Heated exchange between Fall River Superintendent Curley, School Committee’s Aguiar over release of information leads to statement by SC’s Dias

FALL RIVER, MA – School Committee Member Collin Dias is denouncing what he says is a new and unprecedented “shadow policy” imposed by Superintendent Tracy Curley, which requires full committee approval for individual members and subcommittees to request information.

The policy was announced on Monday during a heated exchange at a subcommittee meeting between Curley and committee member/Special Education Subcommittee chair Kevin Aguiar where Aguiar expressed frustration over not receiving requested information from Curley concerning the Parent and Community Engagement Center project. The Superintendent stated that she is not the go between concerning Aguiar and the city when request timelines aren’t met. Each expressed that each party was not giving respect to the other.

Dias mentioned that the policy was announced without prior discussion, creating unnecessary delays that hinder the School Committee’s ability to address urgent issues. 

As Chairperson of the Parent and Community Engagement Subcommittee, Dias says that he has already experienced these delays when trying to tackle critical issues such as the systemic problem of youth violence in schools and the dramatic increase in lockdowns.

“This policy obstructs access to essential data, paralyzing efforts to find solutions. Subcommittees, which are designed to focus on specific issues and report back to the full committee, are now unable to function effectively under these restrictions. At a recent Special Education Subcommittee meeting, this policy was cited as a reason to deny a request for information, revealing its direct impact on the ability of subcommittees to carry out their work.”

Dias also stated that this policy is being selectively enforced to target certain members of the school committee, further creating a hostile and obstructive environment. 

“This policy threatens to delay action on the issues that matter most to our students, families, and staff,” said Dias. “It undermines our ability to govern effectively and transparently, which is essential to building trust with the public.” 

Dias also highlighted what he called mismanagement within the district, including $700,000 overspent on playgrounds in violation of policy, $6,000 spent on dinosaur costumes, and a mold crisis that endangers student and staff safety. He emphasized the importance of restoring transparency and accountability to ensure decisions prioritize students and families.

“This authoritarian approach to governance must end,” Dias said. “Our community deserves better.”