"This is a problem, and this is an institutional problem. We're not going to be able to change it by going to school committee and asking them to change it," said Worcester Interfaith Executive Director Isabel Gonzalez-Webster, who believes the city's at-large election system for school committee limits the voice and the power of minorities in the city.
Worcester Interfaith teamed up with other advocacy groups, like the NAACP, and are pursuing legal action to change it.
Attorney Brian Alosco is representing Worcester Interfaith, and said, "Worcester is the last large city in Massachusetts that has an at-large, plurality school committee election system. Other cities have come with the times to change the system to be more representative and equitable."
Alosco said the city of Lowell faced a similar lawsuit and ultimately eliminated the at-large system.
According to Worcester Interfaith, 70% of the kids in the Worcester Public Schools are students of color, yet all seven school committee members are white.
Gonzalez-Webster said, "Five out of the seven live in two out of the 50 districts in the city. Over the last six election cycles from 2009 to 2019, out of the 36 open seats, only one seat has been won by a candidate of color and that was a Latina, Hilda Ramirez."
A spokesperson for the city of Worcester said they don't comment on ongoing litigation.
Alosco points to Worcester's other elected body, the city council, as a possible model for the school committee's electoral process.
He said, "Looking at the city council, a similar type of system might be a way to go. An entirely district-based system might be an ideal end result."
Alosco said they would consider dropping the lawsuit should the two sides come to an agreement to change the system. The city council and school committee are scheduled to meet in executive session Tuesday to discuss strategy with respect to the case.
Longtime school committee member John Monfredo has announced he will not be seeking reelection in November, meaning there will be at least one seat up for grabs.