city
council,
for
instance,
we
don't
cede
our
powers
very
easily,
so
I
think
they
would
likely
have
to
take
into
consideration
a
different
sort
of
structure
where
ultimately
they're
they're
going
to
be
more
responsible,
I
think
than
they
currently
are
to
that
school
committee
and
to
the
people
who
elect
them
than
to
say
the
mayor
in
the
structure
that
we
currently
have.
But,
of
course
you
know,
that's
always
a
balance,
and
I
and
I
do
think
that
they
will
have
to
take
that
into
consideration.
A
I
think
that's
a
fair
question
about
how
it
impacts
the
next
superintendent,
because
the
reality
is
this.
Next
superintendent
is
going
to
be
hired
by
this
school
committee
as
it's
currently
composed,
and
this
will
not
beat
that
process.
This
will
not
take
effect
until
after
that
person's
already
hired.
So
I
think
that's
a
fair
conversation
councilman
here.
B
If
this
is
a
national
search,
I'm
going
to
assume
that
many
of
those
folks
are
walking
into
this
understanding
that
at
some
point,
when,
once
we
do
transition
into
an
elected
school
committee,
because
I'm
going
to
speak
it
into
existence
that
that
this
should
be
an
expectation
that
they
walk
into
understanding
that
there
is
a
slight
possibility
that
this
will
be
the
case.
So
I
think
that
you
know
it's
a
fair
concern,
but
I
do
believe
that
folks,
who
are
going
to
be
applying
should
come
in
with
that
expectation.
E
Yeah,
thank
you.
Thank
you
councilman
here
my
I
agree
with
you.
My
request,
mr
chair,
is:
maybe
the
city
council
send
a
letter
to
the
search
committee,
at
least
at
least
go
on
record
that
there's
this
strong
possibility
of
an
elected
school
committee
and
that
that
can
that
should
be
facted
in
on
on
the
upcoming
application
process,
just
so
that
you
know
some
just
so
that
potential
candidates
are
are
aware
of
it.
They
they
may
have
worked
with
elected
school
committees
in
the
past
in
their
respect
respective
districts.
E
A
A
G
I'm
good,
mr
chairman,
just
quick
housekeeping
matter.
I
think
it's
either
yours
or
it
could
be
console
me.
He
is
sounds
like
there
might
be
a
smoke
detector
or
a
carbon
monoxide
detector
that
might
be
beeping,
so
just
want
to
make
sure
that
whoever
it
is
that
take
the
necessary
steps
to
get
a
battery
in
that.
So
no
one
has
any
incidents.
So
just
a
friendly
reminder,
because
I
can
hear
it-
I
don't
know
if
it's
yours
or
julius,
but
it's.
N
O
G
I
want
to
make
sure
no
one
rests
on
their
laurels
here
that
there
was
no
organized
opposition
to
the
ballot
question
like
there
had
been
in
years
past
and
also
put
you
know
put
in
play,
the
taxpayers
have
had
it
with
chronically
underperforming
schools.
Parents
are
concerned
about
school
safety,
they're
frustrated
with
the
school
assignment
process.
G
Folks
are
outraged
about
ballooning
transportation
costs
where
we're
spending
more
money
on
fuel
maintenance
and
repair
and
brake
pads
and
windshield
wipers
than
we
are
with
respect
to
before
and
after
school
wrap-around
programs,
money
that
could
be
better
spent
in
the
classroom
for
smaller
class
size,
etc.
Parents
are
concerned
not
enough
ap
courses,
options
and
college
prep
work
and
then,
of
course,
our
english
language
learners
and
our
special
needs
students
and
their
families
and
parents
who
are
frustrated.
G
So,
all
of
that
it
was
very
combustible
and
again
with
no
opposition,
so
I
just
want
to
make
sure
I've
heard
several
times.
You
know
the
language,
you
talk
about
mandate,
mandate,
mandate.
Well,
you
know
it
was
almost
like
the
perfect
storm.
I
just
want
to
make
sure
when
we're
creating
this
and
we're
setting
it
up
that
we're
doing
so.
You
know
giving
it
obviously
lasting
power,
but
making
sure
that
we're
looking
at
other
school
districts
that
have
elected
school
boards
and
really
to
dovetail
on
council
of
braden.
G
You
know
just
to
kind
of
get
a
structure
or
get
a
sense
as
to
what
is
this
going
to
look
like
and
how
do
we
make
it?
The
best
school
committee
elected
school
committee
in
the
country?
That's
where
my
focus
is,
you
know,
and
so
I
guess,
to
lack
of
a
better
term
sort
of
leave
the
politics
out
of
it
and
let's
put
teaching
and
learning,
let's
put
the
children
and
bps
families
first
and
and
have
everybody
be
well
intentioned
to
make
sure
that
we're
moving
the
dial
and
closing
these
gaps.
G
So
through
the
chair,
I
guess
is
any
sense
as
to
sort
of
maybe
this
is
more
for
a
working
session,
but
you
know
we're
going
to
be
talking
about
the
structure
of
what
this
is
going
to
look
like.
There
are
only
36
participants
on
this
call.
I
clearly
think
that
we
may
need
to
have
a
broader
conversation
and
get
out
into
the
communities
with
this
to
get
a
sense
as
to
how
they
would
like
to
see
it
function,
given
that
they
voted
for
it.
G
So
that's
that's
my
two
cents
on
it.
We
obviously
want
to
make
sure
we
put
the
best
product
on
the
field
if
you
will
and
the
focus
on
our
kids
and
bps
families.
You
know
whether
it's
nine
district,
whether
it's
that
large
component,
whether
we
obviously
need
to
have
student
capacity,
so
I
guess
from
your
perspective,
I
guess
what
is
this
going
to
look
like
and
when
can
we
start
to
get
into
the
meat
potatoes
of
of
the
structure
and
the
functioning
of
the
elected
school
committee?.
A
Thank
you,
council
clarity,
so
I
know
that
councilman
he
and
myself
have
had
about,
I
think,
four
or
five
community
meetings
already
in
different
languages,
with
translators
and
interpreters
over
the
last
three
months.
I
think
we
have
another
one
still
scheduled
to
go
in
mandarin,
and
so
that
work
is
already
happening
in
terms
of
the
working
sessions.
I
believe
we
have
the
first
one
this
month.
I
don't
think
this
is
going
to
be
done
in
one
working
session.
To
be
perfectly
honest
with
you,
so
this
will
be
multiple
working
sessions.
A
The
hope
is
that
this
can
be
a
collaborative
process
within
the
the
council
itself,
as
we
put
this
together
each
each
person
representing
their
constituents
to
put
together
the
very
best
thing
we
can
for
parents
and
students,
and
I
will
just
say
that
that
combustibility,
that
you
are
speaking
to,
I
think
it's
an
accurate,
accurate
portrayal
of
where
voters
are
with
the
lack
of
control
of
our
schools.
