Rebecca A. Lee is selected among Eastern Bank's new trustees

Eastern Bank Corporation Announces New Trustees and Corporators To Its Board
Business and Community Leaders Further Expand Eastern’s Reach In The Communities It Serves

BOSTON, July 24, 2018 – Following its 2018 Annual Meeting, Eastern Bank, America’s oldest and largest mutual bank, is pleased to announce the election of six business and community leaders to its governing body. 

The newly elected Trustees are:
- Steven Joncas, Principal, Joncas Associates,
- Michele “Mitzi” Lawlor, President & CEO, The D’Alelio Management Company, and 
- Rebecca A. Lee, Chair, Real Estate Development Practice, Mintz Levin.

The newly elected Corporators are:
- Herby Duverné, Principal and CEO, Windwalker Group, LLC, 
- Malia Lazu, Founder of The Urban Labs, and 
- Jody Rose, President, New England Venture Capital Association.

“As a mutual bank, providing fairly priced financial services to organizations and people in our market area has been a guiding purpose since our founding 200 years ago,” said Bob Rivers, Chair and CEO of Eastern Bank. “Aligning community challenges and interests to Eastern’s core banking products and philanthropic and advocacy efforts has long been our approach—one we think is both ‘right’ and ‘smart’—and we are so pleased to welcome Steve, Mitzi, Rebecca, Herby, Malia, and Jody to our Board. They are thoughtful leaders, and we look forward to their insights in areas that include real estate and economic development, community lending, support of minority-owned businesses, innovation and start-ups, and the advancement of women and diverse communities.”Eastern Bank Corporation, the holding company of Eastern Bank, is governed by a group of individuals, known as the Board of Trustees, who act in the best interests of the Corporation. Their duties and responsibilities are specified by state law and the Bylaws of the Corporation, and have been delegated to the Board of Trustees Executive Committee, whose members are also the Board of Directors of Eastern Bank. Members of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors are also Corporators of Eastern Bank Corporation. Eastern’s Corporators represent the many communities served by the Bank.

Background on the new Trustees:
Steven Joncas, Principal of Joncas Associates, is an influential business and community leader in Lowell where he serves as a real estate development consultant and has extensive private and public-sector experience. Steve focuses on housing and commercial development, often utilizing state and federal tax programs, and specializes in multiple source private and public real estate finance, land development, military base reuse, historic preservation, and reuse of existing buildings. Previously, Steve was a Managing Director at MassDevelopment, Chief of Staff for Congressman Meehan, and District Director for Congressman Paul Tsongas, later becoming State Manager and Director of Economic Development when Mr. Tsongas was elected to the U.S. Senate. Steve is the former president and current board member of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, a past president of the Circle Home board, a member of the Lowell Plan/Lowell Development and Financial Corporation boards, a Trustee of the Lowell Folk Festival Foundation, and a Corporator of Lowell General Hospital.

Michele “Mitzi” Lawlor, President & CEO of The D’Alelio Management Company, has worked at her family’s Dunkin’ Donuts business since the age of 16. Today, she and her siblings own and operate 19 Dunkin’ Donuts locations throughout greater Boston. Under her guidance, the company grew from one location with 15 employees to 19 locations with more than 300 employees. She has led many volunteer efforts throughout Greater Boston. She is a Trustee of The Governor’s Academy as well as Bellesini Academy, an independent, tuition-free middle school in Lawrence, and supports organizations such as The Joyal Capital Management $100 for 100, The Jimmy Fund, Boston Children’s Hospital, and The Ron Burton Training Village. In 2007, she started The Helen D’Alelio Family Foundation in honor of her late mother and mentor. In 2016, Mitzi was named an Outstanding Women of Family Business by The Warren Group, which honors female family business professionals with outstanding leadership and commitment to their businesses and communities. The D’Alelio Management Company has also received the Medford Chamber of Commerce Executive Director’s Award, a Business of the Year honor.

