Hartford mayor joins school board
12/20/05 -- Eddie Perez, the mayor of Hartford, Conn., appointed himself to the city’s school board -- and then took over as board chair.
Perez’ action may be unprecedented. It’s not unheard of for a mayor to serve on a school board; the New Haven, Conn., mayor is a voting member by city charter, for example. But NSBA Associate Executive Director Michael A. Resnick says he’s never heard of a mayor appointing himself to a school board -- let alone taking on the role of chair.
Known as a hands-on leader who has championed the importance of education, Perez took office at the Dec. 6 board meeting, where he was elected unanimously as chair.
“This is a critical time for the board of education,” he says. “The new board will face numerous tough choices . . . by serving as chair, I hope to ensure that all of these tough choices are made without distractions that could undermine our efforts to provide the best possible education for our children.”
Perez has indicated that he might step down before completing a full term in office.
His avowed goals are to help the school board build a solid plan for the future and serve as a critical link between the school system and the city government.
A one-time gang member who says education helped him turn his life around, Perez also has expressed an interest in improving school safety.
Several teens have been the victim of neighborhood shootings and gang violence outside Hartford schools recently, prompting school officials to step up security and cancel a high school pep rally.
“There has to be a renewed sense of urgency in our school system about creating a safe, orderly learning environment,” says Perez, who announced plans to convene a task force of staff, board members, and administrators to examine school safety procedures.
The mayor’s self-appointment prompted mixed reactions from community and state leaders. Some accused Perez of hubris and warned he was overextending himself by taking on additional duties.
Others expressed hope that the mayor’s take-charge leadership style and strong advocacy for education would be helpful.
“It certainly caught people’s attention,” says Nick Caruso, senior staff associate for field services at the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education. “A strong mayor could, in fact, be a real help to the school board. A lot depends on him as an individual, as someone who cares about kids and education.”
School board member Ada Miranda says she hopes the mayor’s first-hand knowledge of school district operations will serve as an important conduit to the city council. Miranda is one of four school board members appointed by Perez. Four others are elected.
“It’s not the same as us telling the mayor or coming before the city council and saying we need more money for this or that,” she says. “By him being right there, hearing it from the troops, working more closely with the staff, he will really have a better grip on the real needs of the system.”
Hartford Federation of Teachers President Cathy Carpino voiced concerns about the long-term consequences if Perez’s self-appointment becomes a precedent. In five or 10 years, there might be another mayor on the school board, who “may not be as bright and capable as Eddie Perez in wielding that power.”
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