School committee delegates superintendent and counsel to respond to open-meeting complaint amid Millville Elementary water dispute

The Blackstone-Millville Regional School Committee on Aug. 31 reviewed an Open Meeting Law complaint filed Aug. 23 by Jennifer Gill, chair of the Millville Board of Selectmen, which alleged the district failed to give the public adequate notice before taking action related to moving students because of water-safety concerns at Millville Elementary School (MES). The committee voted unanimously to delegate Superintendent Jason DeFalco, working with legal counsel, to prepare and file the district’s response to the Office of the Attorney General by Sept. 13.

The complaint centers on whether the July 27 agenda and subsequent communications provided proper notice and whether the district misled town officials and the public about the timing of potential student moves. Gill told the committee she had come to “improve that communication” and urged clearer milestones for resolving the MES water issues (Jennifer Gill, Chair, Millville Board of Selectmen).

Committee members and the superintendent reviewed the timeline referenced in the complaint, including a July 11 district email that said the district hoped repairs would be completed by Aug. 14 but warned moves could be necessary if work was not substantially complete. The committee’s explanation noted that on July 26 the town’s water operator quit, prompting the district to change the July 27 agenda to allow action on the issue and to notify town clerks and boards by email that day.

The committee’s legal adviser recommended concluding that no remedial action was required and that the superintendent should work with counsel to file a formal answer. After debate about notice, responsibility for testing and remediation, and the tone of public communications, a roll-call motion to delegate the superintendent and counsel passed with all recorded members voting yes.

The meeting record shows the committee characterized any paperwork error as technical and without intent to harm, while also acknowledging strong public concern about water safety, communication gaps between the district and Millville officials, and unresolved questions about who will fund or carry out long-term corrective steps at the school.

Next procedural steps: Dr. DeFalco will coordinate with the district’s attorney to prepare the response to the Attorney General by the committee’s Sept. 13 deadline; the district also scheduled a water update from the MES water operator on Sept. 5, according to speakers at the meeting.