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Parents and union leaders criticize superintendent search, demand transparency and equity
Summary
Seven public commenters voiced frustration with the search process, called for greater transparency and participatory decision‑making, and demanded an equity‑focused superintendent who will use audits to narrow opportunity gaps.
Several parents, a candidate for school committee and the interim Cambridge Education Association (CEA) president used the meeting's public‑comment period to press the committee on process and equity. Jess Getz said the search had been "suboptimal" and asked the committee to "please explain your votes" and to structure a contract with clear benchmarks to reduce future risk. Luisa De Paula Santos, who identified herself as a paraeducator and school‑committee candidate, gave the committee a set of "non negotiable demands" demanding a leader who will act on equity audits to dismantle discriminatory outcomes in school choice, discipline and special education.
Duncan McIlory, speaking as interim CEA president, criticized the search as "a sham of a comprehensive search," referenced published reports about a finalist and urged the committee to consider a one‑year contract or restart. Anna Shin alleged that interim superintendent David Murphy had renewed a principal who had harmed a school community and suggested that personnel decisions disproportionately affected staff of color. "If you vote him as a permanent superintendent, you are putting in a person who chose to renew someone who has broken at least 3 state laws," Shin said. Those allegations were made from the public comment period and were not resolved at the meeting.
