Cumberland committee issues statement after music teacher resignation, votes to seal executive-session minutes

The Cumberland School Committee on Wednesday voted to seal executive-session minutes and issued a public statement after the resignation of Michael Farochi, a music/band teacher at Cumberland High School.

The special meeting, held June 18 at the Cumberland High School transitional building, included public comments alleging past misconduct and demands for transparency, a personnel announcement that Farochis resignation was effective June 11, and legal counsels explanation of the statutory due-process pathway for tenured teachers.

Why it matters: The school committees action followed public allegations and an internal review of conduct on a school trip over Memorial Day weekend. The superintendent placed Farochi on administrative leave, investigated, and the committee said the superintendent found conduct it deemed unacceptable; Farochi resigned before a formal recommendation to terminate was finalized.

Public comments and allegations

Several residents urged greater openness about executive sessions and the committees handling of the resignation. Porter Blase, a Cumberland resident, criticized the long-term sealing of executive-session minutes and said, "As taxpayers, residents, parents, we deserve to know what's happening in our school system, especially when it involves decisions being made behind closed doors." Janita Ducharme, who identified herself as a Cumberland School Department music teacher from 2010 to 2019, alleged past incidents involving Farochi and said she was assaulted during an awards ceremony, and said she was "relieved the students of Cumberland High School will no longer need to worry about his actions." Pat Ford, a local meeting attendee and reporter, told the committee he would consult the attorney general's office and read from the Open Meetings Act, arguing the committee could respond during public comment if it chose to. Parent Blake Delisle said families received only "rumor" and urged more formal notification that the district was handling the matter; he added Superintendent Dr. Thorne spoke with him by phone to address immediate concerns.

Personnel announcement, legal context

At the meeting, a committee staff member announced a resignation effective 06/11/2025: "Michael Farochi, music band teacher at Cumberland High School." Committee legal counsel, Mr. Adams, explained the statutory due-process procedure for tenured teachers under Rhode Island law, including pre-deprivation hearings, arbitration and court remedies, and that a teacher can resign at any point which ends the termination process.

Committee votes and public statement

The committee voted to seal the executive-session minutes; the motion passed 4 to 1, with Councilor (committee member) Dean recorded as the lone negative vote. The committee then approved a motion to draft a statement about Farochi's resignation (motion passed 5 to 0) and a separate motion to issue the statement prepared during executive session (passed 5 to 0). The committee read the prepared statement aloud.

The statement said the superintendent learned that Farochi "may have engaged in unprofessional behavior" during the Memorial Day weekend trip to New York City, placed him on administrative leave, and began interviews of staff, chaperones and students. The statement said investigators "uncovered no evidence of improper physical contact on this trip," but that the superintendent found Farochis decision to enter the hotel room of female students late in the evening "reflected conduct that the superintendent found unacceptable." The statement also said investigators found Farochi had "enlisted students to assist him with household tasks," calling that a boundary violation. The statement said Farochi resigned before the superintendents formal recommendation to terminate was completed, that the district has offered support to students who were on the trip, and concluded: "This will be our only comment on this matter." The committee then adjourned.

Discussion, next steps and public access

Speakers during the meeting repeatedly pressed the committee on transparency and whether executive-session minutes should be released after matters are resolved. Committee legal counsel described the statutory process available to teachers and the effect of a resignation on termination proceedings. The committee did not announce plans at the meeting to release sealed minutes beyond the votes recorded at this session; members voted to seal the executive-session minutes and to publish only the prepared statement regarding the resignation.

The committee meeting ended with the committees reading of the statement and no further comment; no additional actions were announced at the meeting.