The Fall River School Committee held its regular meeting on July 22, 2026, chaired by Mayor Paul E. Coogan. The committee received a letter from resident Taylor Perry praising the district’s summer programs. Subcommittee reports included a motion from the Policy Subcommittee to authorize up to $15,000 for MASC policy services, which passed unanimously. The superintendent’s report covered a range of topics, including a hiring update from Dr. Chris Godino, a review of the numerous summer programs, and an enrollment update showing 10,271 students currently registered. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to an update on the alternative school programs at 290 Rock Street, which involved a discussion about $40,000 in facility upgrades and student placement numbers, leading to some councilors expressing frustration over a lack of prior communication.
The committee addressed a full agenda of contracts and policies. Key decisions included approving the Cartwheel mental health services contract for up to $97,500, changing the Evolve Academy graduation requirement from 100 to 80 credits, and adopting a new state-mandated policy on restraint and timeout, with Councilor Dias voting against both due to concerns about lowering standards and student safety, respectively. A new Lead BCBA job description was approved over Councilor Aguiar’s objection that the workload was unrealistic. The committee also approved exploring the creation of an in-house day school for students with significant needs. A lengthy discussion arose over the Deputy Superintendent’s job description, which was ultimately tabled after members noted that a directive from a previous meeting to explicitly include oversight of alternative education had not been added by the superintendent. The meeting concluded after an update from new CFO Aldo Petronio, who confirmed the city council had restored the transportation budget to the committee’s requested $17 million, and a motion to adjourn in memory of former school committee member Robert Maynard.
Topics discussed
- 0:51 · Citizens’ Input
A letter from resident Taylor Perry was read, thanking the committee, teachers, and staff for the valuable summer programs offered to students. - 4:19 · Policy Subcommittee Report
Councilor Collin R. Dias reported on the June 10th meeting, noting referrals of the citizens’ input and timeout policies. A motion was made and passed to authorize up to $15,000 to hire MASC to help update the district’s policy manual. - 4:24 · To authorize a blanket up to $15,000 for the Policy Subcommittee to engage the services of MASC to assist in updating the district’s policy manual. — passed
To authorize a blanket up to $15,000 for the Policy Subcommittee to engage the services of MASC to assist in updating the district’s policy manual. - 5:03 · Special Education Subcommittee Report
Councilor Shanell J. Stewart reported that the subcommittee discussed various topics including program start times, graduation credits, the Cartwheel contract, and exploring a new day school. - 5:38 · Instructional Subcommittee Report
Councilor Ana C. Riley reported that the subcommittee met on July 15th and recommended all contracts on the evening’s agenda for approval. - 6:07 · Superintendent’s Retreat Update
Superintendent Smith discussed the success of the committee’s second retreat, which focused on collaboration and operating protocols. The next retreat is scheduled for August 12th. - 7:37 · Hiring Update
Dr. Chris Godino provided an update on teacher hiring, noting progress but also many resignations. He described improvements to the hiring process, including better use of the Frontline software to share candidates between schools. - 12:55 · Summer Programming Update
Superintendent Smith presented a slideshow highlighting the district’s 20 different summer programs, including MLL enrichment, 21st Century Learning Centers, and the Durfee High School enrichment program. - 15:45 · Enrollment Update
The superintendent reported current student enrollment at 10,271, noting this number is fluid and does not yet include incoming kindergarteners. - 19:04 · Alternative School Program Update
Dr. Amy Bronhard updated the committee on the programs at 290 Rock Street, covering facility upgrades costing around $40,000, student placement numbers for RPA (128) and Evolve (123), and the launch of a task force. - 31:22 · Summer Facility and Technology Update
COO Ken Pacheco and Technology Director Scott Cabral detailed numerous summer projects, including 17 construction projects, playground installations, emptying the Wiley School, technology upgrades at Conley School, and a new visitor management system. - 45:40 · Master Schedule Completion
In response to a question, the administration stated that school master schedules are hoped to be largely complete by the second week of August. - 48:17 · State Budget Update
Superintendent Smith discussed the state budget, including a proposed $100 million in flexible education aid from the governor. The committee discussed the importance of advocating to ensure Fall River receives its share. - 57:26 · Travel Request Policy
The committee discussed the process for handling travel requests that arise between meetings while voting to approve a recent trip. - 58:02 · To retroactively approve a travel request. — passed
To retroactively approve a travel request. - 58:46 · To table two policies (9.13 and 9.14). — passed
To table two policies (9.13 and 9.14). - 1:04:24 · Cartwheel Contract
