This petition is to express our dissatisfaction with the current Superintendent of Schools, Darcy Fernandes. The Superintendent has acted in a manner that violates her contract with the district; specifically, section 11 B- conduct unbecoming of a superintendent. The acts below are just a few of the egregious issues taking place in our district. It is no means a complete list of issues we face. We ask for your signature today to voice a vote of no confidence in our superintendent, Darcy Fernandes.

• The loss of 60+ personnel since her taking over the district due to poor leadership and failure to provide appropriate staffing and supports equitably in all Schools within the Athol-Royalston Regional School District.
• Inability to negotiate a fair contract with the Teachers Association (ATA).  
• Requiring teachers to participate in professional development training without giving them contractual time for preparations, lunch or travel to another school within the district. 
• Violating the confidentiality of students and families in the district by publicly discussing a racial slur incident that involved minors in her district with a group of parents and students at an MLK breakfast on January 20, 2020 at the Wareham Boys & Girls Club.
• Slandering a group of children by stating that "...it did happen" when discussing the above-mentioned incident when the results were deemed "inconclusive" in a letter to parents in January 2019. 
• Stating that parents in Athol drove out the only other diverse professional, hired by Darcy, due to the town not liking her curriculum that was filled with inappropriate content for 11-14 year olds. The teacher was set up for failure with no curriculum to start a World Culture's class.  Video proof shows Darcy saying that parents involved in this situation called her names that she "couldn't repeat" which couldn't be further from the truth. The involved parent who brought the concern to her attention was a local Police Officer.
• Referred to children on IEP's/504's as "problem children" at an RCS public event that discussed issues stemming from the lack of support for our special education students. 
• Issued a letter to staff in the district stating that they will be called in to perform clerical and janitorial duties after Governor Baker declared a state of emergency and closed down the schools. 
• Issued a letter to Parents/Guardians informing them they “may be subject to action” if they chose to keep their children home due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This letter included threatening Parents/Guardians with “filing with the Court for a Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) or with the Department of Children and Families for educational neglect.”
• Issued a follow up letter to Parents/Guardians claiming the above captioned letter “was not supposed to be posted” further explaining “It was for a very specific audience.” Clearly discriminating against students with disabilities where their attendance is impacted as a direct result of their disabilities.
• Has not created a procedures manual in the almost three years she’s been the Superintendent of Schools.
• Abruptly ended a long-standing contract with a Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy service provider without having a physical copy of the contract itself. Her reasoning for not having the actual contract on file was that she’s “only been here for two years.”
• Provided a pdf to staff as mandatory staff training that included outdated information which instructed staff that chemical and mechanical restraint of students were legal. Which is currently illegal in MA.

Here is the video from 8 weeks ago.  We need change, and we need your help today! Click the link- the part where she slanders children and parents begins at 46:02 when she talks about her time as OUR superintendent. 

Start Video @ 46:02