7.22.2026 - Fall River School Committee

The Fall River School Committee held its regular meeting on July 22, 2026, chaired by Mayor Paul E. Coogan. The committee received a letter from resident Taylor Perry praising the district's summer programs. Subcommittee reports included a motion from the Policy Subcommittee to authorize up to $15,000 for MASC policy services, which passed unanimously. The superintendent's report covered a range of topics, including a hiring update from Dr. Chris Godino, a review of the numerous summer programs, and an enrollment update showing 10,271 students currently registered. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to an update on the alternative school programs at 290 Rock Street, which involved a discussion about $40,000 in facility upgrades and student placement numbers, leading to some councilors expressing frustration over a lack of prior communication.

The committee addressed a full agenda of contracts and policies. Key decisions included approving the Cartwheel mental health services contract for up to $97,500, changing the Evolve Academy graduation requirement from 100 to 80 credits, and adopting a new state-mandated policy on restraint and timeout, with Councilor Dias voting against both due to concerns about lowering standards and student safety, respectively. A new Lead BCBA job description was approved over Councilor Aguiar's objection that the workload was unrealistic. The committee also approved exploring the creation of an in-house day school for students with significant needs. A lengthy discussion arose over the Deputy Superintendent's job description, which was ultimately tabled after members noted that a directive from a previous meeting to explicitly include oversight of alternative education had not been added by the superintendent. The meeting concluded after an update from new CFO Aldo Petronio, who confirmed the city council had restored the transportation budget to the committee's requested $17 million, and a motion to adjourn in memory of former school committee member Robert Maynard.

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