Applications being accepted for Boston School Committee

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced applications are being accepted by the Citizens Nominating Panel, composed of parents, teachers, principals and representatives of the business and higher education communities, to fill a current vacancy on the Boston School Committee for a term expiring on January 3, 2022. The deadline to submit applications is 12:00 p.m. on Friday, January 29, 2021. An application can be found here and submitted to scnominatingpanel@boston.gov or mailed/delivered to Room 612 of Boston City Hall. 

The Boston School Committee is the governing body of the Boston Public Schools. The School Committee is responsible for:

• Defining the vision, mission, and goals of the Boston Public Schools;
• Establishing and monitoring the annual operating budget;
• Hiring, managing, and evaluating the Superintendent; and
• Setting and reviewing district policies and practices to support student achievement.  

The seven members of the School Committee are Boston residents appointed by the Mayor to serve four-year, staggered terms. The Mayor appoints members from a list of candidates recommended by a 13-member Citizens Nominating Panel. The School Committee also includes a non-voting student member of the Boston Student Advisory Council.  

 

On January 4, the Boston School Committee re-elected both Alexandra Oliver-Dávila to Chairperson and Michael O'Neill to Vice Chairperson in unanimous votes. In December, the Committee engaged in professional development training which was led pro bono by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist, as part of its efforts to examine policies and more deeply understand their impact on communities of color. 

 

The Committee held a public retreat on December 12, featuring a discussion facilitated by A.J. Crabill, Director of Governance of the Council of Great City Schools, to develop tools and metrics to help the School Committee define its mission. An additional two-day public retreat is scheduled for January 21-22, 2021. Mr. Crabill will work with the Committee to strengthen its governance model over the next 12-18 months, as the Committee and the district work to implement the BPS Strategic Plan. 

 

The School Committee meets approximately twice per month during the school year to adopt, review and modify policies and practices that support teaching, learning and improved student achievement. With the exception of executive sessions, Committee meetings are open to the public, feature public comment periods and are broadcasted on Boston City TV.  

An application for the Boston School Committee can be found here. The deadline to submit an application is 12:00 p.m. on Friday, January 29, 2021. Interviews for selected candidates will be held on February 1, 2021. Please direct all questions and submit completed applications to scnominatingpanel@boston.gov or mail/deliver to Room 612 of Boston City Hall. For more information on the Boston School Committee, please click here.