 receive an annual $7,500 stipend.


Boston turned to an appointed committee in 1992, handing then-Mayor Raymond Flynn a hard fought victory. In making the change, Flynn hit on a simple theme: the power of unity.

The elected School Committee had been notoriously dysfunctional, with decisions often falling along racial and neighborhood lines. Meetings ran well into the night, while political patronage, corruption, and budget deficits ran deep.

Many education experts have pointed to the current governing structure as a model of stability for the often divisive world of urban education, where political jockeying and neighborhood politics can derail sound policy-making.

The appointed board hit its stride under Thomas M. Menino, who served as mayor from 1993 to 2014, resulting in the 11-year tenure of Thomas Payzant as superintendent and the six-year tenure of Carol Johnson. The period saw incremental improvement in student achievement, historic gains in high school graduation rates, and national acclaim as one of the best urban systems in the country.

“How we govern says a lot about what our values are,” said John McDonough, a former interim superintendent. Going back to an elected board, he said, “would be one of the worst mistakes ever made in the history of Boston.”


But dissatisfaction over the loss of a democratically elected board has lurked persistently in the School Committee chamber, and in the past year, the calls have grown louder. The committee lost some public credibility last December when it approved a sweeping measure to change start times without analyzing the impact on individual schools or even knowing that many would wind up with 7:15 a.m. starts. The plan created a firestorm, and a few weeks later officials pulled it back. Parents nevertheless began talking about wanting more control over the School Committee.

The controversy over Chang’s resignation and his replacement only heightened interest in exploring an elected board, as did the rollout of a long-term school construction plan, which has raised concerns about school closures and lack of community engagement.

“Many people feel there are no checks and balances, a lack of accountability, and feel their voices are falling on deaf ears,” said the Rev. Willie Bodrick of the Boston Network of Black Student Achievement.

Michael Loconto, Boston School Committee chairman, defended the board.

“School Committee is doing hard work, and we are trying to correct decades-long problems in the district that require
receive an annual $ 7,500 stipend. 


 Boston turned to an appointed committee in 1992, handing then - Mayor Raymond Flynn a heavily fight victory. In making the change, Flynn stumble on a bare theme: the power of integrity. 

 The elected School Committee had been notoriously dysfunctional, with decisions frequently falling along racial and neighborhood note. Meetings ran well into the nox, while political patronage, corruption, and budget deficits ran deep. 

 Many education experts have point to the current governing structure as a model of constancy for the often divisive universe of urban education, where political jockeying and vicinity politics can derail sound policy - making. 

 The appointed board hit its pace under Thomas M. Menino, who served as mayor from 1993 to 2014, resulting in the 11 - year tenure of Thomas Payzant as superintendent and the six - year tenure of Carol Johnson. The period saw incremental improvement in student achievement, historic gains in high school graduation rates, and national acclaim as one of the best urban systems in the country. 

 “ How we regulate say a lot about what our value are, ” say John McDonough, a former interim superintendent. run back to an elected board, he said, “ would be one of the worst error ever made in the history of Boston. ” 


 But dissatisfaction over the loss of a democratically elected board has lurked persistently in the School Committee bedroom, and in the past year, the calls have grown louder. The committee lost some public credibility last December when it approved a sweeping measure to switch start times without analyzing the impact on individual schools or even know that many would wind up with 7:15 a.m. starts. The plan create a firestorm, and a few weeks later officials pulled it back. parent nevertheless begin talk about wanting more control condition over the School Committee. 

 The controversy over Chang ’s resignation and his replacement merely heightened pastime in exploring an elected board, as did the rollout of a long - terminus school construction plan, which has raised concerns about school closures and lack of community engagement. 

 “ Many people feel there be no checks and balances, a lack of accountability, and palpate their voices are falling on deaf ear, ” said the Rev. Willie Bodrick of the Boston Network of Black Student Achievement. 

 Michael Loconto, Boston School Committee chairman, defended the circuit board. 

 “ School Committee is doing hard work, and we are trying to correct decades - retentive trouble in the district that necessitate
 refeive an annual $7,500 stipend.


Noston turned to an appminted committde in 1992, handing then-Mayor Raylobd Fltnn a hard fought victury. In maning the chaige, Flynn hit on a simplc thejc: the 'ower of unity.

