ARMS Dean of Students Seeks Medical Leave

MassLive reported on April 30 that Amherst Regional Middle School (ARMS) Dean of Students Lamikco “Meka” Magee, who recently filed a federal lawsuit against the district and was a finalist for the middle school principal position before the search was discontinued, has stepped away from work due to health concerns, according to her attorney. Magree has applied for the leave due to stress associated with her pending law suit and with the failed search.

Interim Superintendent Doug Slaughter notified parents by email on April 24 that the principal search had been curtailed and that the search will resume after a new superintendent is hired. MassLive reported that prior to declaring a failed search, Slaughter offered the job to an unnamed candidate, who declined the offer. Subsequently, he announced that Dr. Michael Sullivan will serve as interim ARMS principal beginning July 1. Sullivan is the former superintendent of the Gill-Montague School District and has been serving as a consultant to the district’s HR office. Slaughter was subsequently criticized by the Amherst Pelham Education Association for unilaterally ending the search and for hiring Sullivan without consulting with the search committee, staff, or union.

Magee noted that she learned that she had not been offered the job on social media on April 18 but did not receive formal notification of the job outcome until April 24, when parents were notified that the search had been discontinued.

Magee filed a federal lawsuit in Springfield District Court on April 5 for defamation and violations of civil rights law and violation of the Amherst Regional Public Schools’ (ARPS) own policies against discrimination, harassment, and bullying. Named as defendants in the suit are the Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools and, individually, former School Superintendent Michael Morris, former Assistant School Superintendent Doreen Cunningham, and Interim School Superintendent Doug Slaughter. The lawsuit charges that Magee was retaliated against for advocating for marginalized students experiencing discrimination in the ARPS school system. She alleges that she was also subjected to retaliation for filing grievances and challenging unfair labor practices.

Magee amended her lawsuit following Slaughter’s announcement of the failed search to include claims of discrimination and retaliation in the ARMS search. Magee was the only internal candidate and the only person of color being considered. Her lawyer, civil rights attorney Arnold J. Lizana III, said that Slaughter’s decision to cancel the search after a white candidate declined the position was a retaliatory action against Magee. “We were not surprised by the latest act of retaliation against Ms. Magee as the District has repeatedly demonstrated an inclination to violate her civil rights at every opportunity. As a first tier finalist, Magee should have been offered the position, once the less qualified white candidate declined it,” he said.

Lizana reported that “the District’s defamation and discriminatory denial of promotional opportunities have been extremely stressful for Magee. Her healthcare providers recommended that she take some time off to recover and we’re still awaiting the district’s approval of her leave request.” He added that he and Magree are “concerned about the district further retaliating against Magree by denying the request for leave.”

Read the report in MassLive here.