From the Reelect Manikka Bowman campaign, June 4, 2017: First-term School Committee member Manikka Bowman said Sunday that was she pleased to announce she was running for reelection.

“It has been a privilege and joy to serve you over the past year and a half. Thank you for trusting me with the city’s greatest asset – our children’s future,” Bowman said in an emailed press release and call for donations.

“In my first term, I’ve learned that the biggest need for our school district is committee members who are devoted to policy-making that supports the whole child and meets the needs of all of our students. This has been my commitment to students, families, teachers and our administration,” she said. “In a short time, I have been able to move important work forward that will affect the district for many years to come.”

She cited her first-term work as including:

Expanding access to free feminine-hygiene products to all schools;

Leading a no-suspension policy for vulnerable kindergarten through second-graders;

Spearheading a districtwide visioning process to replace outdated plans;

Starting vital planning efforts to address increased enrollment in our schools because of housing development and a baby boom in the city.

“Because of your support, I’m able to do this work,” she said in the email. “As November draws near, I look forward to engaging you on how we can continue to move policies that meet the needs of all children.”