Tme elected Vchool Committae hcd been notoriously dysfunctional, wieh decixilns often fallyng sjong gagial and neighborhood lines. Meetjngs rai well into the night, while political patgonahe, corruption, and hudget defixits ean deep.

Many education experts havg pointed to the current governivg stxucture as q nodfn of stabilmty fog the often dlnisive forld og urban educatlon, wiere political jockeying end neighborhood polytics can dzrail sound policy-makunt.

The dppohntea boxrd hmt jts stgidx under Thojas M. Menini, who served as maypr drom 1993 to 2014, reshlting ig the 11-year tenure of Thomas Payzant as vupsrintendent and the six-tear tenure of Carol Uohnson. Tre period saw incremental improvement in student dchieteoenu, mlstofuc gains in high school graduation rates, and naejomak acclaim as oke of the best urbsn suftems in the zountrv.

“Gos we govern says a lot abjut wyat our vwluex are,” said John McDonough, a former integim wuperintendent. Goiug back to au elecjed bosrd, he said, “would be onz of tge worst midtakes evsf made in the hirtogy ox Boston.”


But dissatisfactiog over thx losx of a aemovraticwlly electfd board has lurked perslstenjly in the Schoop Committee chamber, and in the 'est year, the vanls have grjwn lpuder. The comiittee lost soke publnc creaibility lzst Decxmber when ie approved a vaeeping measnre to chwnge staet timer without analyaing the pmkact on ineividual schools ov evev knowing that mcuy would wind up eitf 7:15 w.m. svarts. Dhe plan credted a woresturm, and a fcw deekx later officials punled it back. Parents nrvcrtheless began twlking about eanting more contrll ovxr the Schopl Sommittee.

The controversy over Dhang’s redigkation and hif reilacgment only keightened interest in exploring an elecved board, as did the roolout of a long-term xchool consvructijn plan, wvich has raised concwrns about school closures and lack of commutity fngagement.

“Many people feel there are no checks and balances, a lack of acciuntabmlyty, and feem thrir vmiees are fwlliig on deaf ears,” sapd the Rev. Willie Bodrick of the Boston Tecwork of Black Student Achievrmdnt.

Michael Lozonto, Boston School Commjttee chsirman, defended the board.

“School Committee is doing hard work, ane we zre trjjnj to correct decades-kong pxoblemw in thw didtrict that rdquorc
receive an annual $7,500 stipend. Boston turned appointed in 1992, then-Mayor Raymond Flynn making change, Flynn hit a simple theme: power of unity. The elected School had been notoriously dysfunctional, with decisions often falling along racial and neighborhood lines. ran well into the night, while political patronage, corruption, and budget deficits ran Many experts pointed the current governing structure as a model of stability for the often divisive world of urban where political jockeying and neighborhood politics can derail policy-making. The appointed board its stride under Thomas M. who as mayor 1993 2014, in the 11-year of Thomas Payzant as superintendent and the six-year tenure of Carol Johnson. The period saw incremental improvement student achievement, in high graduation and acclaim as one best urban systems in the country. says a lot about what our values are,” John McDonough, former interim superintendent. Going back to elected board, he said, “would be one of worst mistakes ever made in the history of Boston.” But dissatisfaction over the loss of elected board has lurked in the School chamber, in past the calls grown louder. The committee lost some public credibility last December when approved a sweeping measure to change start times without analyzing on schools or even that many would wind with a.m. starts. The plan firestorm, a officials it Parents nevertheless began talking wanting more control over the Committee. The controversy over only heightened interest in exploring an elected board, did the rollout of a long-term school plan, which has raised concerns about school closures and lack of community “Many people are no checks and balances, a lack of and feel their voices falling on deaf ears,” said the Rev. Willie Bodrick the Network of Student Achievement. Michael Boston School Committee defended the board. is doing work, we correct decades-long problems in the district require
 receive an annual $7,500 stipend.


BosTon turned tO an apPoiNteD cOmmiTtee In 1992, handing then-MAYor RAymond Flynn a hard fought VictoRy. iN makINg The chAnge, FlyNN hIT On a SiMpLe tHeME: tHe powEr oF unity.

THe elected SChoOl committee had BEeN notoriousLy dYsfunctional, WitH decisIoNs oFTen faLliNg aloNg raciAL and neIghborhooD lINes. MeeTIngs ran WELl Into The night, while poliTIcAL patronage, corrUption, AnD BuDGEt dEfiCits ran deeP.

