It is now February 2023 and since 1991, Boston has been the only municipality of 351 without an elected School Committee.

In 2021, Boston voters sent a resounding message that the 30-year experiment is over when they overwhelmingly voted “yes” to return to an elected school body. Even the most optimistic proponent could not have imagined that this question would mark the first time in Boston’s storied political history, where a ballot question would win in every ward and precinct in the city’s sprawling, diverse citizenry. Boston voters said loud and clear: bring back an elected school committee.

As a lifelong Boston resident, I have lived through it all. I was a student of busing. I am a mother, who like others, struggled to find the world class educational experience for my children.

As a student of Boston politics, I watched the turmoil, disruptive school committee meetings, racial strife and watched as the education interests of Boston’s children got sidelined. Ironically, I believed that BPS was just beginning to settle down in 1990 with the addition of the late John D. O’Bryant, Juanita Wade and Dr. Jean McGuire. The Boston School Committee actually began to look representative of the children who attended BPS. Clearly what excited me obviously concerned others; because it was at the very time Black and Latinos began to reach parity in the only elective body to demonstrate such at the time. Others thought it better not to have the ability to elect the Boston School Committee.

Mayor Flynn moved in 1991 to secure the support of the Boston City Council, the state legislature and the signature of the governor and with that, the forward progress was over. Sold on the argument that appointing the committee would bring calm, stability, focus on student achievement and place accountability in one person, the Mayor.

Instead, Boston public schools have existed in a constant state of turmoil, widening racial achievement gaps, turnover in district leadership, dilapidated buildings, low teacher morale, decreased parent and community engagement and culminated in a near state-takeover in receivership in 2022. It’s time to move on from the 30-year failed experiment.

I learned the importance and value of meaningful protests and activism and felt absolute pride in what I had learned, which became the foundation of my life’s work to grow our community’s political empowerment and strengthen our democracy. While we rightfully celebrate the political advancements achieved in Boston in 2021 (which most recently delivered the most diverse Boston City Council ever), the reality is that the 1991 elected Boston School Committee was a forerunner in the City’s diversity as it had as many elected members of color 30 years ago.

The Boston City Council is expected to get a home rule petition on the Mayor’s desk shortly. Mayor Wu must sign and forward it to the legislature without delay. The voters in Boston should have the opportunity to vote for representation on the Boston School Committee this Fall in the municipal elections. To do anything less will amount to a blatant disregard of Boston’s voters. Change cannot wait any longer. We need real political leadership on this matter. Now!

Mukiya Baker-Gomez Is a life-long Boston resident, BPS graduate and mother, who lives in Hyde Park.