Fall River school committee approves separation agreement; Curley to leave March 13, Raposo named acting superintendent

The Fall River School Committee voted March 11 to approve a separation agreement with Superintendent Tracy Curley, who will leave the district on March 13, 2026, and to install Brian Raposo as acting superintendent until the committee meets again.

A motion to approve the separation agreement was made after the committee returned from an executive session. The clerk read the roll-call votes: two members abstained and five voted yes, and the motion carried. A statement read to the community said, “Superintendent Curley has submitted her resignation, which the committee has accepted. Her last day in the district will be 03/13/2026.” The statement added, “The parties want to be clear that the separation is amicable and not based on any wrongdoing by the superintendent.”

The decision followed an executive-session discussion the chair said was authorized under Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 38, section 21A, to discuss strategy related to expected litigation and potential dismissal without cause. Attorney Assad read the statutory reasons for the executive session before the committee recessed.

Committee members and members of the public had offered contrasting views at the start of the meeting. Several written statements read into the record urged both removal and retention of Curley; one educator urged continuity in leadership while others criticized the committee’s handling of superintendent evaluations and alleged political interference by the mayor.

After approving the separation agreement, members debated who should serve immediately in an acting capacity and whether the full committee needed to vote on the short-term appointment. The committee unanimously authorized Miss Riley, the chair of the evaluation subcommittee, to manage advertising and recruitment for an interim superintendent posting. The committee later voted to appoint Brian Raposo as acting superintendent until a special meeting can be convened; the roll was called and members recorded affirmative votes.

The statement read at the meeting said Curley had worked closely with central office leadership and that the committee and superintendent considered midyear transitions when reaching the agreement. The letter also said the separation reflected concern that strained relations between certain committee members and Curley had become “a distraction and an impediment to accomplishing more important goals.”

The committee said central office staff would continue district operations after Curley’s departure, and members agreed to move quickly to recruit an interim. The committee adjourned after completing the votes.