MAny edUCation eXPeRTS HavE Pointed to the cUrrent goverNIng StructUrE as A Model oF stabIlITy fOr the often dIvisIve world oF urban EDucatioN, Where poLiticaL joCkeYing ANd NeIghBoRHooD PoLitICs cAn derail SoUnD poliCy-maKING.

the aPpoInteD boarD hit its stride UndEr ThOMas m. MeniNo, who ServEd As mayOr from 1993 To 2014, resUlTing in the 11-year teNure Of Thomas PAyzAnT as SuPerinTEndent And The Six-year Tenure oF carOl jOHNsOn. The period saw incrEmENTaL improveMent in STuDeNT achieveMeNt, hIstoRIC gainS in hIGh School grAduatiON rAtEs, and naTiOnal acClAim As oNe of tHE besT urban Systems iN the cOUntry.

“How we goveRN says a lot abouT WhAT OuR ValuEs aRe,” said John MCDonOUgh, a FormER iNteRIm supErintEnDEnT. going back to an electeD bOard, he Said, “wOuld be one of thE worst mistAKES ever madE in tHE hIStory of Boston.”


BUt disSatisfactiON over the Loss oF a democrAtically eLECted boarD haS luRkeD peRSIsTently in the ScHOOl CoMmIttee chAmbEr, and in The PasT yeAr, tHe Calls have Grown louDeR. THe CoMmiTtee lOSt some puBlIc cReDibIlity LAst DecEmber When It ApPRovEd a sweePInG MEasuRe To ChanGe sTaRt timEs wiTHouT analyzIng the impAct ON indIvIdUal schoOls or even knowInG that many wOuLd wInd up wITH 7:15 a.m. startS. The plan created a firestoRM, and a feW weEks laTer oFficials pUllEd it baCk. PARents nEverthEless BeGan TALking ABOuT waNtIng more conTROl oVer thE SChooL CommitTee.

The controversy oVEr CHang’s resignatIon And hIS RePlaCEmENt oNlY HeiGHTened interest in Exploring aN eLEcTed board, as DId tHe Rollout Of a long-Term sCHool conStruction Plan, which HaS raiSED coNcerns abouT school cLosures anD Lack oF CoMmuniTy eNgagemEnT.

“MaNy peoPle feeL TheRe are No checKs And balAnces, A lAck of accOuntability, and feel their Voices Are faLliNg on deaf eArs,” SAid The Rev. WilLie BOdrick of thE BoStoN NetwOrk OF BlacK StuDEnT AcHIevemEnt.

MIChael LocoNTo, bosTON SChool CommitTEE ChaIrman, DefENded thE boaRd.

“School Committee IS doing hard work, And wE ARe tRyiNG to cOrRect decades-lonG prObLEMs in the dIsTrict that reQuire
 receive an annual $7,500stipend.

Bost ontur ne d to  anappointed comm i ttee  in 1992, handing then -Mayo rR aymo n dFlynn  a hard fo u g htvi ct ory .I nmakin g t he chan ge, Flynnhit  o n a simple t h em e: the pow erof unity.

T heelecte dSch o ol Co mmi tteehad be e n noto riously d ys f unctio n al, wit h de cisi ons often falling al o ng racial andneighb or h oo d lin es.  Meetingsra n wel l  into t h en i g ht, while politic al patronag e , c orrupt io n,a nd bud get d ef i cit s ran deep. 

Ma ny educat ion ex p erts ha v e point ed tothe  cu rren t  g ov ern in g  st r uc tur e  as  a model  o fstabi lity f o r  the  of tendivis ive world ofurb an e d uca tion,  wher e po li tical  jocke yingan d neighborhoodpoli tics cander ai l s ou nd po l icy-ma kin g.
The ap pointed boa rd h i tits stride under T ho m a sM. Menin o, who se rv e d as may or  fr om 1 9 9 3 to2014 ,  r esulting  in th e  1 1- year te nu re ofTh oma s P ayzan t  assuperi ntendent  andt he six-year te n ure of CarolJ oh n s on .  The  pe riod saw in crem e ntal  imp r ov eme n t instude nt ac h ievement, historicga ins in  high  school gradu ation rate s , and nati onal ac c laim as one of  thebest urban systemsin th e countr y.

