Ep. 54, Last Night @ School Committee: 4/27 Meeting Recap

Last night’s meeting began with an update on the investigation that has been ongoing at the Mission Hill School. After a year long investigation by the law firm Hinckley Allen, the firm found that– as detailed by the Boston Globe– that “the school endangered and failed children for years by overlooking allegations of sexual abuse and bullying and neglecting students with disabilities”. This is the 5th report in 7 years detailing these incidents. The Superintendent recommended at the end of the report to close the school at the end of the year. There will be a vote by the school committee next Thursday, May 5th to address this recommendation. Numerous public commenters spoke about this report, with others commenting on other issues such as the BTU contract committing to help fend against homelessness amongst students, expanding the P.A. Shaw and the future of the Horace Mann School for the Deaf.  The only other report of the meeting was an update on the Superintendent Search, given by Dr. Pam Eddinger, one of the Search Committee chairs. Dr. Eddinger gave an update on the timeline for interviewing candidates and on the public engagement process, however School Committee members expressed concern on the timing of the process and noted the need to have a plan for an interim Superintendent if the search does not conclude by the time Dr. Casseslius’s last day on June 30th. A special School Committee meeting will take place next Thursday, May 5th, to vote on closing the Mission Hill School.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices