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State education department announces targeted follow-up review of Fall River governance
Summary
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will conduct a targeted follow-up review of Fall River Public Schools focused on governance, led by Deputy Commissioner Rob Curtin, the committee was told March 11.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has opened a targeted follow-up review of Fall River Public Schools focused on governance and the school committee’s role, a letter from Commissioner Pedro Martinez and remarks at a March 11 special school committee meeting said.
Chair Mary Coogan read the letter, which said the department’s May 2025 district review identified governance concerns that “do not appear to be addressed.” The letter said in part: “As a result, I have asked deputy commissioner Rob Curtin to lead a targeted follow-up district review of the Fall River Public Schools with the focus on governance, structures within the district, and the committee specifically.”
Deputy Commissioner Rob Curtin told the committee the follow-up was prompted in part because a newly constituted school committee had moved within three meetings to terminate the superintendent without cause, an action that raised the commissioner’s concern. Curtin said the review will produce findings and recommendations and that the May 2025 report is available on DESE’s website.
Committee members said they were surprised by the letter and asked that DESE interview all committee members and review emails to the superintendent as part of a thorough review. Members also discussed policy review and training as possible outcomes of the follow-up.
Some members questioned the timing and suggested the DESE presence could carry political overtones; others pressed for clarity on where Curtin’s office is located and how travel is paid. Curtin said his office is in Everett and that the report and related materials are publicly accessible on the department’s site.
Curtin described the follow-up as narrowly focused on governance and said DESE’s interest is to ensure governance structures are operating in the best interest of students. He told members he expects the targeted review to be completed expeditiously and include findings and recommendations for the committee.
The department’s involvement came before the committee recessed into executive session later in the meeting to discuss personnel matters. The review’s scope, schedule and final report timeline were described as to be determined by DESE.
