School Committee member Sarah Fox said she sent an email to district department heads Thursday morning announcing that Michelle Cresta, assistant superintendent for finance, has been named superintendent designee. The committee is in discussions with Superintendent John Buckey about early termination of his contract.
“If a superintendent is out of the country or when someone is having surgery we name someone as designee,” Fox told the Current. “The district needs to have someone… there needs to be a clear leader if a building burns down.” She declined the answer further questions.
Fox said Cresta has been serving as superintendent designee all week. Cresta declined comment, writing in a text, “On the advance of counsel, no comment.”
School Committee member Meagan Taylor said she checked her email and had not received Fox’s communication, and was unaware that Cresta had been named superintendent designee.
Cresta has been assistant superintendent of finance since 2019. A woman answering the phone at the central administration office today said Cresta was away on vacation.
Buckey’s attorney Mike Long said he and his client do not know why the School Committee wants to oust the superintendent. A School Committee meeting was adjourned after one minute July 26, with more than 235 tuned in via Zoom. A private executive session has been scheduled for Monday, July 31 at 9:30 a.m.
Learn more about the superintendent controversy, HERE.
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist who has written hundreds of stories for local newspapers, including the Marblehead Reporter.
