Somerville School Committee

Somerville School Committee

The School Committee is an elected body that oversees the Somerville Public Schools. Members work with the Superintendent to set broad policies and educational goals, develop a recommended budget for submission to the Mayor, and provide fiscal oversight of the School Department. The Committee is composed of seven members elected by ward every two years (on the odd years). The Mayor and the City Council President are ex-officio members with full voting rights. The School Committee has regular meetings the first and third Monday of every month during the school year (September through June). Meetings, held in the City Council Chambers at Somerville City Hall located at 93 Highland Avenue in Somerville, are open to the public, with the exception of Executive Session meetings. Public meetings are broadcast live on Somerville Cable Channel 16.

School Committee Members

Note: If you would like to email the full School Committee at once, you can email SchoolCommittee@k12.somerville.ma.us.

Committees and Initiatives

Subcommittees of the Somerville School Committee are where much of business associated with overseeing the Somerville Public Schools happens. There are four subcommittees of the School Committee composed of the following members:

• Education Programs and Instruction: Emily Ackman (Chair), Laura Pitone (Vice Chair), Ellenor Barish
• Finance and Facilities: Sarah Phillips (Chair), Andre Green (Vice Chair), Leiran Biton
• Rules Management: Ellenor Barish (Chair), Leiran Biton (Vice Chair), Laura Pitone
• School Buildings Facilities and Maintenance Committee: Leiran Biton (Chair), Laura Pitone (Vice Chair), Sarah Phillips
• Special Policing Subcommittee
• Joint City / SPS Committee on School Facilities

In addition, the Committee for Long Range Planning is a Standing Committee of the Whole. It is chaired by the Chair of the School Committee.

Subcommittee Meetings and Subcommittee Meetings of the Whole are held via Zoom. Members of the public are welcome to attend these meetings. To request meeting handout and materials, please contact Erika Garcia. Agendas, Weekly Calls, and Minutes for Regular and Subcommittee meetings are available online under "School Committee Meetings" in the submenu to the right (desktop or laptop) or bottom of the screen (mobile phone). 

School Committee representatives also serve on the following committees/initiatives: