Citing recent newspaper articles that he found confusing, Selectman Bob Eubank, chairman of the special education audit subcommittee, this week attempted to clarify what the committee will and will not do. In a written statement presented at Tuesday evening’s selectmen’s meeting, he stated, “The town audit (as authorized by Annual Town Meeting last March) and any investigation conducted by the district attorney are separate and independent activities” and the town’s audit “will not investigate specific allegations of wrongdoing that may be currently under investigation by the district attorney.”
Recent newspaper articles have stated that the district attorney’s office has talked with Harvard Police Chief Ed Denmark about an investigation into possible wrongdoing in the administration of the town’s special education program. Denmark is quoted in the same articles as recommending that the district attorney await the results of the town’s independent audit of the special education program before proceeding further with a criminal investigation.
Although the scope of work of the town’s audit is not yet finalized, it should be complete by the end of June when a request for proposal will be sent to “qualified potential auditors,” according to Eubank’s statement this week. To that end, “the committee welcomes public input” and invites townspeople to participate in a public meeting at 7:30 p.m. June 4 in the high school library.
