LAWRENCE — Lawrence School Teachers Union President Frank McLaughlin last night called on the School Committee "to immediately fire" Superintendent Wilfredo T. Laboy.
He also called on the three School Committee members named in a recent state report that determined Laboy used the School Department printing press to generate campaign material for the members' election campaigns to also "immediately resign."
McLaughlin - who has been calling on the School Committee for months to replace Laboy - escalated his attack on the suspended superintendent during an impassioned plea in the public participation session of last night's School Committee meeting.
Reading excerpts from a front page story in last week's Eagle-Tribune about the findings of the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance, McLaughlin called on the committee "to do the right thing - fire Laboy. Get it over with."
"You have a chance to do the right thing before the election," he said, referring to the city's final election set for Nov. 3.
The Office of Campaign and Political Finance determined in a report it issued last week that Laboy, his former assistant Mark Rivera and failed mayoral candidate Israel Reyes all used the School Department printing press and other resources to help four School Committee candidates - including three that are currently sitting members.
The report named former member Omaira Mejia and members Peter Larocque, Gregory Morris and Priscilla Baez - all considered political allies of Laboy. Baez, who was absent from last night's meeting, is Rivera's sister. She is not running for second two-year term on the committee.
"The state Office of Campaign and Political Finance has now turned its findings over to the attorney general's office, saying evidence 'specifically suggests' Laboy, Rivera and Reyes 'all used and/or authorized' the use of school resources in 2006 and 2007 to support the election of School Committee candidates ...," McLaughlin said, reading from the article.
"This is a problem," he said.
Then, he looked at the committee, apparently addressing Larocque and vice committee chairman Morris.
"If you are involved in this scandal, you should immediately resign. You are a disgrace to the City of Lawrence. The children of Lawrence deserve better," McLaughlin said.
"They don't deserve four reams of paper and a crowded classroom. They deserve a School Committee that cares about kids and cares about the families and cares about this community. This is the poorest city in Massachusetts," he said.
"Every dime needs to go to the kids and support the kids. The pressure is on. Citizens of Lawrence, I appeal to you to replace this School Committee," he said.
Laboy, 58, of Methuen, has been on paid administrative leave since late June when the Essex County District Attorney's Office launched a criminal probe into allegations of financial wrongdoing involving the superintendent. The grand jury has been hearing witness testimony and reviewing documents connected to the case.
Mayor Michael Sullivan, who chairs the seven-member committee, said McLaughlin's address was "a surprise" and "a little uncalled for."
"For him to criticize the elected officials and telling them to step down went way too far. Let the voters in Lawrence decide - not somebody who lives in Methuen," the mayor said. McLaughlin is a Methuen resident.
Sullivan called McLaughlin's call for committee action "premature."
No committee action should be taken until all of the ongoing investigations have been completed, the mayor said.
Reached after the meeting, Martina Cruz was the lone committee member to agree with McLaughlin.
"He's right," said Cruz, who is running unopposed in her bid for another two-year term.
"Knowing what we know now, it's not right for him (Laboy) to continue," she said, referring to state finding that Laboy authorized use of public resources to back candidates.
She also said her colleagues who are involved in the scandal should step down.
"If I were in that position, I'd say 'I made a mistake' and then resign. Once you owe somebody a favor, you're not free to vote with an independent mind," said Cruz, who has previously said any member who used school resources for their campaign should resign.
Members Morris, Larocque and Sammy Reyes declined comment. Reyes, who is brother of Israel Reyes, filed the complaints that triggered the state investigation and the ongoing police and DA probe.
Veteran member James Vittorioso - a vocal Laboy critic - criticized McLaughlin's comments.
"Frank is a good man, but he's grandstanding," Vittorioso said.
