Boston's minority elected officials urge delay in student-assignment vote

Globe Staff

Minority elected officials from Boston have asked a special panel weighing changes to the way students are assigned to schools to delay a key vote on the matter.

In a letter to the External Advisory Committee, the 12 officials urged the panel to put off the vote planned for Saturday that would recommend one of three plans to the School Committee to give families more time to study the options.

“We have heard from constituents, stakeholders and most importantly families about their need for more time to review and understand the most recent plans,” said the letter, sent to the EAC Monday evening.

The letter, which was first reported by the Universal Hub blog, was signed by the following elected officials:

Carlos Henriquez, state representative, Fifth Suffolk District
Felix Arroyo, city councilor at-large
Russell Holmes, state representative, Sixth Suffolk District
Sonia Chang-Diaz, state senator, Second Suffolk District
Tito Jackson, city councilor, District Seven
Charles Yancey, city councilor, District Four
Ayanna Pressley, city councilor at-large
Gloria Fox, state representative, Seventh Suffolk District
Linda Dorcena Forry, state representative, Twelfth Suffolk District
Steve Tompkins, Suffolk County sheriff
Byron Rushing, state representative (majority whip), Ninth Suffolk District
Jeffrey Sanchez, state representative, Fifteenth Suffolk District

The letter sent hours before a meeting at which parents voiced concerns night that the three proposals could limit families’ access to a good education, and they asked a special panel to delay a key vote on the matter scheduled for Saturday.

“We feel there are promises; we haven’t seen a plan how they will be fulfilled,” said Samuel Hurtado, the father of a student at the Josiah Quincy School in Chinatown. “So please postpone the vote. We need more time."