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Public commenters press Malden School Committee on transparency as staff urge enforcement of decorum
Summary
Residents and staff used the public‑comment period to raise transparency concerns and allege excessive legal spending; staff and educators urged the Committee to enforce Meeting Policy BEDH and stop personal attacks, and the Committee referred BEDH to its Policy and Procedures Subcommittee.
Mayor Christenson opened the March 4 Malden School Committee meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and public comment, where several speakers pressed the district on transparency and meeting conduct.
Resident Bruce Friedman said the School Committee "can and must do better," alleging that budget shortfalls and legal spending have not been fully disclosed. Friedman said he heard an $8 million deficit referenced at a City Council meeting and asked why that information was not presented to the School Committee; he also alleged the district spent money on litigation, including hiring a private attorney to block release of public records, and said the district renewed a bus contract despite multiple parent complaints. Friedman said public records requests have not resolved questions about year‑over‑year legal fees.
Rachel LeBlanc, identified as Malden Public Schools staff, told the Committee the meeting forum should not be used to defame community members and urged members to enforce rules that prohibit abusive remarks. "This behavior is unacceptable," LeBlanc said, and she asked that speakers who persist in improper conduct have their privileges of address terminated.
Ross Bowdridge, a district staff member, said time limits were being applied unevenly and read portions of policy BEDH (Public Participation at School Committee Meetings) to request consistent enforcement of the three‑minute limit and rules barring personal complaints.
Several educators defended Malden Education Association President Deb Gesualdo against recent public accusations. Tim Stratford said the MEA's statement about Gaza sought peace and was not one‑sided, and he called recent personal attacks "unfounded, disgraceful, false." Penny Kalman said she had also faced accusations and urged the Committee to reject public comments that spread racism and hatred. Kalman additionally raised equity concerns about uneven sixth‑grade student loads across buildings and asked central office to address staffing imbalances.
Longtime attendee Dawn Marie O'Toole urged the Committee to restore consistent application of public‑comment rules, saying exceptions at recent meetings had allowed defamatory remarks.
The Committee moved to have the Policy and Procedures Subcommittee review Policy BEDH to ensure alignment with state guidelines and laws; the referral motion was seconded and approved unanimously. The referral means the subcommittee will review the language and the mechanics for enforcing time limits and standards of conduct.
What happens next: the Policy and Procedures Subcommittee will schedule a review and report back to the full Committee. The March 4 minutes record that the district will continue existing practices until the subcommittee presents recommended revisions.
