Mayor Menino Appoints School Committee Members

Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced that he has appointed two members to the Boston School Committee. Alfreda J. Harris was re-appointed for a four-year term. William L. Boyan was appointed to the seat formerly held by longtime member William Spring, who did not seek reappointment.

Mayor Menino said, "The School Committee plays a vital role in the partnership between the School Department and the community. I thank the teachers, parents and members of the community who helped nominate our applicants."

Mayor Menino added, "I am pleased today to welcome the newest member of the School Committee, Bill Boyan. Bill has been an active participant in the Boston Public Schools for more than 30 years. His expertise in financial management will be particularly useful during these extremely challenging budgetary times."

Mr. Boyan, 66, is a retired President and Chief Operating Officer/Vice Chairman of John Hancock Financial Services. A resident of the Back Bay, he is a graduate of Harvard College and Northeastern University. Mr. Boyan has been active in education reform efforts in the Boston Public Schools for more than 30 years, beginning in the early 1970s, when he organized and chaired the Boston Trilateral Task Force. He also developed the John Hancock HEART Program, an endowment of $1 million for Boston middle schools. He is a former chair and current member of the Boston Plan for Excellence Board of Trustees and former chair of the Boston Annenberg Challenge, which raised $20 million in endowment funds for the Boston Public Schools. Mr. Boyan is also a Chairman of the Board at Children's Hospital.

Mayor Menino noted that he was particularly impressed that Mr. Boyan's experience in the public schools includes first-hand knowledge of staff, students and programs, having made numerous visits to schools over the years.

Ms. Harris, 64, of Roslindale was first appointed to the School Committee in 1993. She is a founder of the Shelburne Community Center and a former Deputy Commissioner of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. She currently serves as project director for the Harvard School of Public Health's "Play Across Boston" and for Northeastern University's "Sport in Society" programs. She has co-chaired the Student Assignment Task Force and has been an outspoken advocate for creating opportunities for Boston Public Schools graduates to pursue higher education.

"Alfreda Harris has served with distinction on the School Committee, and I will continue to rely on her as a sensible, compassionate, hard-working individual who works tirelessly on behalf of the young people of Boston," said Mayor Menino.

Ms. Harris and Mr. Boyan will serve four-year terms that expire on January 1, 2007.

Mr. Spring had served on the Boston School Committee since 1992. During his tenure, he co-chaired the High School Restructuring Task Force and was an active participant in the Boston Compact, a unique partnership among schools, teachers and the business, higher education, cultural and human services communities.

Mayor Menino praised Mr. Spring for his eleven years of service, saying, "Bill Spring has been an outstanding advocate for the young people of this city. He has been a leader in helping the business community and many others recognize the great potential of the students in the Boston Public Schools, and he has been a key player in all of our education reform efforts. I am very grateful for his service and look forward to his continued involvement in this vital work."

Mayor Menino will swear in Ms. Harris and Mr. Boyan in January 2003.

The Boston School Committee is a seven-member board which governs and sets policy for the 135 Boston Public Schools. Any Boston resident is eligible to apply for a position. A 13-member citizens nominating panel accepted nominations this fall before recommending candidates to Mayor Menino in early December. The Mayor interviewed each of the finalists before making his selections.