From
from
a
voter's
perspective
from
a
teacher's
perspective
with
the
appointed
school
committee
process,
I
think
folks
are
done
with
it.
A
A
So
we
all
feel
or-
or
the
majority
of
this
council
feels
like
we
are
in
a
position
to
send
something
to
the
mayor
that
we
are
all
proud
to
have.
I
I
don't
think
anybody
I
said
well
I'll
speak
for
myself.
I
certainly
don't
think
likely
the
fact
that
this
has
been
an
almost
20
30-year
fight
for
an
elected
school
committee
again,
and
so
the
goal
here
is
to
get
this
as
right.
As
we
can
so
that
we're
not
rushing
that
process,
and
so
that's
that's,
why
we're
sort
of
doing
this?
A
That's
why
we're
having
two
hearings,
because
we
have
five
new
counselors
who
weren't
here
for
the
last
hearing
so
rather
than
just
jump
right
into
working
sessions.
I
wanted
to
give
folks
another
shot
to
hear
from
folks
and
to
and
to
really
say
what
they're
looking
for
and
what
they're
trying
to
do,
and
so
my
hope
is
not
to
rush
that
process.
Counselor
clarity.
A
B
B
So
that
is
definitely
in
the
ma
has
been
part
of
our
process
to
ensure
that
community
voice
are
are
the
ones
who
are
leading
us
in
in
this
charge,
and
I
also
think
you
know
to
your
point
in
terms
of
all
of
the
issues
that
you
named,
that
is
wrong
with
bps
from
chronically
apps
and
students
to
you
know
all
of
the
other
issues
that
you've
named.
You
know
as
a
bps
graduate
and
a
bps
mom.
B
I
understand
this
from
my
own
lived
experience,
and
that
is
one
of
the
reasons
why
we're
at
a
point
right
now
that
an
elected
school
committee
is
the
way
to
go
to
ensure
that
people
are
making
decisions
based
on
on
the
needs
of
students
and
not
on
the
needs
of
political
interests.
So
absolutely
agree,
and
I
think
that,
as
we
continue
to
move
forward,
I
will
make
sure
that
I
change
my
battery
so
the
next
time.
I
don't
blow
up
your
ears
and
thank
you
for
that
feedback.
A
P
A
P
Okay-
and
I
guess
my
question
is
more
so
on:
are
there
any
other
models
across
you
know
the
country
across
the
state?
You
know
that
are
working
that
we
we
can
model
after
I'm
bringing
here
to
to
boston
in
terms
of
how
many
people
sit
on
or
sit
on
that
elective
school
committee
or,
if
there's
anything
else
that
they're
doing
differently,
that
we're
not
thinking
of.
A
Yeah,
so
I
would
just
say
that
every
municipality
in
the
state
has
a
school
committee,
that's
elected.
I
don't
know
that
we
would
copy
all
of
their
models
in
terms
of
who
sits
where
and
how
many
I
think
we
would
probably
want
to
look
at.
I
think
counselor
flaherty
has
brought
this
up
a
number
of
times
sort
of
size,
sizable
school
districts
that
look
like
ours.
Chicago's
was
one
that
was
appointed
like
ours.
A
That
did
the
work
to
become
elected
again
like
we
are
doing
here
and
that's
recent
other
other
bodies
have
been
elected,
certainly
for
a
different
amount
of
time,
and
we
can
look
at
all
those
sort
of
models
as
examples
and
see
what
works
best
and
what
works
there.
But
we
are
the
anomaly.
I
just
want
to
be
clear
that
an
appointed
school
committee
is
an
anomaly.
That's
not
that's
not
the
way
that
this
works.
I'm
not
aware
of
any
hybrids.
I'm
happy
to
happen
to
do
some
research
on
that.
A
I'm
sure
there
might
be
one
somewhere
in
the
country,
but
we
are
the
the
sort
of
exception
to
the
rule
with
our
appointed
structure
and
we
did
a
lot
of
work
back
in
night
and
I'm
I'm
using
we
liberally
here
I
mean
we
as
the
city
of
boston
did
work
in
1992
to
go
to
that
model.
It
was
it
required
charter,
changes
and
all
kinds
of
things,
and
now
we're
now.
This
is
sort
of
reversing
it
back
to
that.
So.
A
K
I
actually
just
wanted
to
chime
in
on
something
counselor
flaherty
said,
I
think,
in
terms
of
the
the
blanket
statement
of
calling
schools
chronically
underperforming.
I
really
just
want
to
encourage
you
to
really
think
about
mcas
being
used
as
the
final
performance
for
for
whether
a
school
or
district
is
chronically
underperforming.
K
G
Thank
you,
council
royale,
just
for
for
the
record
ruby,
I'm
on
record
of
not
supporting
mcas
as
the
sole
criteria
for
our
school
systems.
You
can
check
the
record
and
the
facts
on
that.
The
facts
are,
though,
that
we
have
a
lot
of
schools
that
are
underperforming
and
have
repeatedly
underperformed
year
after
year
after
year,
we
city,
boston,
boston,
city,
council,
continue
to
fund
them
and
the
per-pupil
costs
continue
to
increase.
G
At
the
same
time,
enrollment
decreases
so
of
the
fleet
of
121
schools,
I'm
happy
to
go
through
and
we
can
cherry-pick
together
the
schools
that
chronically
underperform
and
I've
had
a
front
row
seat.
As
the
longest-serving
member
of
the
city,
council
and
I've
participated
in
the
budgets
and
I've
attended
and
have
visited
the
schools
and
it's
primarily
it's
usually
the
same
list
of
schools
that
are
mcas
aside
mcas
aside,
so
it's
school
leadership,
it's
parental
participation,
we'll
go
through
the
last
parental
participation.
G
When
you
think
about
the
schools
that
are
performing
well-
and
you
look
at
those
common
denominators-
and
you
put
them
up
against
the
schools
that
are
not-
and
you
see
where
people
parents
are
pulling
their
kids,
for
example
like
the
condon
school
in
southwest,
I
want
to
say
over
the
last
several
years,
400
people
have
pulled
the
400.
The
enrollment
has
decreased
by
400
students.
G
G
So
I
appreciate
your
point,
but
I
just
want
you
to
know
that.
Never
once
have,
I
felt
or
said
that
the
mcas
should
be
the
be-all
end-all.
It
should
be
a
factor
a
you
know,
helpless
barometer,
but
particularly
from
speaking
to
someone
that
didn't
always
test
well
in
standardized
tests.
I've
never
once
thought
that
the
mcas
should
be
the
sole
criteria
for
whether
or
not
a
child
should
move
from
one
grade
to
the
other,
or
they
should
be
able
to
graduate.
So
I
just
want
you
to
to
know
that.
B
Yes,
thank
you,
ruby
for
for
uplifting
that
I
think
it's
important
for
us
as
we
continue
to
have
these
conversations
as
to
I've
been
really
encouraging
folks
to
lead
with
assets
right.
Our
children
are
not
vulnerable
or
marginalized,
they're
resilient
right,
and
I
also
think
we
have
an
opportunity.
This
is
what
I've
been
saying
everywhere.
That
I
go
is
that
we're
all
responsible
for
the
state
of
the
education
system
right
now,
every
single
one
of
us
on
the
council
deci.
B
So
I
I
think
that
accountability
has
to
be
shared
and
it
can't
just
be
about
boston,
public
schools
and
boston
public
schools.
Failing.
I
think
we
also
need
to
recognize
that
in
many
ways
we
have
all
played
a
role
in
the
the
circumstances
that
we
find
ourselves
in.
So
I
think
it's
really
important,
as
we
continue
to
talk
through
not
just
this
hearing
on
all
things
that
deal
with
anything
here
in
the
city
of
boston.
As
that
accountability
is
360.,
and
I
think
you
know,
as
I'm
I
might
not
be
the
longest
serving
counselor.
B
B
You
know
it's
just
another
conversation
about
another
conversation,
but
the
political
will
and
courage
to
really
do
right
by
our
students
sometimes
fall
short,
and
I
think
that
this
is
one
of
the
reasons
why
I'm
such
a
big
supporter
of
an
elected
school
committee,
because
at
some
point
I
think
that
that's
what's
going
to
change.
The
conversation
is
by
having
people
who
are
elected
and
who
will
be
held
responsible
and
accountable
to
the
people
who
put
them
in
office.
A
J
J
There
is
currently
no
successful,
hybrid
school
pro
committee
that
is
operating
to
anything
near
rave
reviews.
We
have
three
that
are
actually
in
the
process
of
reverting
back
to
the
elected
school
process
and,
in
fact,
counselor.
The
chairman
mentioned
chicago
the
pointed
system
that
is
in
the
process
of
reverting.
What
you
should
note
is
that
they're
reverting
from
appointed
because
the
state
took
them
over
and
it
didn't
work
so
they're,
going
back
to
an
elected
school
committee.
J
State
took
them
over
in
2016.,
prince
prince
george
county
system
on
the
dmv
maryland
is
the
other
they
actually
voted.
They
appointed
an
elected
school
committee
voted
in.
I
think
it
was
january
of
this
year
that
declared
this
was
a
failure.
They
were
suing
each
other.
It's
been
nothing
but
chaos,
they.
They
voted
to
go
back
to
elected
school
committee
and
they
were
so
anxious
about
it.
J
I
think
what
the
lesson
in
the
history
for
boston
and
even
massachusetts
has
shown
us
is
that
yeah
we've
had
some
schools
that
have
been
historically
chronically
underperforming
on
what
what
I
think
we
could
conclude
we
should
conclude:
is
that
giving
them
to
the
state
doesn't
make
it
any
better.
There
is
something
that
we
need
to
do.
J
We
have
some
examples
in
boston
that
the
state,
because
they
were
underperforming,
they
didn't
get
any
better
when
the
state
designated
them
underperforming
and
took
them
over.
I
absolutely
agree
with
you
that
that
we
have
some
that
are
classified
as
chronic
and
we
need
there
are
things
we
need
to
do
for
sure,
but
I
think
it
may
be
something
more
more
likely
to
be
effective
if
that
thing
is
determined
right
here
on
the
ground
and
the
city
about
what
we
do
with
the
schools
that
are
in
that
category
of
underperforming.
A
G
You,
mr
jan,
thank
you
to
the
senator
yeah.
I
did
raise
it
in
my
opening
and
I-
and
I
also
want
you
to
know,
I'm
on
record
of
a
fully
elected
committee
yeah.
So
I'm
not
I'm
not
I'm
not
going
by,
but
I
know
that
it
was
just
mentioned
in
terms
of
I
think
it
was.
My
cauli
council
breed
just
want
to
kind
of
get
the
break
down
in
terms
of
what
we
thought.
G
But
but
I
appreciate
that
and
of
course
I
I
come
from
it
as
someone
who
went
to
the
public
schools
and
my
kids
went
to
the
public
schools
that
I'm
just
passionate
about
it.
So
I
know
folks
get
fired
up
from
time
to
time
when
I
will
phrase
something
sort
of
chronically,
but
the
fact
of
the
matter
is
I
created
boston
year,
13
out
of
frustration
that
we
boast
the
best
colleges
and
universities
in
the
world,
but
not
enough
of
our
kids.
G
Our
bps
kids
get
to
go
to
those
schools,
in
fact,
many
of
those
that
have
the
ability
to
to
go
to
college
many
of
them
home
after
their
first
semester.
So
we
need
to
do
a
better
job
of
not
just
that
kid
comes
across
the
stage
with
his
or
her
diploma,
which
is
great.
It's
a
great
moment.
It's
a
hudson
high
five
moment,
but
we
as
a
city
we've
never
tracked.
G
Those
kids-
and
I
know
that
council
orel
is
is-
is
doing
the
the
the
cradle
pipeline
piece
which,
which
is
which
is
excellent.
We
need
to
do
better
than
just
having
that
kid
come
across
the
stage
with
a
high
school
diploma,
particularly
when
we
boast
of
the
best
college
universities,
particularly
when
ceos
are
moving
their
company
here
and
again.
My
frustration
is
that
we
need
to
have
a
curriculum
that
matches
boston's
economy.
So
but
again,
I
think
we're
all
on
the
same
page.
G
Here
we
all
want
the
best
product
we
want
to
produce
the
best
for
our
students
and
that's
the
goal
here.
So
I
want
to
make
sure
we
all
stay
focused
on
on
that,
whether
we,
whether
we
use
a
particular
adjective
or
not,
or
we're
more
passionate
or
heated
up,
I
need
to.
I
need
my
fire
and
smoke
alarm
to
be
going
off
here
here
so
but
anyways.
That's
it
good
to
see.
You
senator,
and
I
appreciate
your
comments.
A
A
I'm
we're
gonna
go
in
order
of
signing
up
for
public
testimony
if
you
have
signed
up
for
public
testimony
great
you're
on
this
list.
If
you
haven't,
please
email
ccc.go
at
boston.gov,
and
we
will
bring
you
in
and
do
it
that
way
kerry.
I
think
you're
doing
public
comment.
I'm
gonna
ask
that
you
bring
folks
in
one
at
a
time,
not
three
at
a
time,
if
they're
already
here,
fine
but
don't
just
bring
everybody
in.
Please
allow
me
to
call
folks
in,
and
so
we
can.
A
E
Yeah,
thank
you,
mr
chair.
I
just
had
one
question.