Rebecca Lee, Chair of the Real Estate Development Practice at Mintz Levin, represents developers, lenders, nonprofit organizations, and other parties in real estate matters related to financing, leasing, site acquisitions and assemblages, and related tax incentive transactions. Rebecca has extensive experience relating to land use and development permitting in the Greater Boston area. She previously served as Chief of Staff/Special Counsel to the Director at the Boston Redevelopment Authority (now known as the Boston Planning & Development Agency) where she was responsible for policy development and representation of the agency in financing transactions, among other areas. She is involved with many community organizations, including Ricesticks and Tea Asian Food Pantry, A Better City, WGBH, Boston Harbor Now, Asian Community Development Corporation, and CREW Boston. She is the former President of Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts, and the former Northeast Regional Governor of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. She has also been named to GK100 2018: Boston’s 100 Most Influential People of Color by Get Konnected!

Background on the new Corporators:
Herby Duverné, Principal and CEO of Windwalker Group LLC, leads the company’s internal and external branding, sales, and commitment to superior client service. Windwalker is an award-winning 8(a) small business offering physical and cybersecurity solutions. From 2012 to 2017, Herby grew Windwalker’s workforce more than ten-fold. In addition, Windwalker is one of the first participating enterprises in the Business Equity Initiative launched in 2017 by the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation. In 2017, Windwalker was recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America by Inc. magazine. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Herby was Director of Emergency Management and Deputy Director of Aviation Security at Massport, and served as Regional Security Manager at State Street Corporation. Herby serves on the Massachusetts Children’s Trust Board and the Governor’s Office Task Force on Refugees and Immigrants, and as Board President of the Boston Foundation’s Haiti Development Institute.

Malia Lazu, Founder of The Urban Labs, has mentored more than 100 entrepreneurs in the fields of food, fashion and design, and helps businesses better understand the nuances of diversity. At The Urban Labs, she helps businesses integrate culture and diversity into strategy, leadership and corporate culture. She has also led a start-up accelerator encouraging entrepreneurs in Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan to launch businesses. Previously, she was Executive Director of Future Boston Alliance and an Adjunct Professor at Emerson College. Earlier in her career, she spent more than 20 years establishing grass roots involvement in political advocacy and civic engagement. She worked for cultural icon and civil rights legend Harry Belafonte as Executive Director of The Gathering for Justice, a national movement to generate an environment of hope and opportunity. An author, speaker and advocate for economic justice, Malia has been named an “Activist of the Year” by MTV and one of “50 Black Women Founders To Watch” by Essence Magazine. She is a member of The NationMagazine Editorial Board, the Boston Society of Architects Board and the Black Economic Council of MA Board.

Jody Rose, President of the New England Venture Capital Association, works in partnership with the venture and start-up communities on initiatives that position New England as the best region in the world for entrepreneurs and investors. Most recently, she co-founded Hack.Diversity, a program that tackles the underrepresentation of Blacks and Latinos in Boston’s innovation economy, and was named to The 100 Most Influential People list in 2018 by Boston Magazine. Jody has held executive-level roles with enterprise corporations and start-ups in mobile, eCommerce and digital media. She began her career in cable and telecommunications and quickly rose through the ranks at MTV Networks, The Food Network, and HGTV. Jody’s experience also includes numerous board positions in the telecommunications and media industries. She serves on the board of My Sister’s Keeper, an organization focused on educating and financially empowering women in South Sudan, and is a member of the Massachusetts Women’s Forum and The Boston Foundation’s Innovation Economy Leadership Council. In 2017, she received the Ad Club’s Rosoff Award for visionary empowerment of diversity and in 2016, she was named to The Boston Business Journal’s Power 50: The Game Changers.

FIFTH MASSACHUSETTS STATE TROOPER ARRESTED IN OVERTIME ABUSE INVESTIGATION

FIFTH MASSACHUSETTS STATE TROOPER ARRESTED

IN OVERTIME ABUSE INVESTIGATION

BOSTON – A retired Massachusetts State Police Trooper was arrested and charged today in connection with the ongoing investigation of overtime abuse at the Massachusetts State Police (MSP).

Daren DeJong, 56, of Uxbridge, was charged with embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds. DeJong will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston at 3:15 p.m. today.

