Fall River rescinds 140 non‑renewals, names HR director and CFO as hiring push continues

The Fall River School Committee heard a staffing and hiring update June 23 that the district has rescinded 140 of 222 initial non‑renewal notices and is providing targeted supports to help affected educators secure waivers or certifications.

Deputy Superintendent Liz Lagal detailed the district’s timeline for notifications and categorization: roughly 62% of the initially affected educators (140 people) became eligible to apply for DESE waivers, and the district is offering MTEL supports and paraprofessional preparation courses to help staff meet certification requirements. Lagal said the district will track waiver applications and compliance at 90 days and provide supports in partnership with local institutions such as Bridgewater State.

At the meeting Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Smith announced two senior administrative appointments. She introduced Dr. Chris Goodino as the new executive director of human resources, with a July 1 start date; Dr. Goodino said her early priorities will include addressing certification backlogs and strengthening building-level administrative training on grievance and complaint handling. Dr. Goodino described plans to support paraprofessionals and create pathways for aspiring teachers.

Smith also presented Aldo Petronio as the incoming chief financial officer. Members welcomed Petronio and discussed expectations for a careful transition from the outgoing CFO. The committee also voted to restore the committee’s contract-approval threshold to $25,000 to give the new finance leadership operational room, with the change to take effect at the time of the vote.

Committee members asked for follow-up materials on projected hiring needs, budget-line impacts for legal and staffing contracts, and a schedule of upcoming recruitment activity so the public and committee can track progress through the summer.