Reading Public Schools Administration

Patrick A. Schettini
Superintendent of Schools (July 21, 2003 - Present).
The costly, secretive, closed-door process used to select Superintendent Pat Schettini was highly questionable and unfortunate.

John F. Doherty
Assistant Superintendent of Schools

Harry K. Harutunian
Former Superintendent of Schools, Reading, Massachusetts (1995 - June 30, 2003) and former Superintendent of Schools, North Andover, Massachusetts (July 01, 2003 - April 2006). Confronted by a sex scandal and other abuses of power he could not conceal or ignore, Harutunian reluctantly admitted his guilt and should have been fired from office. However, for reasons unknown, members of the North Andover School Committee allowed him to resign and granted him a $187,000+ bonus.

Dennis A. Richards
Superintendent of Schools, Falmouth, MA, (presently), Associate Superintendent of Schools (July 21, 2003 - 2005), Associate Superintendent of Schools (07/95 - July 01, 2003), Interim Superintendent of Schools (in the months between Munnelly's departure and Harutunian's arrival), Assistant Superintendent of Schools (1993 - 1995).

Administration Offices
82 Oakland Road
Post Office Box 180
Reading, Massachusetts 01867
781-944-5800

Senior High School
62 Oakland Road - 781 944 8200 Athletic Director - 781 942 9122 Guidance Office - 781 942 9135 - Joe Finigan, Principal

Arthur W. Coolidge Middle School
89 Birch Meadow Drive - 781 942 9158 - Was John Doherty but as of July 1, 2005 - Craig Martin, Principal.

W.S. Parker Middle School
45 Temple Street - 781 944 1236 - Since July 1, 2004, Linda Darisse, Principal

Alice M. Barrows Middle School
16 Edgemont Avenue - 781 942 9166, School Nurse - 781 942 9168 - Since 1997, Karen Callan, Principal

Birch Meadow School
27 Arthur B. Lord Drive - 781 944 2335 - Guidance Office - 781 942 9172 - Was Richard Davidson, as of July 1, 2005 - Tom Daniels, Principal. Tom Daniels (39) from Newton, attended Dartmouth College pursuing degrees in philosophy and music. Taught at Macon Rice School in Newton, teaching K, first, and fourth grades. He received National Board Certification and later became a facilitator for the Board.

Reading School Committee:

Carl McFadden, former Chairman - "Gov. Mitt Romney last month appointed Reading School Committee member Carl McFadden to the board of directors of MassHousing, which manages a
billion-dollar portfolio and oversees low interest loans to state residents with low or moderate incomes. McFadden, formerly Romney's chairman on the Public Education Nominating Council, owns First Call Mortgage, which gave him the experience to handle the new position, he said." - From the Jan. 19, 2006 Boston Globe, Community Briefing:

Harvey J. Dahl, former Chairman and Harutunian crony.

Elaine Webb

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Lisa Gibbs (on school construction):
02/26/04 Advocate Article - "I know the factors taken into account when budgeting because I worked with the Director of Facilities at Lexington Public Schools. Contract negotiations, bid processes, personnel and building maintenance were things I was directly involved in."

2004 Gibbs For School Committee Campaign Flyer - "Goals: Contribute my experience with facilities planning for successful completion of Reading's School Building projects."

Download pages from Gibbs' 2004 Campaign Materials (.pdf, 269 KB)

02/27/06 - "I can speak for myself having grown up in a household where my dad did public and private construction, I am in no way experienced to, you know, ask the questions that perhaps an engineer or someone else should be asking."

Download an audio clip including Gibbs' comments from a 02/27/06 school committee meeting (.mp3, 1.3 MB).
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Chris Caruso, the new guy

David Michaud, the other new guy

Former members of the Reading School Committee:

Rob Spadafora, Chair Voted out of office.

John F. Russo

John Carpenter

Susan Cavicchi
(resigned, effective June 30) - Conveniently left the committee at the same time Harutunian abdicated his post. Has since moved away from Reading.

Timothy R. Twomey
Architect, lawyer and prominent member of the Reading School Building Committee that promoted the construction of the new Wood End school, the demolition of most of RMHS and the construction of a New High School and the costly, wasteful renovation of the Barrows elementary school.

William Griset, Jr., Chair
Lawyer and trusted advisor to Superintendent Harutunian during his last few years as school chief in Reading, Massachusetts.

"I'm dismayed by the lack of trust that I see, that flows.. and I've sat for hours now, fighting back the urge to say this.. that flows from some members of the board of selectmen towards the school committee."

- William Griset, Chairman of the Reading School Committee, at a 12/10/02 Selectmen's meeting [.mp3 download, 2.59 MB].

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Advocate 02/19/03 - Resident Says 'Enough' [.pdf download] - "Enough of the School Committee. Laying off teachers and classroom aides due to severe budget constraints, while handing out bonuses to principals and secretaries and buying back vacation time, does not show fairness and equity to the heart and soul of our schools."