Dr. Lauren Wu named receiver as Lawrence alliance votes to terminate MOU, dissolve LAE

Dr. Lauren Wu, deputy commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, said she will become the receiver of the Lawrence Public Schools and outlined priorities for a phased return to local control. "As of tomorrow, I will take on the role of receiver of the Lawrence public schools," Wu said.

At a meeting of the Lawrence Alliance for Education, the LAE voted unanimously to terminate by mutual agreement the memorandum of understanding that had established the LAE as the district receiver and to proceed with a voluntary dissolution of the LAE. The panel then authorized the LAE chair and the LAE's attorney, John M. Stefan, to execute and file dissolution documents with the Massachusetts Attorney General and other agencies, including the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Internal Revenue Service and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

Wu, who said she has worked 12 years at DESE and previously led DESE's Office of Strategic Transformation, thanked current and past LAE members and reviewed the board's work since 2018. She noted steps toward local control beginning in 2018, when DESE moved from an individual receiver model to oversight by the seven-member Lawrence Alliance for Education, and cited specific actions the LAE oversaw, including district leadership through the Merrimack gas explosion and the COVID-19 pandemic. "My priorities as receiver are to provide direction on a capacity building plan for the school committee and engage them in rigorous training aligned to that plan," she said.

Wu also said the appointment will not change the superintendent's day-to-day responsibilities. She named Ralph Carrero, selected by the board in 2024, as superintendent and said Carrero will continue to be responsible for daily operations while she supervises implementation of the district's turnaround and strategic plans.

The roll-call votes recorded yes votes from Juana Matias, Maria Mueller, Mayor Brian De Pena and Chair Patricia Mariano on the motions to terminate the MOU, dissolve the LAE and authorize execution of the dissolution filings. Each motion was moved and seconded on the record and declared carried by the presiding officer.

The LAE directed its chair and attorney to prepare and file the dissolution petition and any necessary documents with the Attorney General under state law and to complete related regulatory notifications. After the votes the meeting concluded with board members and attendees thanking Chair Patricia Mariano for her service; the presiding officer closed the meeting and adjourned.