1.13.2025 Fall River School Committee

Fall River Government TV Jan 13, 2025 YouTube Report Issue

The Fall River School Committee convened on Monday, January 13th, for a regular meeting marked by extensive public input regarding contract negotiations and a contentious discussion during the superintendent's evaluation. Student representatives from Durfee and RPA shared updates, with RPA students raising concerns about ventilation, gym floors, and the delayed completion of culinary kitchens, which the Superintendent stated would be ready by February 2nd. During citizens' input, several Unit B (related service providers) and Unit C (school administrative managers) members, supported by a Unit A educator, passionately advocated for fair contracts, citing low wages, heavy caseloads, and the need for equitable compensation compared to other units and contracted workers. A former city councilor and School Committee member Colin Das publicly accused Mayor Paul Coogan of unethical tactics and intimidation, which the Mayor vehemently denied, clarifying the use of a constable and defending the school's financial integrity against fraud allegations. Subcommittee reports covered the delay of the Early Childhood opening due to budget overruns and facility issues, and the Instructional Subcommittee referred proposals for Narcan training in the health curriculum and a virtual pathway for RPA students. The committee approved several contracts, including fire and mold remediation for Spencer Borden and Green Elementary schools. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the superintendent's evaluation, where Dr. Tracy Curley received an overall rating of "Needs Improvement" (2.85 out of 4) from the committee, with individual members expressing varied opinions ranging from "Needs Improvement" due to academic achievement and perceived obstruction, to "Proficient" and "Exemplary" given her short tenure. The committee also approved budget priorities for FY26, including an amendment to prioritize "no cuts to staff," and passed motions for a quarterly finance committee meeting with an efficiency reporting agenda item, and to refer policy changes regarding information requests to the policy subcommittee.

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