Laboy’s bumpy road
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July 2000: Hired from Brooklyn as superintendent of the Lawrence school district, which ranks near the bottom of the state on MCAS scores and is under state oversight.
Fall 2001: In a controversial move, ends traditional bilingual classes for young students.
Aug. 2003: It comes to light that he failed a required English fluency test three times. Passes the test in October.
Jan. 2005: Criticized for extravagance when he bills district for running boards on his city-leased sport utility vehicle, saying his wife was having a hard time getting in and out of the vehicle in heels. He eventually reimburses the city, but state launches probe into his spending.
June 2005: Involved in scuffle with female School Committee member in his office. Both file assault charges and eventually settle out of court.
Dec. 2007: Tells janitors to paint over student mural of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, calling it “ghetto art.’’
Dec. 2008: Denies charges that he was using his special assistant as a chauffeur.
April 2009: Police investigate Laboy’s assistant, Mark Rivera, for reportedly conducting unauthorized background checks on more than 400 people.
This week: Police raid Laboy’s home in Methuen as part of a criminal investigation of alleged financial improprieties.
Source: News reports