I
apologize
for
taking
up
any
time
from
the
public,
but
if,
if
we
do
receive,
if
this,
if
bps
is
under
receivership,
what
what
will
the
communication
be
like
with
the
new
school
committee
elected
school
committee
and
the
receivership
and
in
the
superintendent
have
ever
in
in
the
city
council
in
may?
Have
we
have
we
thought
about
that?
A
That
that
will
be
something
that
we'd
have
to
see
if
we're
under
receivership.
I
know
that
lawrence,
for
instance,
has
been
under
receivership
for
almost
a
decade
now
not
a
full
decade
with
an
elected
school
committee,
and
so
you
know,
I
think
it
works
its
way
through
that
process,
essentially
the
the
same
way
we'll
just
have
to
cross
that.
I
would
hope
that
we
aren't
under
receivership.
A
A
Thank
you,
so
I'm
gonna
start
with
sharon
hinton.
If
you
are
here
sharon,
I'm
gonna
go
ahead
and
set
up
my
timer
if
you'll
humor
me,
while
I
get
that
set
up
so
that
we
keep
everybody
at
the
same
time,
once
we
hit
two
minutes,
you're
gonna
get
muted
at
the
two
minute
mark
just
to
keep
it.
We
have
a
long
list
today
for
public
testimony
which
I'm
grateful
for
everybody
who
cares
about
our
schools
and
is
taking
this
time
out
to
say
something.
A
Q
Thank
you:
I'm
sharon
hinson
mother
of
a
bps
graduate
former
bps
student
and
employee
educator
community
advocate
executive
director
of
black
teachers
matter
ana
hyde
park
homeowner.
I
heard
comments
today
talking
about
timing,
the
timing
of
the
superintendent
leaving
timing
of
the
desi
school
takeover
timing
of
the
elected
school
committee,
and
if
she
should
wait
for
the
mayor
to
do
what
she
thinks
is
best,
let
me
just
say
you
make
time
for
what's
important
to
you
in
some
situations.
Timing
is
everything.
Q
Superintendent
conselius
didn't
attend
this
morning,
city
council
on
the
decision
ship,
because
she
was
at
the
dentist
and
neither
did
mayor
wu.
The
reverend
dr
martin
luther
king
jr
and
his
letter
from
the
birmingham
jail
talked
about.
Why
we
can't
wait.
99
000
voters
have
stated
we
want
an
elected
school
committee
and
no
longer
want
to
wait.
There
is
no
successful
model
of
a
hybrid
school
committee
in
any
urban
school
system.
Q
The
size
of
boston
boston
has
had
an
elected
school
committee
in
varying
numbers
until
1991
and
appointed
school
committee
for
several
decades
under
several
different
administrators
and
revolving
door
of
superintendents.
The
pending
deci
mou
is
a
testament
to
the
result
of
that
failed
venture
at
the
expense
of
parents,
students
and
teachers.
If
the
desi
receivership
goes
through
and
the
bs
the
boston
school
committee
is
elected,
desi
receivership
will
take
over
governance
and
operation
of
this
boston
school
department
and
further
disenfranchise
the
marginalized
parents,
teachers
and
students,
elected
officials.
Q
Q
Voting
is
an
essential
part
of
democracy
and
how
dare
we
say,
voters
can't
decide
who
governs
other
elected
offices
but
and
know
who
governs,
who
runs
their
children's
schools
and
now
can't
govern
who
runs
their
children's
schools.
If
not,
if
we
have
a
school
committee,
but
when
we
have
a
skip
and
when
we
have
a
school
committee,
why
shouldn't
we
have
an
elected
school
committee?
Massachusetts
established
public
education
and
led
the
country
in
1635.?
Q
Let's
leave
the
country
return
to
a
fully
elected
school
committee
in
2022,
nbr
beyond
chicago
is
not
the
model.
Chicago
chicago
was
forced
to
go
back
to
elected
school
committee
when
mayor
lightfoot
wanted
it
to
still
be
appointed,
and
there
has
now
been
a
class
action
lawsuit
in
chicago
filed
by
the
12
000
black
teachers,
who
were
forced
out
of
the
system
when
it
was
appointed.
Thank
you
very
much
for
having
this
hearing
and
I
appreciate
your
listening.
R
Hello,
can
you
hear
me?
Yes,
okay,
my
my
name
is
dan
french,
I'm
speaking
as
a
jp
resident
father
of
a
bps
grad
board,
president
of
citizens
for
public
schools
and
member
of
bostonians
for
an
elected
school
committee.
We've
now
had
30
years
of
history
of
an
appointed
school
committee
and
bps
has
made
little
progress
in
eliminating
institutional
policies
that
result
in
gross
inequities
and
opportunity,
and
access
for
students
of
color,
english
learners
and
students
with
disabilities
to
quality
education
under
mayoral
control.
R
We've
seen
a
rapid
succession
of
superintendents
contributing
to
district
upheaval.
We've
endured
a
school
committee
in
which
members
are
beholden
to
the
wishes
of
one
person.
The
mayor
with
important
decisions
being
made
behind
closed
doors
last
november,
boston
voters
spoke
loud
and
clear,
with
almost
4
out
of
5
voters
saying
they
want
an
elected
school
committee,
the
referendum
garnered
50
percent,
more
votes,
99
000
than
did
mayor
wu
with
65
000
votes,
winning
in
every
warden
precinct.
The
city,
council
and
mayor
should
respect
the
will
of
the
people.
R
Up
until
this
point,
the
mayor
has
refused
to
meet
with
a
coalition
bostonians
for
an
elected
school
committee.
As
someone
who
voted
for
mayor
wu,
she
needs
to
engage
the
moon
community.
Staying
on
the
sidelines
is
one
more
example
of
why
we
need
a
fully
elected
school
committee
and
by
the
way,
there's
zero
evidence
that
hybrids
are
an
effective
model.
An
elected
school
committee
is
a
fundamental
democratic
and
civil
right
in
one
of
the
most
racially
and
language.
R
Diverse
communities
in
the
state
boston
is
the
only
city
or
town
in
which
voters
are
denied
the
right
to
democratically
elected
school
committee
members.
It
is
no
coincidence
that
this
is
occurring
in
a
district,
enrolling
85
percent
students
of
color
one
more
way
of
disenfranchising,
historically
marginalized
groups.
R
It's
time
to
restore
that
that
right,
I
urge
the
city
council
and
mayor
to
expedite
the
process
of
designing
a
new
elected
school
committee
structure
in
2022
that
ensures
representation
and
accountability,
including
a
student
rep
on
the
committee,
and
make
this
a
top
priority
to
ensure
that
home
rule
petition
moves
from
city
hall
to
the
state
house
in
a
timely
manner.
Thank
you.
S
Hi
and
good
afternoon,
I'm
mary
battenfeld,
jamaica,
plain
resident
mother
of
three
recent
bps
graduates
and
a
member
of
the
grassroot
parent
group
quality
education
for
every
student.
