Mass. Special-Ed Nonprofit Fires Embattled Chief

A Massachusetts nonprofit organization established to help local schools serve special-education students fired its executive director amid multiple investigations into alleged misuse of millions of dollars in government funds, The Boston Globe reports.

John B. Barranco had gone on unpaid leave from the Merrimack Education Center in late June after the allegations were raised by Massachusetts Inspector General Gregory W. Sullivan, who contends Mr. Barranco steered $11.5-million to the center from a state education agency he also headed and used the money to benefit himself and top staff members.

State and federal authorities are examining the finances of the nonprofit group and the government agency, the Merrimack Special Education Collaborative, which hired the center to help schools provide services to disabled students and adults.

The center’s board said in a statement that it had “voted to terminate” Mr. Barranco but did not provide an explanation.

A spokeswoman for the board declined to comment because it is a personnel matter. The newspaper said it could not reach Mr. Barranco for comment.