Superintendent Buckey ‘early termination’ controversy timeline

School Committee hires Dr. John Buckey as superintendent, following Maryann Perry and interim Bill McAlduff.

School Committee approves 2.5% raise for Buckey following a “proficient” performance review rating. Vote is 4-1, with Fox the lone dissenter.

Ota files a complaint against Buckey with Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

Ota and Jenn Schaeffner are elected to the School Committee.

New School Committee meets for the first time.

The School Committee scheduled a Zoom meeting for Wednesday evening, July 26, with the agenda item “Superintendent Contract – Early Termination Clause”.

Police respond to a report of a balloon (with eyes and a mustache drawn on it) tied to the residence of a School Committee member. Police Chief King says the incident is not necessarily related to the recent events.

The School Committee held another executive session (closed to the public) to discuss Buckey’s contract. Beginning at 9:30 a.m., the meeting was adjourned to executive session about a minute later, with Ota again recusing himself.

“Out of an abundance of caution” and to ensure it was complying with the state’s Open Meeting Law, the School Committee votes to ratify its separation agreement with Buckey. The vote comes after the board is subjected to an hour of largely critical public comments during its first public meeting since the superintendent controversy began.

Respnding to an appeal filed by the Current, the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth orders Cresta, Fox, Schaeffner and Taylor to try and retrieve their deleteted texts, giving them 10 business days to do so.