New Open Seat on the Boston School Committee

Qualified Candidates Needed: Deadline is January 7th

The School Committee Nominating Panel is seeking applications from qualified Boston residents for the open seat created by the resignation of Miren Uriarte from the School Committee effective December 7, 2018.   The resident selected by the Mayor would serve the remaining one-year of Ms. Uriarte’s term and could then apply to serve a full four-year term.   For the appointed Committee to work well, highly qualified candidates should be recruited to apply, and the Mayor would best be served by appointing the strongest candidate to the position.

After filling a one-year term on the School Committee in 2015, Miren Uriarte was appointed to a full four-year term by Mayor Walsh that will expire on January 6, 2020.  When appointed, Ms. Uriarte was a tenured Professor at UMass Boston in the College of Public and Community Service and served as Director of the Mauricio Gaston institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy.  While on the Committee, she focused her attention on the district’s work with English Language Learners.  She was frank with both praise and concerns about educational policy matters before the Committee, and did not hesitate to present alternative views, which were constructive and refreshing.

Help Impact the Future
This open seat offers the opportunity for a qualified Boston resident to exercise a meaningful role in improving the Boston School System to serve the needs of students by successfully preparing them for higher education or a work career.  The School Committee plays an essential role in Boston if it chooses to exercise it.  The most consequential decision the School Committee will make in 2019 is the selection of the next Superintendent.  Among other issues to be addressed are the gender and racial achievement gaps, school improvement strategies, resource equity, the Build BPs facility plan, vocational education and transportation.

Nominating Panel
To create a level of independence from the Mayor, the Nominating Panel is composed of thirteen members with nine being designees of parent organizations, school unions, the business community, a college or university President and the Commissioner of Education.  The remaining four members are appointed by the Mayor.  Also, the Nominating Panel must submit at least three names but no more than five names for the open seat and the Mayor must select one of the nominees from that group.