Two Boston city councilors, critical of a mayoral agenda that limited free museum access to public school children, opted not to proceed with their long-awaited hearing on the issue after their favorite guests of the Wu administration did not come.

Councilors Erin Murphy, the lead sponsor, and Ed Flynn, chose to postpone a hearing Monday morning “to discuss the matter.” extension of free passes for museums exclusively for Boston Public Schools families” after the start of the virtual Education Committee session, after learning about administrative absences.

Given that Mayor Michelle Wu has already announced his plans to expand the program to all city schoolchildren next year — something Murphy and Flynn advocated for — the hearing, according to a statement from Murphy, was to focus on how the program would be funded in the future.

“This expansion represents an important step toward inclusiveness and equity for our city’s diverse families,” Murphy said in a statement. “While I appreciate the Mayor’s commitment to expanding the program beginning in January 2025, I want to emphasize the importance of a solid financial plan to support this initiative.

“To ensure this expansion is both feasible and sustainable, I have invited Ashley Groffenberger, Chief Financial Officer for the City of Boston; James Williamson, director of the Office of Budget Management; and Stephen Chan, Senior Partnerships Advisor, will join us at the hearing. They will address key financial questions and help us understand the path forward.

After Councilman Henry Santana, who chairs the education committee, noted that the committee also invited Kara Elliot-Ortega, the city’s arts and culture chief, and representatives from the Boston Children’s Museum, Flynn s It was asked whether the administrative officials invited by Murphy, Groffenberger and Williamson, were on the call.

Informed that they were not by Santana, Flynn called a brief recess to give them time to join, and Murphy highlighted what she saw as the Wu administration’s tendency to forgo hearings where it invited to testify regarding matters related to the Wu administration. Boston Public Schools.

“It’s a trend that continues to happen,” Murphy said. “I appreciate the Children’s Museum being here…but I think it’s important that we pause and make sure that the administration who can answer our important questions is here for this hearing, or I requests that we conclude and postpone the hearing. »

After a break, Santana confirmed that the two financial officials were unable to attend the hearing and said the hearing would be postponed to a later date to accommodate the major sponsors’ request to have the “senior personnel”.

No reason was given for their absence, although it was stated at a press conference at City Hall where Groffenberger was also due to appear later in the day that she could not attend. press conference because she was busy with meetings.

“Chief Kara Elliot-Ortega was prepared to discuss financial support for the program during the canceled hearing,” a spokesperson for Wu said in a statement.