EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
Merrimack Valley
One more vote is needed to suspend Laboy
Board set to meet in closed door session tomorrow night
Published: June 24, 2009
LAWRENCE — Four School Committee members now support suspending Wilfredo Laboy, the school superintendent, pending the outcome of a criminal investigation into what authorities believe are financial improprieties.
With committee Vice Chairman Greg Morris and member Martina Cruz going on record after last night's meeting as favoring Laboy's immediate removal from his $200,000-a-year position, the superintendent's chances of returning seemed slim going into tomorrow night's special executive session, which is set for 6 p.m.
The committee needs just one more vote to suspend Laboy. Members Sammy Reyes and James Vittorioso have already said they will vote to suspend Laboy. Mayor Michael Sullivan, who chairs the seven-member committee, and member Peter Larocque said they won't decide until discussing the matter behind closed doors. Committee member Priscilla Baez, whose brother Mark Rivera is Laboy's former special assistant, has not commented publicly on the situation.
"I don't think we have much of a choice but to suspend," Morris said last night outside the central Lawrence Public Schools offices at 255 Essex St.
"Any employee of the School Department under investigation by the Police Department is put on paid administrative leave until we find out where the investigation goes. To me, it's pretty cut and dry. We shouldn't have a different set of standards for the superintendent and one for everybody else," Morris said.
Meanwhile, the president of the teachers union yesterday called for a state takeover of the Lawrence Public Schools, charging the education of children is being robbed by the politics and scandals surrounding Laboy.
"I think the state should send someone in immediately ... . The state funds this School Department and there's a cloud over the department now," said Frank McLaughlin, president of the 900-member Lawrence Teachers Union, yesterday.
"We need an acting superintendent who can take over in a troubled school system that's crying for a leader," McLaughlin said.
District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett "recognizes there's a problem here," he said, referring to two search warrants executed at Laboy's office on Friday and Monday. Computers and paperwork were seized by local detectives and state police investigators. To date, no charges have been filed.
Laboy, meanwhile, who's been on stress-related leave since May 14, has vowed to return to work pending medical clearance.
However, McLaughlin emphasized that the focus on the School Department needs to return to the students. Current leaders "are so immersed in politics they don't know what they are doing. The children have really taken a back seat in the city of Lawrence. And the needs of the children here are too great."
He pointed to the 39 teachers who were recently advised their contracts would not be renewed for the next school year and lingering issues with at least two principals in the district. A high school play "The Wizard of Oz" recently won great praise, but McLaughlin noted that drama director Matt Evangelista "was laid off."
Also, Lawrence High is holding no summer sessions and students who need to make up classes are being told to sign up at Methuen High School and the Greater Lawrence Technical School, McLaughlin said.
Homayoun "Harman" Maali, a parent who is a candidate for a School Committee seat, at last night's meeting presented a petition signed by 63 people demanding Laboy's resignation.
"Please save our children and save the future of the city," said Maali.
There was little discussion of Laboy during the meeting, except for several members' concerns that he has not yet returned his leased SUV for storage while he is on medical leave. Committee members voted in executive session on June 11 that the vehicle be returned by last Friday.
"Friday sort of took on a life of its own," Sullivan said, unable to answer member Reyes' question why Laboy had not yet returned the SUV. The mayor was referring to last Friday's police raid of Laboy's offices.
"I'm not going to give the superintendent another week," Reyes said.
"Some way, that vehicle needs to be in storage by Thursday," Reyes said.
Reyes and other members appeared irked that Laboy had failed to comply with the School Committee vote.
"Who's running the school system?" Vittorioso asked.
The mayor said he would make sure the superintendent and his attorney were reminded that the vehicle needed to be returned.
Even if the committee fails to suspend Laboy tomorrow night, the superintendent is not expected back until next week, Sullivan said in an interview after the meeting.
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