Dismissal process is voted for Lawrence school superintendent

“We disagree with the decision that was made by the district attorney’s office,’’ Gleason said, standing in the middle of Federal Street, in front of the courthouse. “We absolutely believe that these allegations should never have been prosecuted. There is no suggestion in this case that there ever has been a penny, a penny of the hundreds of millions of dollars that he was responsible for, there is not a suggestion of a penny that he has taken.’’

But for School Committee member Martina Cruz, the decision to begin the dismissal process against the 59-year-old Laboy was “long overdue.’’

“We have a responsibility to the people that elect us,’’ Cruz said Thursday night, adding that about 20 city residents attended the meeting in the committee chambers. Some applauded when the vote tally was announced, Cruz said.

She said Laboy is paid $200,000 a year as superintendent.

School Committee Vice Chairman Samuel Reyes said he and his colleagues also voted to make the appeal hearing public, should Laboy fight his dismissal. Reyes said the mood was somber during the vote to dismiss, which was taken in closed executive session.

“I think it was just a big burden taken off our shoulders,’’ he said.

Assistant Superintendent Mary Lou Bergeron has been tapped to serve as interim superintendent. She could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

Mayor William Lantigua, who chairs the School Committee, also could not be reached.

Laboy was silent and stoic Thursday morning during his arraignment and offered no comment as he strode out of court.

He was charged with eight counts of embezzlement and fraud, which each carry 10-year sentences, and a single count of alcohol possession on school grounds, which carries a maximum 30-day jail sentence. Gleason entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Prosecutors allege that Laboy had school workers fix his home computer, provide electrical work at his house, pick up his grandchildren from school, drive his adult son to his job at a pizza shop, and haul away his trash within a six-year period beginning in early 2004.

During a press conference after the arraignment, Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett said: “This is a case of political corruption ... a very serious breach of the public trust. There’s no question that if the defendants are found guilty of these allegations, their actions will have cost the taxpayers of Lawrence, and indeed taxpayers across Massachusetts, substantial sums of money. And most importantly, this has distracted from the school department’s mission.’’

Lawrence Police Chief John Romero said Laboy’s troubles have cast a “dark cloud’’ over the city, at a time when it is dealing with a serious financial shortfall.

“It is unfortunate because there are many good people doing many good things in the school department,’’ he said.

Gleason said he expects his client to be cleared of all charges.

He said that the alcohol charge came as a result of a gift, a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage, given to Laboy. Gleason said Laboy is “very upset, this is very troubling. He’s a man who gave great commitment to the city of Lawrence and produced great results, extraordinary results, that is demonstrated by history, that anybody can look at and see.’’

Laboy has been a center of controversy since becoming superintendent about a decade ago. He billed the district for running boards on his sport utility vehicle, saying his wife was having a hard time getting in and out of the vehicle in heels. He was also involved in a scuffle with a female School Committee member.

Laboy’s son, Wilfredo Laboy III, was also arraigned Thursday, on a charge of perjury for allegedly lying to a grand jury in the case. He pleaded not guilty.

Two other men, Israel Reyes, a former mayoral candidate, and Mark Rivera, Laboy’s former special assistant, were also arraigned on larceny charges in connection with the case. They both pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors say Rivera directed graphic designers from the school system to produce campaign literature for Reyes and Mayor William Lantigua. Prosecutors say there is no evidence to suggest that Lantigua knew of the printings.

Rivera, who resigned last spring after police discovered he used school computers to conduct unauthorized background checks on 400 people, also allegedly had designers create documents for the Association of Latino Administrators, which Laboy formerly led as president.

Diana DeNapoli, who worked at the Henry K. Oliver School, attended the hearing and said of the charges against Laboy, “he deserved every single one.’’