Time is right to revert to electing School Committee
A hot mic can be a good thing. Not for the person caught making offensive remarks into it, but for those seeking transparency from public officials.
They got it Wednesday night, when Boston School Committee Chairman Michael Loconto appeared to mock Asian names during a school committee meeting.
Outrage was swift.
“Mr. Loconto’s behavior last night was unacceptable. I’m deeply appalled, personally offended, by his words. I watched & heard it live. It is unconscionable that he would mock & disparage our families. Our school communities & our City deserve more. It’s time for his resignation,” said Boston City Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George on Twitter.
“As someone who has dealt with comments like this my entire life, I am deeply disturbed but not surprised. These comments are unacceptable,” said Boston City Councilor and mayoral candidate Michelle Wu, adding “Names are fundamental to people’s identity and culture and pride as a community, and yet names have also been historically weaponized for racist rhetoric.”
Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo noted, “Hearing Loconto mock names during that testimony was infuriating. Names are sacred. They all deserve respect. Boston deserves better, we deserve better. He must resign.”
“Mocking names is rooted in racism,” said Boston City Council President Kim Janey.
Those calling for Loconto’s resignation got their wish.
“Chairman Loconto notified me earlier this morning that he is stepping down from the Boston School Committee, and I have accepted his resignation. While he conveyed to me his personal embarrassment and his desire to seek forgiveness, his comments were hurtful and wrong,” said Mayor Martin Walsh in a statement.
“None of us wishes to be defined by a single moment in our lives and no one knows that better than me,” said Walsh. “Michael is someone who has done important and difficult work for the people of Boston, and especially our children, but we cannot accept the disparagement of members of our community.”
As for Loconto, he gave a couple of mea culpas, one of which read, “I want to apologize for the comments I made last night. It was not ever my intention to mock anyone. I know what was in my head and my heart but I make no excuses.”
And so we move forward — there’s a School Committee seat to fill, and the choosing of another chairman.
But this moment begs consideration of another path — that of electing the Boston School Committee.
It’s not a new idea, the issue has been raised in City Council races before. And this is not the first time the mayor-appointed School Committee has been on the hot seat.
Last year, Boston parents took the committee to task for its penchant for voting “yes” on every action put before them (except a 5-2 vote on the superintendent’s appointment). Parent Krista Magnuson said such actions “send the message that you don’t matter, you shouldn’t even bother to come out and discuss these topics.”
BPS middle school teacher Neema Avashia told the Herald, “You can’t lobby, you can’t vote for somebody else, you can just go to School Committee again and again until you turn green.”
Loconto’s error could serve as a watershed moment for Boston parents to work collaboratively with the School Committee by voting for its members.
Parents deserve to have a voice at the table, let’s give them that chance.