The Education Department said Thursday it is investigating Northborough-Southborough schools over whether staff violated federal student privacy or parental-rights laws in handling a teen’s name, pronouns and possible transition-related support.
Court records cited in the case show the teen entered state custody after a January 2025 incident in which Joseph Kutzko was accused of assaulting and threatening the then-15-year-old; Arlene Kutzko was charged with witness intimidation.
Both parents deny the state’s account and say Massachusetts is helping their now-17-year-old transition while blocking family contact, but DCF said lack of support for a gender transition would not justify removing a child.
Gov. Maura Healey and district superintendent Gregory Martineau rejected the parents’ narrative, saying DCF acted after criminal charges and denying any "secret" school counseling; the parents’ no-contact conditions run until December, with a juvenile hearing set for late October.