Commissioner of Massachusetts DESE states Fall River School Committee report will be completed as expeditiously as possible

A Massachusetts Board of Elementary & Secondary Education Meeting was held on Tuesday and one of the major topics was the Fall River School Committee.

After citizens input on March 11th, Mayor Paul Coogan announced that he had requested that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education start an investigation into the Fall River School Committee.

A letter read by Coogan from Pedro Martinez, Commissioner of DESE, stated that the investigation concerns the School Committee impacting the Superintendent’s ability to manage priorities. Similar concerns were addressed in a report from May of last year. Recent events including the possible removal of the Superintendent without cause also got the DESE’s attention. Curley resigned later in the meeting.

Robert Curtin, Deputy Commissioner from DESE, was at the meeting to answer questions as he will be leading the investigation.

Coogan noted that he hopes all committee members will be interviewed as part of the investigation.

Curtin revealed that the investigation and review will focus on the governing structure and will issue findings and recommendations. He also noted that conduct by the committee in the last 3 months has caused concern from DESE.

On Tuesday morning, Martinez told the Massachusetts Board of Elementary & Secondary Education that the report will be completed as expeditiously as possible and then submitted to the Board.

Once the report is completed, DESE will reveal what options they have and what actions they can take, if any, that are in their purview. Other agencies may also get involved.

Board members expressed their concern wanting to make sure that whatever actions are taken, if any, are in their purview and take precedence into account.