Fall River School Committee faces multiple open meeting law complaints from Colin Dias

The Fall River School Committee meeting on June 23, 2025, was dominated by discussions surrounding multiple complaints regarding alleged violations of open meeting laws. The committee reviewed executive session minutes from previous meetings, including those from June 5 and June 9, 2025, as mandated by National Law Chapter 38, Section 21(a)(7).

A significant focus was on a complaint filed by Colin Dias, which alleged that the committee failed to approve minutes from several meetings, including those from March 3, March 10, and March 18, 2025. Dias claimed these delays constituted violations of the open meeting law, which requires timely approval of meeting minutes. The committee acknowledged the ongoing issues related to these minutes, which have not been addressed since the meetings took place.

Additionally, another complaint from Dias highlighted concerns regarding the former superintendent's search committee. He alleged that the committee chair, Mimi Larrabee, did not properly announce the reconvening of open sessions after executive sessions, nor did she disclose whether the executive session would hinder the recruitment of qualified candidates.

The meeting also addressed a complaint from Patrick Higgins regarding the June 2, 2025, special meeting. Higgins alleged that Mayor Coogan, in his role as chair, improperly restricted discussion on a matter related to a newspaper article about a ransomware attack on the school department's computer system. Furthermore, Higgins claimed that the committee entered executive session for an unlawful purpose, violating the stipulations of the open meeting law.

The committee's handling of these complaints is crucial, as it reflects on their commitment to transparency and adherence to legal standards. As the situation unfolds, the implications for the committee's governance and public trust remain significant.