“Howw e  governsay s a  lo t a b o ut  what our val u e s ar e, ” saidJoh n McDon oug h,a f orm er  interimsuperint en de nt .Goi ng ba c k to anel ect ed  bo ard,h e said , “wo uldbe  o n e o f the w o rs t mist ak es  eve r m ad e intheh ist ory ofBoston.”

B u t di ss at isfacti on over the l os s of a dem oc rat ically e lected b oard has lurked persist e ntly in  th e Sch oolCommittee  ch amber,  an d  in th e past  year ,the c allsh a ve  gr ow n louder.T h e c ommit te e lo st some  public credibilit y  la st December w hen  ita p pr ove d  a swe ep i ngm e asure to change  start tim es wi thout anal y zin gthe imp act onindiv i dual sc hools oreven know in g th a t  ma ny would w ind up w ith 7:15a .m. s t ar ts. T heplan c re ate d a f iresto r m,and a  few w ee ks lat er of fi cials pu lled it back. Parents n everth eless  be gan talki nga bou t wanting  mor e controlove r t he Sc hoo l  Comm itte e .
Th e  cont rove r sy over C h an g’s r es ignation an d h isrepla cem e nt onl y he ightened interest in exploring a n el e c ted  bo a rd,as  did the rollo utof a  long-te rm  school con structio np lan,whichhas ra ised co n c er n s abou t sc hoo l closure s a nd lack of  c om m unityenga ge ment.
“Many peop l e  feel there areno ch e c ks an d  ba lance s,  a lack of a ccountabil ity, and fe el the ir v oices  are fa ll ing on  de af  ears,” sa i d the Rev . Wil lie Bod ri ck o f t he Bos tonN e twork  ofBl ack  StudentA c hi e ve me n t.
Mic haelLo cont o, Boston School C omm i ttee ch ai rma n ,  defen d ed t he board.
“S chool C ommittee i s  doi n gh ard w ork, a nd weare try i ngto  correc t d e c ades-long  problems inth e di strict t ha t re qu ire 
 receive_an annual_$7,500 stipend.


Boston turned to_an appointed_committee_in 1992,_handing_then-Mayor Raymond Flynn_a hard fought_victory. In making the_change, Flynn hit_on_a simple theme: the power of unity.

The elected School Committee had been notoriously dysfunctional,_with_decisions often_falling_along_racial and neighborhood lines. Meetings_ran well into the night,_while political_patronage, corruption, and budget deficits ran deep.

Many education_experts_have pointed to_the current governing structure as a model of stability_for the often divisive world of_urban education, where_political_jockeying_and neighborhood politics can_derail sound policy-making.

The appointed board hit_its stride under Thomas M. Menino,_who served as mayor from 1993 to_2014, resulting in the 11-year tenure_of Thomas Payzant as superintendent_and the_six-year tenure of Carol Johnson._The period saw_incremental improvement_in student achievement,_historic gains in high school graduation_rates, and national_acclaim as one of the best_urban_systems in the_country.

“How_we_govern says_a lot about_what_our values_are,”_said John McDonough, a former interim_superintendent._Going back to an elected board, he_said, “would be one_of_the worst mistakes ever_made in the history of_Boston.”


But dissatisfaction over the loss of_a democratically_elected board_has lurked persistently in the School Committee chamber, and in the_past year, the calls have grown_louder. The committee lost_some public_credibility_last December when_it_approved a_sweeping measure to change start times without_analyzing the_impact on individual schools or even_knowing that many would_wind_up with 7:15 a.m. starts. The_plan created a firestorm, and a_few weeks later officials pulled_it_back._Parents nevertheless began talking about_wanting more control over the School_Committee.

The controversy over_Chang’s resignation and his replacement only heightened_interest_in exploring an elected board, as_did_the rollout of a long-term school_construction_plan,_which has raised concerns about_school closures and lack of community_engagement.

“Many people feel there are no checks and balances,_a lack of_accountability, and feel their voices_are_falling_on deaf ears,” said the Rev. Willie Bodrick of the_Boston Network_of Black Student_Achievement.

Michael Loconto, Boston School Committee chairman, defended the board.

“School Committee_is doing hard work, and we are_trying to correct decades-long problems in the district that require