Month: September 2023

I’ve heard from concerned community members that former Superintendent Mike Morris is involved or will be involved in decisions stemming from the Title IX investigation reports. This is simply not true. Morris will have no input on decisions resulting from the Title IX reports, or any district decisions.

The concern may be coming from a section of Morris’s separation agreement, which states in part “Should your cooperation and assistance require your participation in any activity connected to such litigation you shall be compensated at a per diem rate …” I contact Marc Terry, attorney for the school district and the School Committee, to confirm the meaning of this section. Here is his response:

“Mike will not be involved in any decision-making related to the Title IX reports (or any other matter related to the Districts). The language in the separation agreement requires Mike to provide factual information related to pending or future litigation to the extent necessary to support the Districts’ case. For example, we have multiple unfair labor practice charges, arbitrations and MCAD cases pending against the District that were filed based on facts occurring when Mike was the Superintendent. It is likely he had some involvement in at least some of the issue that led to those claims. He would be called upon to share that information with my office or insurance counsel to enable us to defend the Districts’ position. This may include conversations with counsel, being deposed or testifying at a hearing.”

So, if Morris needs to be involved due to a lawsuit or charge against the districts, he would be compensated for that activity. But he will not be involved in any district decision making on any topic.

I also confirmed with Interim Superintendent Doug Slaughter that Mike has not been involved in any district decision making since his termination date of 8/31/23. Doug’s response: “I can confirm that Mike has only provided assistance as described in Attorney Terry’s response. He has not and will not be involved in any decision making for the districts.”

I understand that the community has lost trust in the school districts and the School Committees, and that when there is a lack of trust and minimal transparency, rumors and speculation can take the place of facts. I appreciate the opportunity to correct this misunderstanding, and I hope that community members will continue to come to me with concerns.

At last night’s joint meeting of the Union 26 and Regional School Committees*, ARPS Finance Director Doug Slaughter was appointed interim superintendent, effective 9/1/23, backfilling Michael Morris who separated from the districts as of 8/31/23.

The committees’ intention is to have Doug serve as interim superintendent for the 23-24 school year, while the committees implement a search for a permanent superintendent.

The votes to appoint Doug interim superintendent, to lower his compensation from the proposed $173,611.10 annualized salary to $170,000, and to approve his contract, were all unanimous.

Doug is now on an unpaid leave of absence from his finance director role, while he serves as interim superintendent. The committees and Doug will next need to determine how to backfill his finance director responsibilities.

This is the second time Doug has been appointed to fill the superintendent role. In May, he was appointed acting superintendent while the superintendent was on medical leave.

*For a refresher on the various school committees, see my previous blog post Amherst has two school committees?