City Council Passes Home Rule Petitions for a Boston Elected School Committee Valentines With A Veteran

Members of the Boston City Council voted to support two Home Rule Petitions filed by Councilors Ricardo Arroyo (District 5) and Julia Mejia (At-Large) that would change the structure of the Boston School Committee from an all-appointed body to an elected body. In a 7-5-1 vote, Councilors Arroyo, Liz Breadon, Gabriela Coletta, Tania Fernandes Anderson, Kendra Lara, Ruthzee Louijeune and Mejia voted in favor of “An Act Relative to Reorganization of the Boston School Committee” that establishes a change to an elected School Committee. Councilors Frank Baker, Michael Flaherty, Ed Flynn, Erin Murphy and Brian Worrell voted against the Home Rule Petition, and Councilor Kenzie Bok voted present. The legislation now heads to the Mayor’s desk.

The second Home Rule Petition, “An Act Establishing Student Voting on the Boston School Committee,” would give the two students on the body voting ability. On “An Act Establishing Student Voting on the Boston School Committee,” In an 11-2 vote, Councilors Arroyo, Bok, Breadon, Coletta, Fernandes Anderson, Flaherty, Lara, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Worrell voted in favor of the Home Rule Petition. Councilors Baker and Flynn voted against the Home Rule Petition. This legislation also heads to the Mayor’s desk.

“I am grateful that my Council colleagues have approved these important pieces of legislation that will return the School Committee to a body that reflects the overwhelming will of the voters of Boston to rejoin every other municipality in the Commonwealth by having an elected School Committee,” Arroyo said. “It’s my strong belief that an elected Boston School Committee would increase accountability, responsiveness, and equity to students, teachers, and families to the benefit of the system as a whole.”

“I am incredibly thankful to the advocates and the residents of Boston for making this possible,” Mejia said. “These Home Rule Petitions are responsive to the will of the voters, who, if enacted, can now elect their school committee leaders and hold them accountable. We are giving people back the power, transforming this into a true democratic process.”

The initial Home Rule Petition, filed in 2021, is in line with a non-binding vote in favor of the return to an all elected committee, which received 79% support from the voters, winning every precinct in the City of Boston. The final Home Rule, titled ““An Act Relative to Reorganization of the Boston School Committee,” creates a 13 member body by the year 2028 with nine district seats serving 2 year terms, making Boston’s School Committee inline with the other 350 municipalities in Massachusetts that elect their School Committee members.

“An Act Relative to Reorganization of the Boston School Committee” in its amended form would include a more streamlined phasing of an elected school committee, the body’s structure, term limits, and more defined language around vacancies. Following the passage of the Act, during the first municipal election voters would elect nine district seats and four would remain appointed. At the next municipal election, these four ap- pointed seats would then transition to four elected seats, at which point the entire school committee would transition to an all elected body composed of 13 members. Each member would serve a two year term.

“An Act Establishing Student Voting on the Boston School Committee” would make the two students on the body voting members. This Home Rule Petition is contingent on the passage of the first Home Rule Petition and requires the Boston Student Advisory Committee (BSAC) to elect the two student members to the body. Should a student member of the body not be present this Act includes one alternate student member who is also elected by BSAC. Each student member would serve a one year term. It would make Boston the only municipality in Massachusetts that allows students to serve as voting members of the School Committee.

Councilors Arroyo and Mejia have held multiple hearings and working sessions to finalize both Home Rule Petitions, which would need approval from the Mayor, state legislature and governor to become law.

If enacted, Boston would move away from its allappointed School Committee model and join the other 350 cities and towns of Massachusetts in allowing residents to decide the makeup of the committee.

Both Councilors Arroyo and Mejia believe that an elected school committee will lead to more community representation on educational matters and restore confidence in the decision-making process when it comes to Boston Public Schools.

Last Thursday, Council President Ed Flynn and Councilor At-Large Erin Murphy partnered with South Boston Moms Club for their first Valentines with a Veteran event. The event was held at the Thomas J. Fitzgerald VFW Post 561 in South Boston in celebration of local veterans and featured pizza, treats, and children talking to veterans while making Valentine’s Day cards for them.

Council President Flynn, together with former Mayor Raymond Flynn, brought pizzas for the event, and the South Boston Moms Club brought along arts and craft supplies for the card decoration. Over 20 moms, kids and veterans were in attendance, and everyone had a great time, especially our local veterans who were delighted to receive so many cards this year. In the past, South Boston Moms Club has held Valentine’s events at the Marion Manor, but decided to also show our deep appreciation for our veterans and military families this year.

“We had a fun Valentines with a Vet event with the South Boston Moms Club last week. It was great to engage so many wonderful children and families, to get creative and do something both sweet and meaningful for the local veteran community. When a veteran serves, the family serves as well. This was a wonderful way to pay tribute to our veterans and military families while we honor their service, sacrifice, and dedication to our city and country.” said Council President Flynn.