Parents and residents accuse Pawtucket School Committee chair of seeking superintendent’s ouster as board moves to executive session

The Pawtucket School Committee moved into a closed executive session on Feb. 27 to discuss possible litigation and personnel matters after a wave of public criticism about the committee’s handling of Superintendent Ms. Royal.

Parents and residents used the public comment period to press the committee for answers about the superintendent’s status and to question the conduct of Chair Reyes. "You have no intention of listening to what the public wants or needs," said Cameron Segala, asserting the chair intended to remove the superintendent and urging other members "to be brave." Pat Ford asked a series of procedural questions for the record about whether "Ms. Royal had been noticed of a termination prior to notice being issued" for a special meeting, whether she was entitled to a show-cause hearing and counsel, and whether her contract could obligate the district to a payout "in the realm of hundreds of thousands of dollars." Ford said the public "has a right to know."

Several other speakers…