Attorney General Peter Neronha has found that the Warwick School Committee did not violate the Opening Meetings Law when it discussed possible budget actions in an executive session last December.

Reaction to the ruling has prompted crossfire between School Committee Chair Shaun Galligan and former School Committee member and Councilman Bob Cushman. Galligan suggested an apology from Cushman for filing his open-meetings violation complaint to the Attorney General’s office, saying it cost time and money for the School Department to defend its action.

Cushman is not about to apologize.

He says had he not brought the action, the public would have never learned the committee considered a suit against the city in an effort to gain a greater municipal appropriation.

“The goal of the complaint was to gain more understanding about how the School Committee planned to address the issue.” (a projected $9-million deficit in the current operating budget. “This complaint succeeded in providing that insight. It was never about winning a case but uncovering for Warwick taxpayers what the School Committee was trying to hide. My recent letter to the editor that you published touched on that issue,” Cushman wrote in an email.

In his complaint, Cushman noted there is nothing in the law that allows for the committee to discuss budgetary items in a closed session.

“Those were accusations, just that, accusations,” Galligan said of Cushman’s complaint. He said it’s customary for the committee to discuss sensitive issues behind closed doors.

“By the end of the day it was a frivolous complaint. Maybe he should have done a little more research,” said Galligan.

Cushman pressed on.

“Mr. Galligan promised taxpayers and city leaders in December 2024 that he would ensure total transparency regarding the salary deficit facing the School Department.

“After reading affidavits filed by the School Committee, it was apparent that the School Committee wanted to hide a possible Caruolo Act lawsuit against the city. The School Committee response also revealed that a report was provided by a hired consultant on Dec. 17, costing taxpayers $15,750. This report was not disclosed on the Dec. 30 School Committee meeting agenda, was never discussed in public or provided to Warwick taxpayers who paid for it and was withheld from Mayor Picozzi and the City Council,” Cushman wrote.

Galligan replied that the school administration and committee are “operating in a compliant way.”

“None of us are doing this for the money,” said Galligan.

He added that this isn’t the first time the attorney general has ruled against Cushman and that he personally takes pride in his values.

In the ruling, the attorney general said there was no finding of a violation because the executive session included discussion of possible litigation under the Caruolo Act, and discussing possible litigation is permissible in a closed session.