The committee discussed and approved a contract with Cartwheel for telehealth mental health services, increasing the number of available student ‘seats’ to between 151 and 200 for $97,500. - 1:57:53 · Durfee Program of Studies Amendments
The committee approved several amendments to the Durfee High School program of studies, including splitting some CTE and heritage language courses into semester-long classes to provide more scheduling flexibility. - 1:57:53 · Motion to table the amendments to the BMC Durfee High School program of studies. — failed
Motion to table the amendments to the BMC Durfee High School program of studies. - 1:57:53 · To approve the amendments to the BMC Durfee High School program of studies. — passed
To approve the amendments to the BMC Durfee High School program of studies. - 2:12:08 · To approve the elementary and middle school athletic handbooks. — passed
To approve the elementary and middle school athletic handbooks. - 2:13:40 · To approve the revised Evolve Academy graduation credit requirement (reducing from 100 to 80 credits). — passed
To approve the revised Evolve Academy graduation credit requirement (reducing from 100 to 80 credits). - 2:19:10 · Evolve Academy Graduation Requirements
The committee voted to reduce the graduation credit requirement for Evolve Academy from 100 to 80 credits, aligning it with other alternative programs at the 290 Rock Street facility. - 2:25:02 · To approve the revised restraint, timeout, and seclusion policy. — passed
To approve the revised restraint, timeout, and seclusion policy. - 2:30:54 · Restraint, Timeout, and Seclusion Policy
The committee approved a revised policy to comply with new DESE regulations. Councilor Dias expressed strong opposition, believing the changes would put students and staff at increased risk. - 2:36:21 · Lead BCBA Job Description
A job description for a Lead Board Certified Behavior Analyst was approved. Councilor Aguiar voted against it, arguing the duties were too extensive for the stipend and a full caseload. - 2:36:21 · To approve the Lead BCBA job description. — passed
To approve the Lead BCBA job description. - 2:39:57 · To approve the request to explore creating a day school for students with significant needs. — passed
To approve the request to explore creating a day school for students with significant needs. - 2:43:59 · Exploration of a Day School
The committee unanimously approved a request for the administration to conduct an in-house feasibility study on creating a day school for students with the most significant medical and behavioral needs. - 2:46:03 · To approve the expansion of the Stone School program with additional rooms and staff. — passed
To approve the expansion of the Stone School program with additional rooms and staff. - 2:46:15 · To approve a contract with Agency Staffing. — passed
To approve a contract with Agency Staffing. - 2:46:33 · To keep the current school committee meeting schedule as is (one meeting per month). — passed
To keep the current school committee meeting schedule as is (one meeting per month). - 2:49:02 · To table the discussion and vote on the Deputy Superintendent job description. — passed
To table the discussion and vote on the Deputy Superintendent job description. - 2:55:04 · Deputy Superintendent Job Description
A debate occurred over the proposed job description because it did not explicitly include oversight of alternative education, a duty the committee had voted to assign at a prior meeting. The item was ultimately tabled. - 3:01:38 · To table the Public Comment Policy. — passed
To table the Public Comment Policy. - 3:03:11 · To table the Expense Reimbursement Policy. — passed
To table the Expense Reimbursement Policy. - 3:04:30 · To approve four policies on second read: Fraternization, Field Trip, Student Overnight, and Public Complaints. — passed
To approve four policies on second read: Fraternization, Field Trip, Student Overnight, and Public Complaints. - 3:12:08 · CFO Update and Transportation Budget
New CFO Aldo Petronio gave an update on his transition. Mayor Coogan announced that a compromise was reached with the City Council to fully fund the school transportation budget at the requested $17 million. - 3:21:24 · Invitation to City CFO
A motion by Councilor Dias to formally invite the City CFO to the next school committee meeting to improve communication failed on a 3-3 vote. - 3:21:24 · To formally invite the City CFO to the next school committee meeting. — failed
To formally invite the City CFO to the next school committee meeting. - 3:23:03 · To approve the Cartwheel mental health services contract. — passed
To approve the Cartwheel mental health services contract. - 3:25:48 · To approve the executive session minutes from 6/3/2026. — passed
To approve the executive session minutes from 6/3/2026. - 3:25:48 · To approve the executive session minutes from 6/23/2026. — passed
To approve the executive session minutes from 6/23/2026. - 3:25:48 · To approve the executive session minutes from 7/7/2026. — passed
To approve the executive session minutes from 7/7/2026. - 3:26:44 · Adjournment in Memory of Robert Maynard
The committee voted to adjourn in memory of Robert Maynard, a former school committee member who recently passed away. - 3:26:53 · To adjourn the meeting in memory of former school committee member Robert Maynard. — passed
To adjourn the meeting in memory of former school committee member Robert Maynard.