Thank
you
for
holding
this
hearing
and
for
listening
other
than
rooting
for
the
sox
brew
and
celtics
and
patriots.
It's
hard
to
find
things
that
bostonians
agree
on,
but
in
november,
from
every
square,
in
the
city,
maverick
to
codman,
to
nubian,
to
sullivan,
to
eggleston,
to
oak
to
kenmore
voter
said
in
a
loud,
clear
and
unified
voice.
We
don't
want
the
mayor
to
pick
our
school
committee.
S
Virtually
no
evidence
supports
claims
that
appointed
school
boards
help
improve
schools,
but
lots
of
evidence
shows,
as
professor
domingo
morell
of
rutgers
university
has
said,
that
takeovers
are
unequivocally
disempowering
to
local
communities.
Research
also
shows
appointed
governance
systems
are
racialized
imposed
on
and
against
the
wishes
of
communities
of
color.
S
To
be
sure,
there
are
barriers
to
a
diverse
representative
school
committee
under
a
fully
elected
system,
but
the
answer
isn't
partial:
is
it
full
or
partial
disenfranchisement
under
a
dubious
and
disingenuous
hybrid
structure?
It's
to
implement
procedures
such
as
district,
rather
than
city-wide
seats,
on-year
election
cycles,
public
financing,
voting
for
undocumented
residents
that
create
a
more
equal
electoral
playing
field
to
questions
raised
about
whether
now
is
the
time
yes,
it
is.
This
is
the
city
council,
and
this
is
the
mayor
that
can
make
it
happen.
S
S
Please
stop
disempowering
and
disenfranchising
us
under
the
guise
of
mayoral
accountability,
mayors
and
city
councilors
have
power
platforms
and
tools
to
shape
bps
policies
from
putting
the
superintendent
on
a
cabinet
to
budgetary
power
to
appointing
advisory
committees.
We
have
nothing
but
two
minutes
of
public
comment
to
a
school
committee.
We
didn't
choose,
you
can
fix
that
advance.
The
home
rule
petition
the
wishes
of
boston
residents
and
democracy.
Now.
Thank
you.
T
This
morning
the
city
council
held
a
hearing
on
bps
receivership,
because
the
state
department
of
education
has
initiated
a
process
that
could
result
in
bps
being
placed
under
state
receivership
or
some
different
version
of
state
takeover,
such
as
an
empowerment
zone.
State
takeovers
are
the
ultimate
form
of
anti-democratic
school
governance,
since
it
silences
community
voices
disempowers
workers
and
takes
local
control
off
the
table.
Meanwhile,
in
november,
the
people
of
boston
proclaimed
that
they
wanted
more
democracy
in
our
schools.
T
One
of
the
biggest
challenges
we've
seen
across
the
country
in
school
board
elections
is
the
emergence
of
dark
money
groups
that
seek
to
elect
folks
who
support
privatization,
efforts,
taking
away
collective
bargaining
rights
and
reducing
community
input
and
decision
making.
One
of
the
best
design
choices
we
can
make
to
reduce
the
impact
of
dark
money
from
any
group
is
to
have
a
district
based
school
committee.
T
Smaller
districts
allow
candidates
to
truly
engage
with
the
community
in
order
to
get
elected
after
all,
it's
much
easier
to
engage
a
district
of
about
75
000
people
rather
than
a
city
of
675
000.
A
second
benefit
is
that
different
parts
of
our
city
can
elect
representatives
from
their
own
communities,
which
ensures
representation
for
as
many
people
as
possible.
T
We're
also
fully
in
support
of
the
student
representative
to
the
school
committee.
Having
a
vote,
the
state
board
of
education
has
a
student
member,
they
can
vote.
We
don't
believe,
there's
any
good
reason
to
withhold
the
student
vote
beyond
this.
I
want
to
mention
that
this
is
an
issue
about
who
our
schools
should
be
accountable
to
right
now:
they're,
not
accountable
to
the
people
of
the
city,
they're
accountable
to
only
one
person
the
mayor.
T
This
is
unique
among
all
municipalities
in
massachusetts,
and
it's
due
to
backlash
decades
ago
to
people
of
color
gaining
power
in
the
school
committee
with
the
election
of
people
like
john
d
o'brien
and
gene
mcguire,
we
should
be
restoring
that
power
to
the
people.
The
mayor
will
remain
a
key
person
in
bps
because
of
the
budget
power
that
she
has
and
an
elected
school
committee
would
be
remiss
if
they
did
not
engage
with
her.
T
A
real
partnership
between
city
hall
and
the
school
district,
however,
requires
a
school
committee
to
remain
independent
from
mayoral
control,
and
I
want
to
really
quickly
address
the
idea
of
hybrid
committees.
There
is
no
blueprint
anywhere
for
a
hybrid
committee
that
has
worked
and
barely
any
that
have
been
attempted
at
all.
The
people
of
boston
simply
want
the
same
democracy
that
everyone
else
in
massachusetts
has
and
they
deserve
that
there
are
times
when
so-called
creative
solutions
are
unnecessary,
because
the
simple
solution
is
not
only
what
the
people
want,
but
what
is
right.
T
Democracy
is
messy,
but
it's
the
right
thing
to
do.
Lastly,
we
want
to
highlight
all
the
work
that
has
gone
into
gathering
community
input
for
what
this
should
look
like.
If
this
is
to
be
the
people's
school
committee,
then
the
people
need
to
have
a
voice
in
designing
this
body.
For
that
reason,
we've
had
town
halls
in
multiple
languages
to
engage
community,
and
I
just
want
to
say
quick,
thank
yous
to
counselors,
mejia,
arroyo,
lujan
and
flynn
for
your
leadership
and
partnership
and
leadership
and
partnership.
T
A
N
Great,
so
my
name
is
kristen
magnuson.
I
live
in
jamaica,
plain
and
I'm
representing
bostonians
for
an
elected
school
committee
30
years
after
mayoral
takeover
the
restoration
of
democratic
control
over
boston's
public
schools
is
long
overdue,
and
we
are
very
pleased
to
be
here
discussing
this
topic
with
the
city
council
today.
We
are,
however,
deeply
disappointed
that
our
mayor
is
not
here
today
and
has
not
even
seen
fit
to
send
somebody
to
talk
to
us
about
her
stance
on
this
issue.
N
Many
voted
for
our
mayor
precisely
because
she
had
so
many
detailed
and
comprehensive
policies
and
proposals.
Why
not
on
this
issue?
Vague
statements
about
mayoral
accountability
aren't
going
to
be
enough
here.
Our
coalition
has
attempted,
for
months
now
to
meet
with
the
mayor
to
discuss
the
structure
of
an
elected
school
committee
to
hear
her
position
on
this
issue
and
to
work
together
with
the
city
council
toward
a
committee
that
we
can
all
approve.
