Questions Remain Over Burlington Special Ed Director's Leave

BURLINGTON, MA -- Burlington Public School officials have yet to issue a statement explaining the leave taken by Louise D'Amato, director of the district's special education program, which was first reported October 11. The district has named -- but not publicly announced the appointment of -- Robert J. McArdle as acting director. On Monday, Superintendent Eric Conti said he would be issuing a statement on the shakeup at the top of the district's special education department "tomorrow."

McArdle is the retired director of the Woburn Special Education Program and Walker Partnership and has also worked as a consultant for SEEM Collaborative conducting program reviews. McCardle, of Reading, was the Massachusetts Special Education Administrator of the Year in 2003. He has held similar interim posts in recent years, including an interim director's post in Andover in 2015 and the Merrimack Special Education Collaborative in 2011.

D'Amato's name has been removed from the district's Website, but she still lists her job status as active on her LinkedIn profile. The profile also shows that she started work as an independent consultant in September.

Among the questions left unanswered by the district are whether or not D'Amato's leave is paid, how much McArdle is being paid to serve as interim director and why there was been no formal search or job posting for the interim position. The department has previously declined to provide a specific reason for D'Amato's leave, saying it is a personnel matter.

Officials have, however, maintained D'Amato leave is not related to a state review that was critical of how the program develops educational plans for special needs students and the opportunities offered to students with learning disabilities. Conti announced D'Amato's leave at a meeting in early October with the Burlington Special Education Parent Advisory Council.

In online comments by parents, D'Amato has been portrayed as a polarizing figure. Parents have also expressed frustration over the lack of transparency surrounding her leave.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).