“They’re always in favor of whatever the superintendent wants, without qualification, without debate,’’ Stutman said. “… Even when it isn’t unanimous, it’s still a vote in her favor.’’
The teachers’ union, which is in contract negotiations with the School Department, provided the analysis to the Globe, saying that the pattern of unanimity reflects an acquiescence by a board that should require more accountability from the administration, which has stumbled through recent cost-cutting proposals to close and reconfigure schools.
Until 1992, the city had an elected school committee, whose 13 members were often at odds with the mayor and his superintendent. The panel was also criticized for being too beholden to the teachers’ union, which can have great influence in local elections.
That system was rejected by a voter referendum, supported by Mayor Raymond L. Flynn, in favor of a seven-member panel appointed by the mayor. A home rule petition submitted by the mayor and City Council was enacted by the Legislature in 1991, and the first appointed School Committee was seated in January 1992.
The union’s analysis covered only the period beginning with Menino’s election to his first full term, which began in January 1994. It found that 2,144 of 2,169 School Committee votes were unanimous and supportive of the superintendent’s position.
Early in his tenure, Menino championed the idea of an appointed School Committee as he vowed to make dramatic changes in the city’s school system or be held accountable.
“I want to be judged as your mayor by what happens now in the Boston public schools,’’ he said in his 1996 State of the City speech, in which he promised improvements within two terms.
That same year, he led a successful campaign to retain the appointed School Committee, with voters supporting the system by more than 2 to 1.
Menino spokeswoman Dot Joyce said that the appointed School Committee has been successful and that it “takes the politics out of public education.’’
