Marblehead Acting Superintendent Named After John Buckey's Ouster

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Marblehead Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Finance Michelle Cresta will serve as acting superintendent this summer as the School Committee considers the path forward following what was termed the negotiated resignation of John Buckey as the district's administrative leader on Wednesday.

School Committee Chair Sarah Fox said in a statement on Thursday that Cresta will fill the role while the Committee "determines next steps for the interim role."

"The School Committee has complete faith that Ms. Cresta and the current leadership team will take all necessary actions to ensure a successful opening of the coming school year and we look forward to supporting them," the statement said.

The weeks-long "early termination" saga involving the School Committee and Buckey came to an apparent conclusion on Wednesday with what the School Committee called "an acceptable agreement resulting in his resignation" after several days of negotiation.

(Also on Patch: Marblehead Superintendent John Buckey Out Amid School Committee Clash)

The School Committee never publicly discussed the reasons for wanting Buckey out using an "early termination" clause in his contract — which had been extended through 2025 overall in 2021 — but held two executive sessions closed to the public with agenda items related to discussing his potential departure.

A scheduled open meeting that drew more than 250 viewers to its Zoom stream last Wednesday was adjourned after one minute following what Fox called "a last-minute communication with counsel" that advised her to immediately adjourn the meeting after it was opened.

The School Committee met in an executive session on Monday morning with the single agenda item being: "Conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiation with non-union members (Superintendent)."

Two days later, the School Committee announced Buckey's departure.

"Dr. Buckey deeply appreciates the opportunity to have served his community, and the Marblehead Public School Committee thanks Dr. Buckey for his three-plus years of service," the Committee statement said. "The Committee wishes him the best as he pursues other opportunities in the field of education."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)