Fall River School Committee Approves New CFO, Law Firm at Special Meeting

FALL RIVER — June 23, 2026 — Fall River School Committee approves new CFO, law firm, and bus contract transfer at special session. The committee voted unanimously June 23 to confirm Aldo Petronio as chief financial officer and to approve Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lahane as school committee legal counsel, replacing longtime attorney Bruce Asad, with the district's $300,000 legal services budget now funding the new firm alongside retained special education attorney Michael Joyce. Deputy Superintendent Liz Legault reported that 140 of 222 staff members who received non-renewal letters for licensure deficiencies — 62 percent — had their letters rescinded after DESE waiver eligibility was confirmed, with the remaining 38 receiving support through Bridgewater State University. The committee also transferred the district's transportation contracts from Tremblay's Bus Company to new owner Student Transportation of America and, after extended debate over the supervisory role of Whitsons' on-site director, approved a 3.9 percent CPI increase for the food service contract on a 5-2 vote, with members Matthew Dias and Moniz dissenting. Dr. Chris Godino was introduced as the incoming executive director of human resources, starting July 1, in an appointment that required no committee vote.