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Mashpee Superintedent of Schools Brian Hyde
MASHPEE – Mashpee School Committee Chair Scott McGee told selectmen Monday night that he will not publicly release the investigative report into Superintendent Brian Hyde the committee commissioned last fall.
Hyde is on paid administrative leave as he awaits trial for charges of breaking and entering and trespassing during a residency check at a student’s home in September.
The school committee voted in October to hire Data Quest to perform the investigation with a completion by November 13.
McGee’s announcement sparked selectmen to hold a discussion on the matter, and some made their disagreements with it known.
Selectman Andrew Gottlieb, who had already reprimanded the school committee for how long the investigation was taking, said the decision not to release the document will further upset the concerned citizens of Mashpee.
“To continue to withhold what is a long-overdue report from public review, frankly looks to me as if it’s done to try and influence the outcome of the criminal case,” Gottlieb said. “I think that’s done to the detriment of the people of the town of Mashpee and the school department.”
McGee defended his decision, stating that he’s been in constant contact with the committee’s legal counsel, who advised against releasing the report.
“The school committee has been reviewing the complaints against Mr. Hyde in executive session, this report is part of that process but only addresses one aspect of that process… The school committee must be concerned with the ongoing criminal case” he said.
According to McGee, other committee members have not yet seen the document, which Gottlieb questioned. He said there seems to be a lack of urgency in the need to administratively understand what happened.
The selectman claimed that there was an impression at last week’s school committee meeting the report would be released.
“No one in this room is an attorney,” McGee replied. “We have to follow our attorney’s suggestions.”
Gottlieb recommended that the school committee call an emergency meeting to discuss the specific contents of the report and to get a copy of it in everyone’s hands.
Hyde’s trial was recently rescheduled for February 16th.
By ADAM FORZIATI, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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