WORCESTER, Mass. - Public hearings on Worcester’s new school committee districts are scheduled for May and June.
The groups who pushed for the new districts picked an independent consultant to faciliate the hearings. The public hearings are required in the consent decree of Worcester Interfaith, Inc. et al v. City of Worcester, Massachusetts et al, which challenged the at-large electoral system for School Committee elections, saying the system "...unlawfully and unconstitutionally dilutes the vote of the Hispanic/Latino/a and Black communities in Worcester."
The parties agreed on a hybrid electoral system consisting of both district and at-large seats on the School Committee. The new district system would go into effect during the 2023 Municipal Election, along with new city council district lines.
Worcester Board of Election Commissioners met Thursday to set the public hearing dates.
“The Board of Election Commissioners will be discussing and taking into consideration public participation and opinion on both the lines and upcoming polling locations as well.” Clare Robbins, Assistant City Clerk, said.
Voters can find a list of the public hearings below. They will hold the hearings both in-person and virtually.
Public hearings:
- Thursday, May 12 - 5:30 p.m. - Unitarian Universalist Church - 90 Holden St. (parking is available on shore drive parking lot)
- Thursday, May 19 - 5:30 p.m. - Worcester Housing Authority conference center - 630 Plantation St.
- Thursday, May 26 - 5:30 p.m. - Worcester Senior Center lunch room - 128 Providence St.
- Thursday, June 2 - 5:30 p.m. - Worcester Seventh-Day Adventist Church - 2 Airport Dr.
- Thursday, June 9 - 5:30 p.m. - YMCA Central Branch - 766 Main St.