The revelation that Concord’s new acting superintendent of schools, Donna Palley, does not have the accreditation, with the accompanying knowledge and skills, to hold even her post of assistant superintendent for special education, makes me wonder.
Did Palley, who has been assistant superintendent for special education since 2011, play any role in the hiring and continued administrative support for special educator Howie Leung, who is now facing sexual assault charges involving students?
Was she involved in the decision to suspend a student for earlier reporting concerns about Leung’s behavior toward students when he was at Rundlett Middle School?
Did she participate in the decision to keep Leung working at Concord High School for 3½ months after students reported him kissing another student and the district did its own “investigation,” without reporting the incident to Concord police?
And, finally, why didn’t anyone “notice” that Palley didn’t have credentials needed for the assistant superintendent post? How many other district employees don’t have required credentials, and who is in charge of keeping track?
DALE VINCENT
Concord