“Mr. DeJong, who was sworn to uphold the law, betrayed the public trust by embezzling funds from the Massachusetts State Police,” said Andrew E. Lelling, United State Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. “Today’s arrest is another step in our ongoing effort to root out fraud and ensure that public funds are appropriately used.” 

“As alleged, Mr. DeJong abused his position and betrayed the public's trust by stealing thousands of dollars from overtime shifts he did not work. Instead of enforcing the rules of the road and cracking down on aggressive drivers, he selfishly lined his pockets with paychecks from bogus shifts at the expense of hard-working taxpayers. The FBI would like to thank the Massachusetts State Police for their cooperation, support, and professionalism during the course of this investigation,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Boston Division.

            According to court documents, DeJong, who is currently retired, was a MSP Trooper assigned to Troop E, which is responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic regulations along the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate I-90. DeJong allegedly received overtime pay for hours that he either did not actually work at all, or shifts in which he departed one to seven hours early.   

            The alleged conduct involves overtime pay for selective enforcement initiatives, including the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort program (AIRE) and the “X-Team” initiative. Both initiatives are intended to reduce accidents, crashes, and injuries on I-90 through an enhanced presence of MSP Troopers and targeting vehicles traveling at excessive speeds.  DeJong was required to work the entire duration of the shifts – either four or eight hours – and truthfully report the date, time and sector of deployment on the citations issued during the shift. As alleged, DeJong concealed the fraud by submitting citations that were issued prior to the overtime shift, altered the citations to create the appearance that citations were issued during the overtime shift, and/or submitted citations that were never issued and never took place. 

Trooper DeJong earned $179,000 in 2016, which included approximately $63,000 in overtime, of which $14,062 was attributable to AIRE and X-Team shifts that DeJong either left early or did not show up for.

In 2015 and 2016, MSP received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous federal grants. 

On June 27, 2018, former Lieutenant David Wilson, 57, of Charlton; Trooper Gary Herman, 45, of Chester; and former Trooper Paul Cesan, 50, of Southwick, were arrested and charged with the same crime. On July 2, 2018, former Trooper Gregory Raftery, 47, of Westwood pleaded guilty.

The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Lelling; FBI SAC Shaw; and Douglas Shoemaker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Chao and Mark Grady of Lelling’s Public Corruption Unit and Neil Gallagher of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.

AG’S OFFICE SUES THE OWNER OF THE TANNERY FOR DISCRIMINATING AGAINST CUSTOMERS BASED ON RACE AND NATIONAL ORIGIN

AG’S OFFICE SUES THE OWNER OF THE TANNERY FOR DISCRIMINATING AGAINST CUSTOMERS BASED ON RACE AND NATIONAL ORIGIN

Owner of Upscale Back Bay Clothing and Shoe Store Allegedly Prohibited an African American Man and a Woman of Middle Eastern Descent from Shopping in the Store

BOSTON – The owner and manager of an upscale shoe and clothing store in Boston’s Back Bay has been sued after allegedly discriminating against shoppers because of their race, national origin, and immigration status, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

The AG’s Office filed a complaint in Suffolk Superior Court today, alleging that Hicham Ali Hassan (a/k/a Sam Hassan), the owner and manager of The Tannery, violated the state’s Public Accommodations Law and Consumer Protection Act by denying service to an African American man and a Middle Eastern woman shopping in the store based on their race, national origin, and/or immigration status. The AG’s Office alleges that the experiences of the two victims are examples of a larger pattern of Hassan’s discriminatory treatment of certain customers.

“This kind of discrimination has no place in Massachusetts,” said AG Healey. “My office will take action to protect members of the public from businesses that engage in discriminatory conduct, which harms both individual victims and the entire community.”

According to the complaint, in December 2017, an African American customer attempted to enter The Tannery to shop approximately 20 minutes before the store closed. Upon entering the store, Hassan allegedly approached the victim and asked him “what’s up brother man?” and prevented him from fully entering the store.