We
have
been
closed
out.
This
lack
of
engagement
is
exactly
why
we
demand
an
accountable,
responsive
elected
school
committee.
N
N
We
have
a
once
in
a
generation
opportunity
now
to
restore
sustainable
democratic
governments
to
bps,
based
on
the
best
available
scholarship,
public
policy,
expertise
and
community
input
in
this
public
process.
That
roberto
just
alluded
to
the
various
town
halls
and
the
multiple
languages
and
again
we'd
like
to
echo
those
thanks
to
our
various
counselors
and
partner
organizations
who
have
helped
with
that.
There
were
a
few
themes
that
we
heard
over
and
over
again
in
these
meetings.
N
One
people
want
accountable
representation,
mayoral
accountability,
isn't
a
thing
anyone
has
experienced
with
appointed
school
committee
members,
it's
if
anything,
appointing
the
members
has
served
to
shield
the
mayor
from
that
sort
of
accountability.
Two
people
want
transparency.
There
is
no
transparency
with
appointed
members.
They
get
their
marching
orders
privately
from
the
mayor
and
then
they're
able
to
just
put
on
a
show
of
listening
to
constituents
and
deliberating
and
three
people
do
not
want
their
votes
diluted
with
a
hybrid
school
committee.
N
Why
should
boston
be
the
only
municipality
in
massachusetts
where
members
cannot
be
entrusted
with
governance
over
their
own
schools?
Why
do
we
need
to
check
on
the
will
of
the
people?
What
if
we
were
watered
down?
The
voters
will
for
city
council
what
if
there
was
some
sort
of
higher
governmental
authority
that
could
take
away
some
of
the
power
that
you
all
have.
C
N
Invested
with
by
the
voters,
and
additionally,
as
roberto
also
alluded
to,
there
are
no
examples
of
successful,
hybrid
activities
for
us
to
try
and
work
from
there.
Our
campaign
has
done
this
research
of
30
other
comparable
urban
school
systems
same
size,
roughly
77,
7
of
which
were
elected
and
23
appointed
baltimore
is
the
only
city
that
has
a
hybrid
committee
and
they
don't
work
for
us
to
study
from
because
they
are
literally
just
now
adding
elected
members
this
year
to
what
was
previously
a
fully
appointed
board.
N
Let's
rebuild
trust
with
our
communities
with
a
school
committee.
That's
been
shaped
by
their
input.
Let's
make
the
choice
to
act
on
our
democratic
values
and
fully
restore
the
transparency,
accountability
and
voting
rights
desired
to
the
residents
of
boston
and
not
reserve
a
slice
of
that
electoral
power
out
of
the
people's
hands.
N
U
Sorry,
I
cannot
figure
out
how
to
turn
on
my
camera,
so
I
guess
I
won't
wanna
hi
everybody.
Thank
you
city,
council,
for
holding
this
important
hearing.
My
name
is
laura
margarita
and
I
live
in
roslindale,
I'm
also
a
member
of
the
boston
coalition
for
education,
equity
and
campaign
with
bostonians
for
an
elected
school
committee,
the
coalition
behind
the
yes
on
three
campaign,
which
won
in
a
landslide
in
november.
U
My
three
children
have
attended
six
boston
public
schools
over
the
past
14
years.
One
of
them
is
currently
a
junior
at
boston,
latin
academy
for
their
entire
bps
education
and
that
of
their
peers.
The
boston
public
schools
have
been
governed
by
a
school
committee
solely
appointed
by
the
mayor
in
1989.
The
ballot
questioned
that
asked
both
our
needs
if
they
wanted
to
move
from
an
electric
school
committee
to
an
appointed
model
won
by
just
1.5
percent
of
the
vote.
U
1.5
is
barely
a
majority,
and
yet
that
vote
led
to
the
creation
of
the
system
current
system
whereby
the
mayor
gets
to
decide
who
sits
on
the
school
committee,
parents
and
guardians
of
children
who
attend
bps.
These
stakeholders
don't
get
to
decide
nor
do
boston
voters
for
the
past
30
years
our
schools
have
been
governed
under
this
model
and
bostonians
are
ready
for
a
change
in
stark
contrast
to
1989
99
000
bostonians
in
every
precinct
and
every
award
in
boston
voted
in
november
to
restore
the
right
to
elect
our
school
committee.
U
U
On
a
personal
note,
I
have
lived
in
boston
for
25
years,
but
I've
only
been
a
citizen
for
the
past
nine.
The
reason
I
decided
to
apply
for
citizenship
after
all,
that
time
was
so
that
I
could
vote
literally
for
no
other
reason
since
becoming
a
citizen.
Nine
years
ago
I
voted
in
every
municipal
state
and
presidential
election.
I
take
my
right
to
right
to
vote
very
seriously
and
so
tamiya
wu.
I'm
asking
that
you
also
thank
every
bostonian
who
voted
in
november
to
elect
this
school
committee
tested
seriously.
U
It's
been
my
pleasure
to
vote
for
you
in
every
election
you've
run
in
including
premier.
Now
your
supporters
and
constituents
expect
you
to
show
that
you
respect
the
democratic
process
and
honor
the
votes
of
99
000
bostonians,
who
would
like
to
choose
who
represents
them
on
the
boston
school
committee.
Thank
you
for
your
time
and
consideration.
V
Hi,
how
are
you
my
name
is
jorge
mendoza,
I'm,
the
parent
of
three
public
school
graduates
and
I'd
like
to
mention
that,
although
many
of
on
the
panel
have
spoken
about
the
the
the
needs
of
our
black
and
brown
children,
these
school
problems
are
affecting
everybody.
The
common
denominator
is
poverty
and
the
poor
neighborhoods
are
suffering
the
most.
V
I
believe
that,
at
a
time
where
the
mayor
has
had
so
much
backlash
on
her
on
what
she's
proposing
the
city
in
boxing,
we
keep
the
school
committee
to
an
all-elected
committee,
that's
committed
by
the
citizenship,
those
that
overwhelmingly
voted
to
have
that
right
and
since
we've
tried
everything
else
for
many
many
years
and
proof
is
in
the
pudding.
The
system
has
failed
our
children.
It
is
time
for
change
and
it's
time
for
a
rapid
change.
We
do
not
need
to
face
this
thing
slowly
over
the
years.
V
That
will
handicap
the
effectiveness
and
it
would
also
silence
the
voice
of
the
people
we,
the
people
have
spoken,
and
it
is
necessary
at
this
point
to
carry
on
with
an
all-elected
school
committee
that
will
help
all
our
children
from
all
walks
of
life.
In
the
city
of
boston
achieve
their
goals,
the
real
wealth
of
the
city
is
the
strength
of
the
citizenship.
The
citizenship
has
proven
in
the
last
election,
by
an
enormous
margin
that
they
do
want
a
school
committee.
V
V
W
Hi,
I
just
wanted
to
say
that
I
was
a
little
bit
confused
about
the
direction
that
this
hearing
was
heading,
because
I
thought
that
we
were
going
to
be
talking
about
the
actual
phase-in
process
and
not
the
fact
that
we
do
need
an
elected
committee.
So
I
just
want
to
reiterate
what
george
just
said.
We
do
need
an
elected
committee.
We
need
it
now.
I
don't
understand
the
reason
for
the
phase-in
process
over
the
next
four
years.
W
W
X
Hi,
can
you
hear
me?
Yes,
amazing,
thank
you
good
evening,
my
thanks
to
you,
councillors,
arroyo
and
mejia
for
bringing
forward
this
issue
on
behalf
of
the
residents
of
boston
at
city
council
and
to
the
vast
majority
of
foster
invoices
for
speaking
with
a
clear
and
definitive
voice
to
overturn
a
glaring
decades
old
civil
rights
wrong.
X
I
too
am
interested
in
the
process
of
how
this
could
be
implemented.
However,
my
comments
really
have
to
go
back,
unfortunately,
to
reiterating
the
will
of
the
people
must
be
followed,
because,
unfortunately,
many
of
our
leadership
seem
to
be
backtracking
on
their
commitment
to
the
democratic
process.
X
My
name
is
hashan
berensweir
mooney,
I'm
a
bps
parent
and
a
jamaica
plain
resident,
I'm
a
former
co-chair
of
the
citywide
parent
council,
representing
the
38
000
families
of
bps,
the
former
member
of
the
boston
school
committee's
opportunity
and
achievement
gap,
task
force
and
former
city
council
staff.
When
I
was
city
councillor,
tito
jackson's
senior
education
advisor
when
the
council
served
as
on
this
under
honorable
body
as
its
chair
of
education
happy
birthday,
councillor
jackson,
by
the
way,
my
two
bps
children
also
have
had
seven
mayor
appointed
superintendents
during
their
time
in
bps.
X
Hardly
what
I
would
call
a
glowing
recommendation
for
an
appointed
school
committee
model.
So
I'm
here
today
to
ask
you
all
to
support
the
clear
and
overwhelming
will
of
the
people
who
voted
overwhelmingly
for
an
elected
boston,
school
committee
rather
than
the
presented
appointed
body
and
by
an
overwhelming
majority.
X
I
will
repeat
again:
I
mean
overwhelming
255
precincts
out
of
255
precincts
voted
900,
999
088
votes
to
reclaim
our
right
to
an
appoint
to
an
elected
school
committee.
That's
almost
8
000
votes
more
than
mayor
wu,
who
I
supported,
received,
who
unfortunately
seems
to
be
sadly
engaging
in
bad
faith
efforts
in
not
addressing
this
voter
suppression
question,
which
for
me,
is
really
quite
astounding,
given
the
rest
of
her
platform
that
I
fully
support.
X
X
X
Let
me
remind
everyone
that
an
elected
school
committee
is
nothing
new.
Don't
forget
that
massachusetts
alone
there
are
approximately
2
500
other
elected
school
members,
school
committee
members,
many
like
tracy,
novak
of
the
worcester
school
community,
are
trusted,
respected
educational
experts
throughout
both
the
commonwealth
and
nationally.
X
We
also
talk
all
we
want
about
voter
suppression
in
georgia
and
texas
and
florida
or
mississippi,
but
right
here
in
boston,
the
cradle
of
democracy.
For
the
past
30
years,
citizens
of
color
and
poor
white
citizens
have
been
locked
out
of
being
able
to
do
exactly
what
our
neighbors
in
newton
brookline,
cambridge,
somerville
wellesley
and
western
tave
for
granted
as
their
basic
rights.
X
Let
us
not
allow
a
few
overwhelmingly
white,
self-appointed
elites
to
undercut
the
democratic
voices
of
99
088
voters
and
to
both
counselors
may
hear
in
flynn's
earlier
points
about
the
charter
school
industry
wishing
to
buy
candidates
for
the
school
committee.
First,
I'd
like
to
echo
what
counselor
may
hear
said
about
the
power
about
people
power,
overcoming
the
power
of
money
and
second,
unfortunately,
there
is
a
present
member
of
the
appointed
school
committee
appointed
recently
by
a
previous
mayor
whose
own
position
is
deeply
funded
by
the
charter
school
industry.
X
Parents,
like
myself,
had
absolutely
no
way
to
voice
our
deep
deep
concerns
such
a
huge
conflict
of
interest,
but
under
the
sunshine
of
the
electoral
process,
the
hundreds
of
thousands
of
boston's
residents
in
different
districts
will
be
able
to
hold
any
chartered
cash
flushed
candidate
to
account,
just
as
they
overwhelmingly
did
in
2016.
By
rejecting
that
year's
anti-democratic
charter
school
ballot
question,
I
have
served.
Y
Thank
you.
Thank
you,
counselors
for
hosting
this.
My
name
is
tony
todesco.
I
am
a
resident
of
west
roxbury.
I
am
also
an
organizer
with
showing
up
for
racial
justice.
I
am
speaking
on
behalf
of
myself,
but
for
years
I
was
very
present
at
the
school
committee
meetings
regularly
testified
went
to
community
meetings
was
present
at
multiple
school
closings
community
discussions
and
they
don't
listen.
The
only
time
I
witnessed
them.
Y
Y
That
would
help
move
forward
the
agenda
of
the
people
of
boston.
We
hear
all
the
time
and
massachusetts
people
mostly
white
liberals,
are
known
to
throw
shade
at
the
south
about
getting
out
and
voting
go
vote.
Go
vote,
small
issues,
big
issues,
go
vote.
We
voted.
We've
said
what
we
want
deeply
disappointed
that
the
mayor
is
dragging
her
feet
and
supporting
this
we
should
be
able
to
move
this
forward
much
faster.
Y
I
appreciate
the
diligence
that
you
are
doing
in
community
work,
but
I
want
to
say
that
there
is
no
reason
that
boston
should
be
lagging
so
far
behind,
and
I
appreciate
the
concerns
that
have
been
raised
and
I
know
that
they
have
been
countered,
but
the
vast
majority
of
the
concerns
that
have
been
raised
as
krista
mentioned
a
few
minutes
ago.
They
could
apply
to
the
city
council,
they
could
apply
to
congress,
they
could
apply
to
any
any
elected
board
or
council
or
committee.
Y
Should
we
do
half?
Can
we
trust
the
voters?
It
applies
to
everything,
there's
no
reason
we
should
single
out
the
elected
school
committee,
so
I
want
to
let
you
all
know
that
I
am
here
to
help
move
this
forward
to
help
advance
this
with
the
mayor.
