The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination has dismissed a complaint filed by School Committee member Brian Ota against the Marblehead Public Schools.
Ota, the former Glover School principal, filed the complaint in May 2022 after then-superintendent John Buckey chose not to renew Ota’s contract. Ota alleged discrimination based on his age (he was 71 years old), race/color (Asian) and national origin (Japanese-American), according to the MCAD.
The MCAD said its investigation “reveals insufficient evidence” that MPS made the decision based on Ota’s age, race/color or national origin.
“The Respondent (MPS) provided evidence that it hired Complainant (Ota) when he was approximately 60 years old, and promoted Complainant when he was 64 years old,” the MCAD ruling reads.
The ruling also said that MPS’ reasons for not renewing Ota’s contract were “legitimate and non-discriminatory.”
“Respondent has provided the Commission with demographic workforce information, written warning letters issued to Complainant for performance issues, proof of counseling meetings it held with Complainant to improve his performance, multiple email complaints from parents regarding Complaintant’s continued failure to effectively communicate and problem solve, including complaints after these performance counselings meetings began, and performance reviews showing that Complainant did not meet or exceed progress goals and that Complainant needed improvement in most areas of his job during the 2020-2021 and the 2021-2022 school year,” the ruling reads.
Ota responded to the dismissal by telling the Current, “After many years as a successful veteran administrator of a level one school with a strong, dedicated and excellent staff I had filed my MCAD complaint when I was not rehired. I am confident that the process MCAD followed was comprehensive and fair. I accept their finding and am ready to put this behind me and move forward.”
Ota was criticized for not revealing his discrimination complaint during his 2023 campaign for School Committee. He said at a June 6 School Committee meeting that the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission advised him against disclosing the information until/if he was elected. Ethics Commission spokesperson Gerry Tuoti declined to confirm or deny if the commission advises candidates on whether to disclose information during campaigns.
Ota did disclose his complaint upon being sworn in as a School Committee member. He then recused himself from discussions that ultimately led to Buckey’s departure last August.