When the victim asked Hassan why he was denied entry into The Tannery while other white patrons were allowed to enter and shop, the defendant told him that “he did not want [his] kind in [the] store.” Hassan allegedly repeatedly told the victim he was not allowed to shop in the store and implied that he did not have enough money to shop at The Tannery. Hassan then allegedly directed the victim to the door, and told him he didn’t want his money and to shop elsewhere.

Also according to the AG’s complaint, in March 2017, Hassan repeatedly asked a customer of Middle Eastern descent where she was from. Instead of helping the woman, who had been trying to ask about a pair of boots, Hassan allegedly told her, among other things, that he does not trust immigrants and “I love Trump! I am glad he is going to get rid of all the immigrants.” The victim decided she no longer wanted the boots after hearing these comments. As she was exiting the store, Hassan allegedly shouted at her to get out and that he didn’t “trust [her] people.”

The AG’s Office has reason to believe that the experiences of the two victims are part of a larger pattern of discrimination. Members of the public are encouraged to contact the AG’s Civil Rights Division at (617) 963-2917 or www.mass.gov/ago/civilrightscomplaint if they have had similar experiences of discrimination at The Tannery based on their race, national origin, immigration status, or any other protected characteristic. 

Through its lawsuit, the AG’s Office is seeking injunctive relief compelling The Tannery to comply with the law. The AG’s Office is also requesting the court to award the victims with compensatory damages and assess civil penalties.

The Massachusetts Public Accommodations Law makes it unlawful for any business that solicits or accepts the patronage of the general public to distinguish among customers on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. The law prohibits discrimination with respect to both admission into, and treatment within, places of public accommodation. The Consumer Protection Act prohibits unfair or deceptive conduct in trade or commerce.

This case is being handled by Special Assistant Attorney General Carolina Almonte of AG Healey’s Civil Rights Division, with assistance from Investigator Ciara Tran, of AG Healey’s Civil Investigations Division.

Tri-Caucus Chairs Oppose Republican Appropriations Proposal to Fund Border Wall and Mass Deportation Force

Tri-Caucus Chairs Oppose Republican Appropriations Proposal to Fund Border Wall and Mass Deportation Force  

Washington D.C. – Today, the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations is marking up the Homeland Security Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2019, which includes provisions to fund $5 billion for Donald Trump’s border wall, and also provides funding for 400 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and an unprecedented number of immigration detention beds. Ahead of the mark up, the Congressional Tri-Caucus Chairs – composed of Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Judy Chu (CA-27), and Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Cedric Richmond (LA-02) – sent letters to House Appropriations Committee Members urging appropriators to reject the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda.

“As you consider the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriations bill, we urge you to reject the proposed increases in funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in particular for immigration detention, ICE agents and the border wall that will enable President Trump to continue building a massive deportation system responsible for the separation of families,” the Members wrote.

They continued: “We ask that the Committee decrease the number of detention beds in our nation’s already overgrown, expensive and inhumane immigration detention system. These detention beds are increasingly being used to detain families, as the number of families apprehended at the border has increased in recent years. Instead of expanding funds to detain families in DHS facilities which the American Academy of Pediatrics has reported, ‘do not meet the basic standards for the care of children in residential settings,’ this Committee should instead re-institute programs like the Family Case Management Program.”

The letter closed by asking the Committee to oppose FY19 funding for the Trump administration’s costly and inhumane mass deportation agenda.

The official letter can be found here.

Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus Celebrates Appointment of William Gross as Boston’s New Police Commissioner

Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus Celebrates Appointment of William Gross as Boston’s New Police Commissioner

BOSTON— The Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus (MBLLC) extends its sincerest congratulations to Chief William Gross as he ascends to the role of Commissioner for the Boston Police Department (BPD). On July 23, 2018 Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the appointment which will make Gross the first African-American to hold the post in the city. This comes after previously becoming BPD’s first African-American Superintendent in Chief. Chief Gross has steadily risen through the ranks after first joining the police department as a cadet and launching his career as a patrol officer in 1985.

“Chief Gross is a model police officer of whom I have heard nothing but praise,” said MBLLC Chair, Representative Frank Moran (D-Lawrence). He continued, “He has shown residents throughout the Commonwealth what can come from hard work, passion, and unyielding love for community.”

