LAWRENCE — The decision on whether to fire School Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy will probably be left up to the next School Committee, which takes office Jan. 4.
"If he gets indicted Monday morning, I figure we'll take some action (to discharge)," School Committee member Sammy Reyes said yesterday after Laboy ignored a deadline set by the committee to resign from his $200,000-a-year job.
"But if an indictment comes down in December, it would be for the next committee to act. I don't think that gives us enough time to do anything. No matter what we do, it looks like we're going to go through the new committee — unless he resigns," Reyes said.
Another committee member who has been outspoken in calling for Laboy's firing said members should proceed immediately to terminate him.
"Right now if the city makes us pay $1 million to make up the (budget) deficit, we are going to have to figure out what to cut," member Martina Cruz said last night. "On top of that, we can't afford to be paying Laboy for doing nothing and we cannot afford his misleadership," she said.
Reyes and Cruz were two of five committee members who voted unanimously in an Oct. 15 executive session to urge Laboy to step down by yesterday, or face removal proceedings.
Laboy, 58, of Methuen, was suspended indefinitely in late June after the Essex District Attorney's Office launched a criminal probe of alleged financial wrongdoing. He was initially placed on paid administrative leave, but has been using accrued vacation pay since August.
It was Reyes' complaints to various agencies, including the district attorney, that prompted the grand jury and state investigations of Laboy.
While Laboy didn't submit his resignation, his attorney Scott Gleason has been in contact with committee attorney Naomi Stonberg, according to school officials.
Gleason could not be reached for comment.
Mayor Michael Sullivan, who chairs the seven-member committee, suggested this week that the committee should consider a buyout of Laboy's contract instead of trying to fire him.
Sullivan said it's apparent Laboy should be replaced, but he opposes a termination, which he said could be costly for the city.
Laboy had indicated earlier this year that he planned to retire in October of next year, after becoming officially vested in the state pension system.
"I'm not in favor a buyout whatsoever and I'm just shocked that the mayor would mention buyout," Reyes said.
"I just want to see him resign so we can move forward with a new superintendent, or that we take action and dismiss him," he said.
Cruz also was adamantly opposed to a buyout.
"Letting Laboy continue or even buying out his contract is taking resources away from the education of our children," Cruz said.
"We have enough reasons to do it. (fire Laboy) One is the finding of the campaign finance office that he violated state law by letting candidates use the printing press. When the police raided his office and found alcoholic beverage, that is also against state law and another reason," she said.
The committee that takes office in January will have three new members — Mayor-elect William Lantigua and members Mark Gray and Frank Bonet. Gray and Bonet said during the campaign that they would fire Laboy.
Lantigua has taken no position.
Reyes, Cruz and two other veteran members — James Vittorioso and Gregory Morris — all support replacing Laboy.
