Opinion letter: Fall River resident calls out School Committee for perceived unprofessional behavior

This is an opinion letter submitted by a resident to Fall River Reporter and was not written by us.

“I thought long and hard. I speak to you as a parent who truly loves not only my own children, but all children.

“Why is it so difficult for our elected officials to come together as a team? Why is the need to control or “win” so much stronger than the need to cooperate and do what’s best for our students? When disagreements happen—and they will—that should not be an excuse for chaos or disrespect. Indifference, personal agendas, and public displays of power struggles do nothing to serve our children.

We teach our kids not to bully. We tell them to use their words respectfully and work through conflict. Yet what they see from some members of the Fall River School Committee is the opposite—bullying, walkouts, name-calling, and constant unprofessional behavior. These are the same people making decisions that directly impact our children’s daily lives, emotional wellbeing, and education. It’s disheartening to see meetings become showcases for spotlight-seeking and petty disagreements rather than productive, child-centered discussions. I often wonder how other districts view our committee’s behavior—and frankly, it’s embarrassing. We should be setting a standard others want to follow, not one that makes us the subject of whispers and ridicule.

What I experienced during my time with the full committee meeting was honestly humiliating and disheartening. I do appreciate the effort that was made by you of supporting me during that time—it didn’t go unnoticed—but the aftermath left a lasting impact.

I’m not bringing this up to rehash old wounds, but rather to provide context for where I’m coming from. I’ve been in it. I’ve seen it firsthand. And now, watching from the outside, I have real concerns.

Please know that I don’t think I’m better than anyone on the School Committee. I truly respect the difficult work you all do, and I know it’s not an easy job, but I also don’t understand why there’s so much internal conflict—why so much energy is spent beating yourselves up over what often seems like avoidable issues. Maybe “demeanors” isn’t the perfect word, but that’s what it feels like.

There are many of us who are ready for change—real change. Change that puts egos aside and puts children first. It’s time we demand better leadership and hold those accountable who choose pride over progress.

Taylor Perry