I
am
not
sure
what
the
hesitancy
is.
I
am
deeply
concerned
that
she
has
not
responded
to
the
elected
school
committee
group
that
has
been
trying
for
months
to
get
to
meet
with
her.
Y
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
AA
Good
afternoon
my
name
is
travis
marshall.
I
live
in
roslindale,
I'm
a
parent
of
two
boston
public
school
students.
When
voters
overwhelmingly
were
supported
a
return
to
an
elected
school
committee.
We
demanded
voice
and
representation
over
decades
of
mayoral
control.
Student
and
family
voice
has
often
gone
unheard.
AA
AA
A
AB
The
unelected
boston
school
committee,
appointed
accountable
may
by
the
mayor,
is
unaccountable
to
the
citizens
of
boston.
This
is
an
important
reason
why
it
often
does
a
poor
job
of
running
our
school
system.
Earlier
today,
the
city
council
had
a
hearing
that
addressed
the
threat
of
future
hostile,
desi
takeover
of
our
schools.
AB
When
has
the
unelected
school
committee
discussed
and
taken
action
against
this
threat?
The
answer
is
never.
Why
should
the
citizens
of
boston
have
an
elected
school
committee?
Every
other
municipality
in
our
state
has
one.
Why
should
we
be
denied?
Last
november,
the
citizens
of
boston
overwhelmingly
voted
in
favor
of
elected
school
committee?
Why
should
the
city
council
deny
the
will
of
the
people
when
the
unelected
and
unaccountable
school
committee
has
been
ineffective?
AB
The
community
all
has
only
the
power
to
complain.
School
committees
are
responsible
for
the
hiring
and
firing
of
the
superintendent.
The
unelected
school
committee
gave
dr
casellius
an
excellent
evaluation
and
extended
her
contract
mayor
wu,
just
fired
our
superintendent
and
paid
her
a
lot
of
money
not
to
work
in
boston
next
year.
No
legitimate
non-bs
reason
was
given.
AB
You
can't
do
that
with
an
elected
school
committee
and
if
any
of
you
don't
support
an
elected
school
committee,
please
explain
why
you
support
having
elected
city
council,
be
consistent
and
support
a
city
council
appointed
by
the
mayor.
It
would
be
cheaper
if
any
of
you
support
a
hybrid
school
committee,
be
consistent.
Support,
hybrid
city
council,
please
resign
and
ask
mayor
will
to
appoint
your
replacement.
AB
The
mayor
boston
has
plenty
of
power
and
responsibility.
I
support
your
decision
to
give
yourself
more
control
over
the
city's
budget.
That
move
was
democratic
in
a
democracy.
The
mayor
is
not
the
boss.
Responsibility
and
power
must
be
shared.
If
you
believe
in
democracy,
you
will
support
an
elected
school
committee.
Thank
you
very
much.
A
U
AC
Good
evening
and
thank
you
for
this
opportunity-
my
name
is
pam
coker,
I'm
the
president
of
the
boston
municipal
research
bureau
and
I
am
also
a
city
resident.
I
wanted
to
simply
share
a
couple
of
comments
specific
to
past
experience
with
elected
school
committee,
governance,
past
elected
school
committee.
Government
structures
did
not
ensure
financial
responsibility
or
accountability.
AC
Elected
school
committees
could
and
did,
spend
well
beyond.
Mayor
and
council
authorized
spending
between
1978
and
1991.
The
fully
elected
committee
ran
a
deficit
in
11
out
of
those
14
years.
What
we
do
need,
in
addition
to
whatever
school
committee
governance
model,
the
city
moves
forward
with.
We
need
a
thoughtful,
fiscally
responsible
accountability
structure
as
part
of
any
and
every
school
committee
governance
model
considered
for
implementation.
A
O
O
An
elected
school
committee
also
speaks
to
the
reparations
which
are
paramount
to
true
freedom,
and
that
has
three
real,
really
main
components:
acknowledgement,
redress
and
closure.
A
receivership
overlooks
the
inequities
that
continue
to
widen
these
education
gaps.
It
silences
and
disempowers
the
99
000
voters
who
advocated
for
this
cause-
and
this
is
not
acknowledgment
redress-
makes
right
what
was
wrong
it.
B
Thank
you
and
thank
you
to
everyone
who
testified
both
through
public
testimony
and
our
panelists.
It
is
quite
clear
that
change
can't
wait
as
congresswoman
jana
presley
says.
Those
closest
to
the
pain
should
be
closest
to
the
power
and
no
more
power
is
greater
than
being
able
to
elect
the
people
who
are
going
to
represent
us
on
the
school
committee.
So
I'm
just
incredibly
encouraged.
B
I
think
that
this
moment
in
regards
to
what
it
calls
for
it
is
for
us
to
lean
in
and
act
swiftly.
I
think
that
it
is
it's
loud
and
clear
that
we
can't
keep
dragging
our
feet
when
it
comes
to
this
issue,
and
I
look
forward
to
the
working
session
and
and
more
importantly,
making
sure
that
those
folks
went
out
to
the
polls
in
november
know
that
we're
here
to
bring
it
home.
B
So
thank
you
so
much
councilman
for
your
leadership
in
the
space
and
a
big
shout
out
to
the
yes
on
three
coalition
and
all
the
advocates
who've
worked
so
hard
on
that
ballot
initiative
because,
if
it
wouldn't
have
been
for
them,
we
probably
wouldn't
be
having
this
robust
conversation
today.
So
thank
you.
Yes,
on
three
for
your
hard
work
and
leadership
in
this
space
and
moving
democracy
forward.
Thank
you
and
one
vote
does
matter
y'all.
So
just
don't
don't
don't
let
don't
let
money
scare
you
we
got
this.
D
Yeah,
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you,
mr
chair,
for
holding
this
hearing,
especially
for
the
new
counselors,
and
thank
you
to
the
advocates.
Boston.
Voters
feel
glad
and
clear
and
I'm
excited
to
see
what
we
can
do
and
how
swiftly
we
can
do
it
here
on
the
boston
city
council
to
make
and
let
the
school
committee
a
reality
to
bring
democracy
to
the
people,
to
really
realize
shared
power
in
determining
the
outcomes
for
our
young
kids
with
them
in
the
lead,
also
as
members
of
the
school
committee.
So
thank
you.
A
AD
My
name
is
lisa
jean
graff.
I
am
a
boston,
public
schools,
parent
who
lives
in
the
fenway
I'm
here
to
share
my
excitement
for
the
next
steps
of
boston.
Achieving
a
fully
elected
school
committee
having
an
elected
school
committee
is
fundamentally
a
voting
rights
issue
and
a
civil
rights
issue.
The
residents
of
the
city
are
ready
for
a
change
on
this
issue.
There
is
a
forward
momentum
that
is
thrilling
to
witness
and
be
part
of.