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Parent alleges routine IEP violations; asks for independent investigation as committee cancels next-day meeting on legal advice
Summary
A parent told the School Committee he has evidence district employees acknowledged routine IEP violations and demanded an independent investigation; the committee cancelled a scheduled special meeting on legal counsel's advice and said it would seek appropriate next steps.
At the April 10 meeting, parent and regular commenter Gaurav Jasnani accused district employees of routinely violating students' Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and said he had been targeted after filing complaints. Jasnani said he had received a "hot-mic" transcript he said recorded district staff acknowledging routine violations and using derogatory language about his family. He publicly demanded an independent investigation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's disability office or the Attorney General's ADA office and called for the immediate administrative leave of four named employees.
Jasnani said he had spoken to Vice Chair Agna earlier in the day and was told the committee had not been informed whether an investigation had begun. He said the district's reliance on staffing shortfalls as a reason for violating IEPs was unacceptable and linked the problem to budgetary decisions that reduced staff.
After public comment, the committee discussed a scheduled special meeting for the following day that had been called to address a personnel/legal matter. On the advice of legal counsel, the committee voted to cancel the special meeting and to seek guidance about whether the matter should instead be handled in executive session. The committee said it would reschedule and follow legal counsel's direction about the proper forum for discussing personnel and confidential student matters.
No committee motion at the meeting ordered an independent external investigation; Jasnani's demands were recorded as public comment. The committee said it would follow advice from legal counsel and noted that executive sessions are limited by law and may be required for personnel and student-record issues.
The transcript shows the exchange and the committee's subsequent action to cancel the next-day meeting while legal counsel reviews the appropriate process.
