School Committee student rep Khymani James resigns
Cites ‘disrespect’ and ‘emotional manipulation’
Boston School Committee Student Representative Khymani James has resigned from his position citing “lies,” “blatant disrespect” and “emotional manipulation” among other issues.
“I want to say that I do not want to leave but I have to leave. I was raised to prioritize my morals and beliefs over everything else and that’s what I am doing,” wrote James in a series of Twitter posts Thursday night.
James announced he was both resigning from school committee and the Boston Student Advisory Council, a body of elected student leaders that represents most Boston Public Schools high schools.
“Besides the blatant disrespect + adultist rhetoric used towards me in public meetings, the overall structures within both of these bodies are ineffective + harmful to the progressive agenda of students,” wrote James.
He continued, “From lies to excuses to emotional manipulation, it’s all been deplorable and distasteful. To ensure I do not reciprocate the disrespect nor continue to sacrifice my mental health, it is necessary for me to step away.”
James was serving a one-year term set to expire later this year. He had pushed for voting rights for the student representative on the committee and also advocated for better mental health services for students.
He received an outpouring of support via social media Thursday night.
In a interview with the Herald, James said his questions on the school committee were often disregarded, “We all know that if adults were to ask those same questions, they wouldn’t get the same responses.”
In his BSAC role, James said he stepped down because, “we’ve been pushed into a space where we feel as though we have to sugarcoat things and water things down.”
At least five other BSAC members also resigned and spoke with the Herald on Friday.
They said their ideas, questions and concerns on the council weren’t taken seriously and were often twisted to fit a certain narrative. Ajanee Igharo, a junior and former BSAC member for Boston Latin Academy, said BPS leadership, “failed us and they failed their jobs.”
A joint statement from Boston Public Schools and the Boston School Committee said they, “deeply value the voice of our students and work to offer opportunities for them to be heard.”
The statement said, “Working alongside Youth on Board, our staff will take steps to engage BSAC members and determine how we work together to move forward. The Committee and district will continue conversations with BSAC members to hear their concerns and honor and amplify their voices in our decision making.”
Today, James and other students will hold a press conference outside the BPS central office in Roxbury to discuss their resignations.