City Government
Somerville School Committee & Superintendent
The Superintendent
Dr. Rubén Carmona
About 4,876 Somerville students start their day in this district, and one person answers for all of it. Dr. Rubén Carmona leads Somerville Public Schools as Superintendent of Schools. He runs a system of 11 schools, proposes the school budget, sets academic priorities, and answers to the elected School Committee. The Superintendent is hired by and reports to the School Committee, which evaluates his work each year.
| Role | Superintendent of Schools |
|---|---|
| District | Somerville Public Schools, 11 schools |
| Students | About 4,876 |
The School Committee
Somerville’s School Committee has nine voting seats: seven members elected by ward to two-year terms, plus the Mayor and the City Council President, who both serve as ex-officio voting members under the city charter. The committee sets district policy, develops a recommended school budget for the Mayor, and hires and evaluates the Superintendent who runs the schools day to day. Emily Ackman of Ward 1 chairs the committee, and Leiran Biton of Ward 7 is vice chair.
Emily Ackman
Leiran Biton
Elizabeth (Liz) Eldridge
Michele Lippens
Andre L. Green
Laura Pitone
Emma Stellman
Jake Wilson
Lance L. Davis
The District at a Glance
- Enrollment: 4,876 students across 11 schools.
- High school: Somerville High School at 81 Highland Avenue, which opened its new building in 2021. Principal: Alicia Kersten.
- Languages: 23.5% of students are English learners, reflecting Somerville’s large immigrant community.
- State data: DESE district profile for Somerville Public Schools.
Meetings & Participation
- When: the committee meets the first and third Mondays of each month during the school year, in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, and agendas are posted on the district website.
- Public comment: residents may address the committee with the chair’s permission. Check the agenda for sign-up details.
- Watch: public meetings are broadcast live on Somerville Cable Channel 16.
What this seat decides
Your schools
School Committee. Start times, the school calendar, bus routes and stops, the phone policy, athletics and activity fees, and the policies in the student handbook. It sets district policy, and the total size of the school budget is voted by the City Council.
Your principal and your superintendent. The principal for how a school rule works day to day in your building. The superintendent for how the whole district runs. The School Committee selects the superintendent, and the superintendent appoints the principals, so a question about any other staff member goes to the district, not to the board.
Curious how a bill becomes law, or how students can take on a civics project?
MassCivics last checked this page on October 7, 2026.
Sources
- Schools and districts: Massachusetts DESE, district profile, Enrollment Data (2025-26), as of October 1, 2025.
- Schools and districts: Massachusetts DESE, district profile, Selected Populations (2025-26), as of October 1, 2025.
- Schools and districts: Massachusetts DESE, school profile, Somerville High, Contact Information, as of October 1, 2025.
- City records: City of Somerville, School Committee, as of October 2026.
- School district records: Somerville Public Schools, Central Administration, as of August 14, 2026.
- School district records: Somerville Public Schools, Somerville School Committee, as of August 14, 2026.