Exiting Commissioner William B. Evans spoke highly of Gross stressing his leadership and respect among the community. Widely revered, Chief Gross will continue to serve BPD proudly as he continues building bridges and partnerships throughout the city.

During his time serving the people of Boston, Chief Gross has remained a staunch advocate for community policing and diversity within the police force. Chief Gross reiterated his commitment to both as he addressed a crowd and spoke of the promotion’s significance. As the Boston Police Department’s top law enforcement officer Chief Gross will serve as a beacon for youth throughout the city. His appointment will show young men and women what opportunities lay ahead for them and the value of public service.

AG RECOVERS MORE THAN $170,000 IN WAGES AND PENALTIES

AG RECOVERS MORE THAN $170,000 IN WAGES AND PENALTIES FROM PAVING COMPANY FOR FAILING TO PAY OVERTIME TO WORKERS

BOSTON – A Methuen paving contractor and its president have been cited $172,554 in restitution and penalties for violating the Massachusetts overtime law for work performed on various public works projects across the state, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

“State prevailing wage laws ensure that companies working on public works projects do not cut corners to gain an unfair competitive edge,” said AG Healey. “This company cheated its workers out of overtime pay and with this action by my office, will now pay them what they are owed.”

The AG’s Fair Labor Division began an investigation into EJ Paving and its president, Thomas Evangelista, after receiving a complaint from an employee alleging he was not paid overtime for all hours worked in excess of 40.

The investigation revealed the company paid overtime to its employees after they had worked in excess of 45 hours during a week, though the law requires employees be paid time and a half after working more than 40 hours a week. The investigation also revealed that when employees worked on both private and public works projects during the same week, EJ Paving failed to account for the different hourly rates of pay when overtime was calculated.

The AG’s Office issued one citation for failure to pay overtime, which EJ Paving has paid in full.

AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division is responsible for enforcing state laws regulating the payment of wages, including prevailing wage, minimum wage, earned sick time and overtime laws.

Workers who believe that their rights have been violated in their workplace are encouraged to file a complaint at www.mass.gov/ago/wagetheft. For information about the state’s wage and hour laws, workers may call the Office’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 or go to the Attorney General’s new Workplace Rights website www.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor for materials in multiple languages.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Barbara Dillon DeSouza and Inspector Joseph Drzyzga of AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division.

AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT AGAINST CHARITY THAT FALSELY CLAIMED TO HELP MASSACHUSETTS VETERANS

AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT AGAINST CHARITY THAT FALSELY CLAIMED TO HELP MASSACHUSETTS VETERANS

Settlement Part of National Effort to Combat Deceptive Veterans Charities

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today announced a settlement with a Connecticut-based veterans charity that violated state charitable solicitation laws and misled potential donors. The announcement is part of a joint national effort by the Federal Trade Commission and states and U.S. territories called“Operation Donate with Honor,” a new donor education campaign aimed at battlingdeceptive and unlawful charitable solicitation for charities that falsely purport to serve our veterans.

In the settlement with the AG’s Office, Focus on Veterans has agreed to comply with Massachusetts solicitation laws and pay $60,000, which the AG’s Office transferred last month to two legitimate Massachusetts veterans charities.

“Misleading veterans charities defraud donors, veterans, and military families, and hurt legitimate organizations engaged in this vital work,” said AG Healey. “We will take action to shut down charities scams and are glad to partner in national efforts to support charities for veterans.”

After receiving Superior Court approval, the AG’s Office transferred $30,000 of the settlement funds to Brighton Marine Health Center Inc. to assist veterans battling homelessness, and $30,000 to the Disabled American Veterans Department of Massachusetts Service Fund Inc., where the funds will be used for a program that helps transport veterans to VA medical appointments. The court determined that the programs at these charities were most closely aligned with the original intent of Focus on Veterans donors in Massachusetts.

The AG’s lawsuit against Focus on Veterans Inc. found that in addition to failing to properly register with the state, the charity falsely represented that its donations would be used to assist Massachusetts veterans in various ways, including providing housing and transportation assistance.

