A Word About the Board of Education Appointment

Since the Pelham Board of Education appointment in April, I’ve been mostly quiet publicly about how that process played out. But as we head into this election season, and I continue to share where I stand on the issues that matter to Pelham, I want to speak directly to this.

I’m not a member of any private Facebook groups or community pages, but I’ve been made aware, through friends, family, and supporters, of the conversations taking place online. Some of those conversations have raised good questions. Others have been rooted more in speculation than fact. That’s to be expected in local politics, but I believe in direct, one-on-one communication, and I believe voters deserve to hear where I stand.

Here’s the truth: There is a process the City Council follows for appointments like this. It involves interviews and a ranking system, and I understand that historically the council has often gone with the candidate who received the highest average score. But that process is a guide, not a rulebook. And in this case, I couldn’t support appointing the highest-ranked candidate simply to maintain tradition.

I made the motion to appoint Bob Lavett because, in my judgment, he was the right fit. His resume, his experience, and his interview spoke for themselves. I believed then, and still do, that he’s well-positioned to serve Pelham’s students and families with wisdom and integrity.

I won’t get into the details of the council’s internal discussions, but I will say this: I asked my fellow council members directly how they arrived at their decision on their rankings of Bob Lavett, and in at least one case, I didn’t get an answer. That was disappointing.

Throughout this process, I’ve talked with residents who reached out to me personally. I’ve answered questions from folks who disagreed with my decision, and I’ve appreciated the opportunity to have real conversations. One of those exchanges was with Kayla Self, the candidate who received the highest ranking in the initial scoring. She emailed me a thoughtful set of questions, and I responded with the same level of thought and honesty. I understand she’s since said publicly that she was pleased with the responses she received from council members and has moved forward. I respect her for that, and I appreciate her continued interest in engaging with city leadership by showing up, listening, and even taking notes during meetings.

I know this decision didn’t sit well with everyone, and that’s okay. That’s part of leadership. What matters most to me is that I can stand by the decisions I make, and explain why I made them. I will always take that responsibility seriously, and I’ll always be honest with you about where I stand.

Thank you for continuing to follow along, ask hard questions, and care about Pelham. It’s why I’m running—to keep moving this city forward, together.

—Michael Harris

Carly and Mrs. Papp at Pelham Oaks. I thought the quote shared with this photo (and others) was fitting. “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard?” This is why I'm so passionate about our schools. These people not only invest in our children, they pour their hearts and souls into loving them like their own.