Meet School Committee candidate Michael Mastrubouni

How many years have you lived in Medford? 
My family moved to Fulton Heights in 2021 after eight years in Somerville and nearly a decade in Boston. My wife and I both came to the area for college in 2004 and chose to raise our family here. Our son Lincoln is seven, and our daughter Violet is four and we’re a Roberts Elementary family.

Please describe your professional background and education. 
I’m the Budget Director for the City of Somerville, where I manage a $380 million annual budget. My job is to make sure that staff across the city have the resources they need, plan for the future through long-range forecasting and capital projects, and guide staff and elected officials through municipal finance law. At the heart of my work is helping colleagues succeed by building systems and plans they can rely on.
I earned my BS in Political Science from Northeastern University in 2008 and a Master’s in Urban & Regional Policy in 2014. My studies focused on the challenges cities face today, along with budgeting, performance management, and program evaluation. That foundation led me into municipal finance, where I’ve built my career.

What, if any, city positions (appointed or elected) have you held, and for how long? 
This is my first run for office, but I’ve served as a mayoral appointee to Medford’s Water & Sewer Commission. The commission sets rates, supports infrastructure maintenance, and helps residents with billing questions. This is important work that combines customer service, long-term planning, and allocation of limited resources.

What volunteer roles have you participated in that you feel have made a difference in Medford? 
My favorite volunteer moments have been in our schools. For me this means Art Night, STEM Night, or any event with ice cream. I love volunteering for the evening, exploring a concept, or trying out an experiment together. Those small moments of trying to figure out how to connect are what I find makes a difference with kids.

Why should residents vote for you?
Residents should vote for me if they want a School Committee member who brings deep experience in government, a strong background in budgeting, and a commitment to making decisions with long-term value and sustainability in mind. Now, more than ever, we must be strategic, proactive, and creative when it comes to planning the resources we need for our kids.

Tell us ...

Why are you running or running again for School Committee, what changes do you believe you can facilitate?
The School Committee hires the Superintendent, sets policy, develops the budget, and leads strategic planning. With 20 years of government experience and a decade in municipal finance, I can help the district plan beyond one budget cycle at a time. My top goal is to bring long-term thinking into our budgeting and planning so Medford Public Schools can stay strong year after year. My core values are well-resourced classrooms in well-maintained buildings, fairly paid educators, afterschool programs with capacity, and special education that allows Medford kids to thrive here in their home district.

What do you see as the top issue with the School District?
The most pressing issue is the Medford High School renovation. In my professional role, I worked on the Somerville High School MSBA project, from creating a financing plan to borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars. I want to bring that experience here to make sure Medford gets a building that will serve students for the next 50 years. I’ll fight for a design that’s flexible, accessible, efficient, and built for long-term value because it’s critical that we design a building that Medford residents can be proud to support.

With potentially deep cuts in federal funding and a local budget stretched thin, what are your budgeting priorities and how do you propose to make them happen?
Cuts will likely come, so our leadership’s job is to reduce risk and make sure that we maintain our core services. My priorities are:

• Treating MPS as the first priority for city resources in order to prevent backsliding on the progress we’ve made.
• Fully funding new collective bargaining agreements and understanding our future liabilities so the School Committee, City Council, and Mayor can work together on solutions.
• Using the upcoming strategic plan process to guide resource decisions.

I want to start budgeting on a multi-year timeline and partner closely with the City’s Finance team to ensure schools are funded fully and consistently. No matter what the economy or federal administration throws our way, my municipal finance experience will be an asset to the School Committee.

What role should the community play in supporting the education of children?
Strong public schools are the cornerstone of a strong community. When we invest in kids, we invest in our neighbors and in Medford’s future. That investment pays off immediately when we provide universal free lunch, when we offer afterschool programs that families rely on, and when we expand in-district special education. But it also pays off over a lifetime, especially for our most-vulnerable families. Supporting our schools is non-negotiable.

What book is currently on your nightstand? (just for fun)
Right now, I’ve got "The Hobbit" on my nightstand because my son and I are about to start that. I’ve been waiting seven years for this.