The Boston School Committee on Monday unanimously approved a reduced 2025 meeting calendar, re-elected Jeri Robinson as chair and elected Michael O'Neil as vice chair during its annual organizational meeting held remotely.

The committee voted to approve the 2025 meeting calendar, which the chair said has six fewer meetings than the 2024 schedule and will hold virtual meetings at 5:30 p.m. from January through March, with hybrid in-person meetings resuming in April at the Bowling Building. The calendar vote passed on a roll-call vote with all members present voting yes.

The calendar matters because it sets the committee's formal schedule for hearings, budget work and public engagement across the school year. Chair Jeri Robinson said the reduction "is reflection of our discussions during our fall retreats" and that the change is intended "to make our time together efficient and effective." Robinson added that the committee will continue to "fulfill the other expectations of our roles."

During the meeting, the committee opened nominations for its leadership positions. Member Blanca Garcia nominated Jeri Robinson for chair, and Robinson was elected by unanimous roll-call vote after members closed nominations. "It's unanimous. Congratulations," the clerk announced following the roll call.

Doctor Hawkins nominated Michael O'Neil for vice chair; O'Neil was elected unanimously. After the vote, O'Neil said he has "enjoyed working" on the superintendent's evaluation and looks forward to "providing leadership opportunities for all the members."

Members discussed additional governance changes tied to the calendar reduction. Robinson and other members said the committee will explore forming subcommittees to allow deeper work on targeted areas and to provide members leadership opportunities. The chair said details on subcommittees and mapping of meeting topics will be brought forward in the coming weeks.

The committee also reminded the public that meeting documents and recordings will be posted on the Boston Public Schools school committee webpage and that live simultaneous interpretation is available in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Kreyol (Caballavariano in transcript), Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese and American Sign Language. The next virtual meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 5:30 p.m.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of 2025 meeting calendar — Motion to approve the calendar as presented; outcome: approved unanimously on roll call (all voting members present voted yes). Notes: calendar reduced by six meetings; virtual meetings 5:30 p.m. January'March; hybrid in April at the Bowling Building.

- Election of chair (2025) — Motion to elect Jeri Robinson as chair; outcome: approved unanimously on roll call (all voting members present voted yes).

- Election of vice chair (2025) — Motion to elect Michael O'Neil as vice chair; outcome: approved unanimously on roll call (all voting members present voted yes).