Haverhill SPED Director to Leave Job After Less Than Year in Post

Kyle A. Riley was appointed last June following a split school committee vote. (WHAV News photograph.)

Kyle A. Riley, the recently appointed special education director for Haverhill schools, is leaving his post for more money and a job closer to his home.

Riley’s appointment last June came when Mayor James J. Fiorentini had to cast a tie-breaking vote to break a school committee split. Fiorentini and members Scott W. Wood Jr., Shaun P. Toohey and then-President Maura L. Ryan-Ciardiello supported Riley, who had served as interim director. Members Paul A. Magliocchetti, Gail M. Sullivan and Sven A. Amirian supported retired Warwick, R.I., Superintendent Richard D. D’Agostino. In a letter Thursday, Superintendent James F. Scully hinted at the split.

“When he assumed the position of SPED director in Haverhill, it was the wish of the School Committee that he stay with us for a multi-year period. However, the dramatic leadership changes across the Commonwealth mean that these expectations that some harbor are not always realized,” Scully said.

Riley is joining the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District, Whitman, on the south shore.

Scully credited Riley with bringing stability to Haverhill’s special education program. “During Kyle’s two years here, we have not had a special education deficit, along with a significant reduction in adverse findings from DESE (state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education).”

School committee members last year delayed naming a special education director after all three candidates for the post were accused of varying levels of wrongdoing. Candidate Melissa J. Deyo-Silvia of Somerset, withdrew her name from consideration. “For me it was mostly the fact the superintendent was endorsing Kyle Riley, the current interim director. So immediately I was the second choice which was not ideal,” Deyo-Silvia told WHAV at the time.

4 thoughts on “Haverhill SPED Director to Leave Job After Less Than Year in Post

  1. Perhaps its time to enforce contracts. We do not live on a one way street. I’m assume that someone that applies and really wants a position would sign their contract with a penalty clause for their early termination.

  2. “For me it was mostly the fact the superintendent was endorsing Kyle Riley, the current interim director. So immediately I was the second choice which was not ideal,” Deyo-Silvia told WHAV at the time.

    What’s the point of this being included in the article? Why the need to take a swing a Supt Scully?

    With the extremely positive results Riley produced in such a short period of time Supt Scully obviously made the right choice. And like the class act he is, Supt Scully praised Riley publicly for his work and time in Haverhill. That’s leadership.

    • Because it is part of the story on how he was selected in the first place. It’s not a “swing” at Scully. It’s a fact of the whole issue and maybe why some folks voted against the guy. Maybe they felt he would be here long. If so, then they were right too Right ?