Statement from Superintendent Matthew Malone

School Superintendent Matthew Malone sent out a statement today in response to the city council’s vote of no confidence. See the full statement.

February 24, 2021

STATEMENT OF MATTHEW H. MALONE, PH.D., SUPERINTENDENT OF FALL RIVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

I understand the leadership of the Fall River City Council took action on a resolution to vote “no confidence” in me as the Superintendent of Schools at last night’s meeting. Although I respect the role of the City Council and the elected members of the Council, I am disappointed in this action as it is a distraction from the important work we are doing to lead through the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide exceptional learning opportunities for the children in this great city. In Massachusetts, the education of students in our public
schools is solely vested to the elected School Committee which functions as one whole governing body using the democratic model of a majority vote to make decisions and set policies. It is the School Committee, and only the School Committee, who have the authority to hire and terminate the Superintendent of Schools under MGL Ch71, Sec 37. I work directly for the School Committee and they alone are the body responsible for my employment, my evaluation, and any determination of confidence in me as Superintendent.

The School Committee of the Fall River Public Schools conducted an in-depth investigation into several allegations of complaint regarding my behavior in August 2020. The School Committee thoroughly vetted ALL complaints and made a final determination of facts. The School Committee disciplined me per their authority under the statute and I deserved the discipline I received. The investigation found no findings of ageism, sexism, or harassment, but did find me at fault for using coarse language and behaving in a blunt manner towards subordinates. The School Committee voted 4-2 to impose appropriately severe discipline on me based on my behavior and the finding of the investigation. I regret my behavior and the poor leadership I displayed during the summer of 2020; I am embarrassed by my actions and I have apologized. I have also acknowledged that I must change my style and therefore, I have committed to the work of being less forceful, less aggressive, and more sensitive to the feelings of others in my interactions. I own my behavior and my faults and I am sorry that my passion and intensity crossed the line of acceptable, professional, and winning workplace behavior. I am being held accountable not only by the School Committee but also by my colleagues, my employees, the families that we serve, and by my own inner compass; I will be a better person and a better leader. I will not comment any further on the specific allegations or findings of the investigation and I ask that future detailed questions to be addressed to the School Committee for a response.

Last night I presented the FY22 budget to the School Committee and called attention to the good work we have been doing in Fall River, including 5 years of relentless focus on special education programming, English language learners, and closing achievement gaps for economically disadvantaged students; 5 years of focusing on school turn-around and building successful community/state partnerships to steer performance; 5 years of instructional improvements in academics and social-emotional supports; 5 years of robust investments in technology and capital upgrades; 5 years without handing out any “pink slips”; 5 years without a single labor grievance reaching the School Committee for determination; and 5 years of building the largest and the most
cutting-edge public high school in Massachusetts. These accomplishments coupled with our relentless work leading through the 12 months of the COVID-19 Pandemic and keeping schools open for students is where my focus is and will remain. No, I am not resigning. I have important work to lead under the governance of the School Committee and I invite the Fall River City Council members to join us in building the best urban school system in Massachusetts and delivering on the promise for a better future in Fall River.