Parents tell Chariho school committee repeated classroom disruptions are reducing instruction time; district outlines supports and FERPA limits

Several parents and residents told the Chariho Regional School Committee on Sept. 23 that repeated classroom disruptions at Charlestown Elementary are reducing instructional time and causing anxiety among students.

Why it matters: parents say disruptions — described as yelling, objects thrown and doorway blockages — have forced classrooms to evacuate and lose up to 30 minutes or more of instruction. They asked the district for clearer, timely notifications to families and stronger behavioral supports.

Multiple speakers described similar concerns. A letter read by Laura Rahm relayed a Charlestown parent’s account that frequent outbursts force classes to stop, cause children to fall behind and leave students feeling "scared and uneasy." Helen Sheehan of Richmond questioned projected repair costs and said taxpayers are concerned about budgets and tax impacts. Britney Morinzoni, a Charlestown parent, described classrooms evacuated for escalations and said parents receive no timely notice from administration; she asked for a short, non‑specific notification protocol when an evacuation occurs so families can support children at home.

"Parents don't need detailed information about the incident, but a simple notification that the evacuation took place would allow us to address [it] with our children," Morinzoni said as she urged a district policy for general notification. Kelly Gillette, another Charlestown parent, recounted two evacuations within a two‑week span that displaced classes and disrupted music or art sessions.

Superintendent Gina Picard acknowledged the concern and described the district’s behavioral and staffing changes this school year: implementation of multi‑tiered systems of support (MTSS) Tier 1 and Tier 2 strategies, social workers assigned to every school for the first time and a school psychologist in each building full time. Picard said those staffing increases came from changes in the committee's budget and that principals are equipped with guidance about what they can and cannot share under federal privacy law.

Picard referenced federal privacy protections — commonly called FERPA — to explain limits on what school staff can disclose about other students. "We cannot violate the law," she said, and committed to meeting parents to explain what the district can and cannot share. Picard said administrators have been advised by counsel and that principals receive guidance from the district's legal and student‑services staff on appropriate notification.

District officials also described existing incident-response systems and said the middle and high school already use student assistance counselors and other supports; the district recently approved a contract with RISE (student‑assistance counseling) to provide additional services, particularly at the secondary level. Parents asked that the student‑assistance program allow clearer parent notification when disruptions affect classmates’ learning, while district staff stressed confidentiality rules and the need to protect student privacy.

Parents also urged improved staffing at the elementary level. Picard said the district added social workers and school psychologists to each building for the first time this year and asked parents to raise concerns directly with principals; she offered to meet with concerned parents and the principal to review communication protocols. The district also said it will follow up on building‑level prevention and intervention systems and consider clarifying any parent notification language where legally permitted.

What’s next: Picard asked parents to schedule one‑on‑one or group meetings with school-level administrators if they want immediate, local follow-up. Several parents provided written statements, which the committee accepted for the record. The committee did not adopt immediate policy changes during the meeting but directed staff to follow up on the communication and intervention issues raised.

"We can't imagine being a parent of a child who's had an escalated event," Picard said. "I will speak to the principal about their systems and follow up."