As part of Operation Donate with Honor, the coalition of participating states and territories announced more than 100 actions against fraudulent charities and individuals that take advantage of consumers by falsely promising their donations will help veterans and service members. Other law enforcement actions announced today by the FTC and states included complaints against charities that made false promises to help homeless and disabled veterans, used deceptive prize promotion solicitations, or falsely claimed that donations would be tax deductible.  

Operation Donate with Honor was developed by the FTC and the National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO), the association of state offices charged with oversight of charitable organizations and charitable solicitations in the United States. The initiative pairs enforcement actions with an education campaign and informative videos in English and Spanish to help consumers recognize charitable solicitation fraud and identify legitimate charities. Representatives from every state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam and Puerto Rico are participating.

AG Healey’s Office encourages potential donors, regardless of where or how they choose to donate, to learn how to spot fraudulent and deceptive solicitations and make sure their contributions benefit veterans and service members. When donating to a charity, the AG’s Office advises consumers to:

• Ask for the charity’s name, website and physical location.
• Ask how much of any donation will go to the charitable program you want to support.
• Search the charity’s name online with the word “scam” or “complaint.” See what other people say about it.
• Check out the charity’s ratings at the Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Watch or Charity Navigator.
• Never pay with cash, a gift card or by wiring money.
• Consider paying by credit card, which is the safest option for security and tax purposes.

Before giving to a charity, read the AG Office’s website. Donors and business owners can also find information to help them donate wisely atFTC.gov/Charity.

波士頓學校委員會批准付給張欽棠30萬元 惹出違反公開會議法質疑

(Boston Orange) 波士頓前任公校總監張欽棠(Tommy Chang)將獲得大約30萬元，最多一年的醫療保險，以及一封正面的推薦信。波士頓環球報以一篇報導指稱，波士頓學校委員會在明顯違反了麻州公開會議法的一次會議中，通過了這些條件。

根據波士頓環球報的計算，這數額是以張欽棠的一年薪資$267,383為準，計算出來的，其中包括約等於3萬元的27天還未使用休假日，以及3天私人事務日。

張欽棠是在2015年時簽下了5年受聘合約，如果學校委員會在沒有任何理由下解決他的合約，他有權獲得一整年的薪資。

張欽棠在7月18日，週三的一個訪問中表示，波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)告訴他，想要轉向另一個方向。張欽棠說雖然他想要留下來，但他最後決定離開。他曾希望有機會做完合約任期，無論波士頓市需要他做什麼，他都準備著，他會支持這個學校系統和城市。

            在推薦信中，學校委員會讚揚張欽棠在創造策略彌平成就差距，以及給不同背景學生教育機會上的工作成績。該信還稱”張博士和學校委員會的合作，也支持了獲取藝術，安全飲水，側重恢復正義的行為標準等重要政策的制定。我們感謝他的合作，以及他在領導一個複雜學校系統朝向平等，改善學業上的努力。

張欽棠的離職，已經成為學校委員會的惡夢，讓許多家長及支持者懷疑他們的可信任程度。根據州法，學校委員會應該有權聘僱，評估，辭退一名公校總監。在學校委員會的兩份張欽棠評鑑中，委員們認為他總體表現幹練，儘管他們也註記著他需要在溝通及和家庭互動上需要改善。

有些家長及支持者表示，學校委員會明顯的想要把這協議在公眾面前隱藏起來，持續的缺乏信任與透明度，讓社區受苦。

學校委員會是什麼時候批准合約，並不清楚，但這協議是由波士頓市和學校委員會在7月9日時簽署的。張欽棠則是7月6日簽署，然後7月13日再簽一份附件，放棄所有的申訴權。

在週一的會議中，學校委員會委員完全沒有向公眾宣佈，他們已經和張欽棠達成協議，也沒有在公眾面前投票來批准花這錢來執行協議。

遞出”公開資訊法”要求的麻州雜誌(Commonwealth Magazine)，是第一個把這協議帶到大眾面前的機構。

張欽棠預定在7月27日會收到這筆付款，而學校委員會的下次會期是排在9月12日。