The Fall River School Committee’s Special Education, Alternative Education & Early Childhood Subcommittee met on June 22, 2026, to discuss several key initiatives. The committee reviewed proposed staggered start and end times for the Evolve Academy (7:55 AM – 2:50 PM), Ascend Virtual School (9:00 AM – 3:30 PM), and the newly designed RPA (10:30 AM – 5:25 PM). After discussion regarding the timing of the agenda item’s release and the need for full committee approval, the item was referred to the full committee on a 2-1 vote. A proposal to align Evolve Academy’s graduation requirements to a minimum of 80 credits was also discussed and referred on a 2-1 vote, with Mr. Das dissenting on both items due to concerns about late agenda modifications.
The subcommittee unanimously supported referring several contracts and proposals to the full committee. This included renewing the Cartwheel contract for telehealth counseling, requesting 151-200 seats at a district cost of $97,500, and approving a new contract for “The Regulated Classroom,” a framework aimed at helping PreK-2 students with self-regulation. A job description for a Lead BCBA, a position with a $4,000 stipend that was previously negotiated, was also referred for approval. The committee also reviewed a request to seek agency staffing to fill 141 current special education vacancies, referring it to the full committee to expedite the hiring process.
Two significant expansion proposals were presented. The first was a request to conduct a feasibility study for a new public day school at the PACE building, aimed at serving students with level three autism and medically fragile conditions currently in costly out-of-district placements. The second was a proposal to expand the Stone Therapeutic Day School by adding four new classrooms over two years to accommodate up to 32 more students, which would also generate revenue by accepting tuition-in students from neighboring districts. Both proposals, which aim to bring students back to the district and create significant cost savings, were unanimously referred to the full committee for further discussion.
Topics discussed
- 0:49 · Staggered School Start and End Times
Discussion of proposed start/end times for Evolve Academy (7:55-2:50), Ascend Virtual School (9-3:30), and RPA (10:30-5:25) to provide flexibility and support different student needs. - 1:56 · Virtual School Program Details
Details were provided on the Ascend Virtual School, which will feature live teaching and a dedicated virtual staff, with flexibility for students with work or other commitments. - 6:42 · Motion to refer the update on graduation requirements to the full committee. — passed
Motion to refer the update on graduation requirements to the full committee. - 6:42 · Motion to refer the request for agency staffing to the full committee. — passed
Motion to refer the request for agency staffing to the full committee. - 8:01 · Transportation for Alternative Programs
The committee discussed transportation logistics for the alternative programs, noting that most high school students use public transit and meetings with SERTA are planned. - 10:16 · Workforce Development
Discussion on making workforce development a strong component of the alternative education vision, including partnerships with agencies like Mass Hire for internships and work placements. - 20:50 · Motion to refer the update on start and end times to the full committee. — passed
Motion to refer the update on start and end times to the full committee. - 21:14 · Graduation Requirements for Evolve Academy
A proposal to align Evolve Academy’s graduation requirement to a minimum of 80 credits, consistent with RPA, to support students transitioning between pathways. - 26:28 · Agenda Posting and Open Meeting Law
Mr. Das raised concerns about two agenda items being added the day of the meeting, arguing it violated the spirit of the 48-hour posting rule and didn’t allow for proper review. - 35:13 · Cartwheel Telehealth Contract Renewal
A presentation on the success of the Cartwheel telehealth program, which provides mental health services with no waitlist and in multiple languages, requesting an expansion to 151-200 seats for $97,500. - 48:30 · Motion to take agenda item 3.05 (The Regulated Classroom) out of order. — passed
Motion to take agenda item 3.05 (The Regulated Classroom) out of order. - 48:32 · Motion to refer ‘The Regulated Classroom’ contract to the full committee. — passed
Motion to refer ‘The Regulated Classroom’ contract to the full committee. - 48:51 · The Regulated Classroom Contract
A proposal for a contract to implement “The Regulated Classroom,” a framework to help PreK-2 students with co-regulation and self-regulation to improve learning readiness. - 1:05:33 · Lead BCBA Job Description
Discussion of a job description for a Lead Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a stipended position to supervise the district’s 11 BCBAs, as agreed upon in the last union contract. - 1:05:33 · Motion to refer the Lead BCBA job description to the full committee. — passed
Motion to refer the Lead BCBA job description to the full committee. - 1:09:55 · Feasibility Study for New Public Day School
A request to conduct a feasibility study on creating a public day school at the PACE building for students with level three autism and medically fragile conditions to reduce out-of-district placements. - 1:15:52 · Motion to refer the discussion on a public day school feasibility study to the full committee. — passed
Motion to refer the discussion on a public day school feasibility study to the full committee. - 1:19:52 · Motion to refer the Cartwheel contract to the full committee. — passed
Motion to refer the Cartwheel contract to the full committee. - 1:19:52 · Motion to refer the Stone School expansion proposal to the full committee. — passed
Motion to refer the Stone School expansion proposal to the full committee. - 1:20:11 · Stone Therapeutic Day School Expansion
A proposal to expand the Stone program by adding four classrooms over two years to serve an additional 32 students, saving on out-of-district tuition and potentially generating revenue. - 1:30:40 · Agency Staffing for Special Education
A request for early approval to pursue contracts with staffing agencies to fill 141 special education vacancies for the upcoming school year. - 1:31:59 · Motion to adjourn the meeting. — passed
Motion to adjourn the meeting. - 1:34:31 · Staff Recruitment Strategies
Mr. Cory suggested creating a promotional video highlighting the district’s programs to send to local universities as a recruitment tool for the numerous vacancies.