Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street, Maldon, Massachusetts 02148-1006 Tolephore: (781) 338-3000 TTY. NET. Rey 1-800-499-2870 IMichet D. Chester, Ed.0. ‘Commissioner April 29, 2015 Honorable Alex B. Morse Mayor, City of Holyoke Chair, Holyoke School Committee 536 Dwight Street Holyoke, MA 01040 ‘Sandra A. Smith Acting Treasurer, City of Holyoke 536 Dwight Sueet Holyoke, MA 01040 Dear Mayor Morse and Acting Treasurer Smith: As you know, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted on Apri to designate the Holyoke Public Schools as chronically mderperforming, pursuant to the Board's authority under M.G.L. ¢. 69, § 1K and 603 CMR 2.00. This letter is to notify you officially that the district has been placed in receivership, effective immediately. 1 will serve as receiver on an interim basis, until the appointment of an external receiver. | expect that appointment to happen by the end of June this year. , 2015 Please be advised that, also effective immediately, the authority of the Holyoke School Committee to establish policies for the district; to take any budget related actions; to engage in collective bargaining: and to take any other action is hereby suspended for the duration of the receivership. Under state law, the receiver exercises all the powers of the superintendent and the school committee in a receivership situation, ‘Until I appoint an external receiver, Superintendent Sergio Paez will manage the day-to-day operations of the district, under my direction, Please contact Senior Associate Commissioner Russell Johnston (781-338-3564 or Riohnston @doe.mass.edu) if you need any additional information Yor Hed Mitchell D, Chester, Ed.D, ‘Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education ce: Dr. Sergio Paez, Superintendent, Holyoke Public Schools, ‘Sheehan, Vice Chair, Holyoke School Committee