BPS Superintendent Finalist Welch Completes Public Panel, Opposes State Receivership

Uncategorized · Meeting of July 19, 2026

BOSTON — BPS superintendent finalist Dr. Tommy Welch fields 90-minute community panel amid district receivership fears. Region One School Superintendent Dr.

Tommy Welch, who oversees 15 schools, 7,200 students, and 700 teachers in East Boston, Charlestown, and the North End, appeared before a students and families panel on July 19 as the remaining finalist in the Boston Public Schools superintendent search. Asked directly about the possibility of state receivership — news Welch said had broken that same day — he said flatly, "My views on receivership is not going to happen — we're not going to let it happen," pledging to work with Mayor Wu to keep the district under local control while acknowledging that a DESE review had identified legitimate gaps in English learner supports, special education, and transformation schools performing in the lowest tenth percentile statewide. Welch, who has two children enrolled in BPS elementary schools, cited his seven years on the district's executive team and visits to all but 10 school buildings as evidence he could "hit the ground running" from day one, which he pegged as July 1.

A school committee interview was scheduled for the same evening.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,892 words

Source: the Uncategorized meeting of July 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.