A timeframe has been established for the investigation being conducted by attorney Vincent Ragosta into whether or not school administration officials appropriately dealt with an incident involving Gorton science teacher Mario Atoyan that reportedly occurred in 2013.

Ragosta will provide a verbal report of his findings to the School Committee in an executive session meeting on May 11, with a discussion to follow regarding a timeframe to receive the report in writing.

Atoyan reportedly drew a penis on the arm or hand of one female student and feces on the arm or hand of another. The incident came to light soon after Atoyan was charged March 20 with first and second degree sexual assault on a 15-year-old female relative for an incident that allegedly took place last June.

Following those charges, the School Committee voted on March 30 to suspend Atoyan without pay. The following day, a joint-press release was issued from City Council President Donna Travis (D-Ward 6), Councilwomen Camille Vella-Wilkinson (D-Ward 3) and Kathleen Usler (D-Ward 7) and School Committee member Karen Bachus seeking an investigation as well as a vote of no confidence in Superintendent Richard D’Agostino, Director of Secondary Education Dennis Mullen and Director of Human Resources and Compliance Rosemary Healey.

Prior to the vote to approve the timeframe, School Committee Chairwoman Jennifer Ahearn said the School Committee would be receiving a verbal report from Ragosta on May 11, according to the contract that was signed and agreed upon.

Ahearn said in order to expedite the investigation process; Ragosta said he could only commit to giving a verbal report. When asked by her committee colleagues about a written report, Ahearn said that was not part of the initial agreement and would be unable to guarantee that a written report would be available within 30 days.

“I had to push the May 11 deadline as it was,” Ahearn said.

Bachus said the verbal report should be delivered in open session.

“The verbal report should be provided to the School Committee and the concerned citizens of the community since it’s been all over the news,” she said, adding, “with a written report to follow.”

School Committee Vice Chairman Eugene Nadeau said the importance of finding the truth is the number one priority for everyone involved.

“In fairness to all concerned, we need to find out what happened and who knew about it, and then let the chips fall where they may,” he said. “I believe if the report is done verbally, it will be followed by the written word.”

Following Nadeau’s remarks, committee member Terri Medeiros made a motion to have the results reported verbally to the School Committee in executive session by May 11, with a report in writing within 30 days, allowing the School Committee to then decide how that report is handed out. Since it was too early to determine a timeframe for a written report, Medeiros amended the motion to have the School Committee hear the verbal report in executive session on May 11, with a discussion to follow regarding the timeframe to receive the report in writing.

Bachus questioned why the report couldn’t be delivered publicly.

“Any personnel action that needs to be taken would be done in executive session, if it came to that,” she said.

Healey said if the report is delivered in open session, the committee could be in violation of the open meetings law.

“Mr. Ragosta was [essentially] asked to review the job performance of individuals, and it must be their decision if they want their performance discussed in open session,” she said. “Those individuals would not be afforded the opportunity to make that decision since no one knows what Ragosta will say.”

Medeiros’ motion was approved by a 3-1 vote, with Nadeau dissenting and Bachus abstaining.