Two Hopkinton School Committee Members Abruptly Resign

HOPKINTON, MA - The School Committee called for a special meeting Friday at 5 p.m. to address the abrupt resignation of two of its members, Meg Tyler and Joe Markey, earlier this week.

Town Clerk Connor Degan confirmed via an email to Hopkinton Patch that both Markey and Tyler turned in paperwork to his office announcing their immediate resignation.

"Yes, they did resign from the committee," he said.

The resignations punctuate a tumultuous period for the School Committee, which was already weary from navigating the changes in COVID-19 policies regarding masks and testing over the past two years.

On Jan. 31, a resident mnamed Lori Nickerson filed a complaint with the state attorney general's office, saying that a Zoom meeting conducted by Markey and Tyler with a resident who was planning to run for the committee had violated open meeting law policy.

At the Feb. 3 School Committee meeting, the allegation was brought up. A letter from Becky Abate, president of the Hopkinton Teachers Union, also was read at that meeting that criticized the actions of Markey and Tyler.

“Mr. Markey and Ms.Tyler have chosen to operate independently from the committee on which they sit,” Abate wrote on behalf of the union’s executive board.

“[Markey], and Ms.Tyler, have acted in the shadows of private Facebook groups to advance their position on a topic already so divisive to this town,” Abate continued. “In doing so they have created a very public divide between themselves and their colleagues. Mr. Markey has frequently commended the School Committee for remaining ‘unified’ despite their differing views. It is disheartening to see that unification be weakened at a time when it is so critical.”

In an investigation that was conducted by Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh, both Markey and Tyler were cleared of any wrongdoing at a Feb. 15 School Committee meeting because a quorum of School Committee members was not present. However, because it was with Christopher Melton, who is running for a seat, it cast a shadow over the intent of the meeting.

During the investigation, copies of emails and electronic messages were given to the superintendent's office willfully by Markey and Tyler. The correspondence showed that they were discussing how to get public support to lift the mandatory mask policy in school buildings as well to encourage the community to reach out to committee members in opposition to the new school calendar. The calendar, which was approved on Feb. 15, includes more holidays off to respect Hopkinton's diverse population, such a Diwail and Lunar New Year.

Attorney Nancy Campany said at a special School Committee meeting on Feb. 15 that there appeared to be no intent to communicate the views of Markey and Tyler to other committee members, which would be what the attorney general's office would be concerned about.

However, because Melton posted about the Zoom meeting on Facebook and discussed the topics, it shed light on the use of social media involving public officials.

Chair Nancy Cavanaugh will be running for reelection. Melton has submitted nomination papers to seek the seat as well.

According to Degan, the town is consulting its legal counsel to determine if it is too close to the May 16 Annual Town Election to add the positions to the ballot. The deadline to turn in nomination papers is March 28. If counsel determines it is too late, the town could post the positions. The School Committee and Select Board could meet to appoint temporary replacements until next year’s election.

School Committee positions are for three years. Markey’s seat is on the ballot in 2023, while Tyler’s seat comes up for election in 2024. If the town appoints temporary replacements, the seats still would be on the ballots those years.

With the departure of Markey and Tyler, there are two vacancies. A quorum of three members must be present for a meeting to be conducted. If any current member are absent, a meeting would not be able to continue.

The School Committee will review this issue at a special meeting Friday at 5 p.m. On Saturday, the Select Board will hold a special meeting at 11 a.m. to discuss further action, such as the temporary replacements or the possibility of placing the vacancies on the 2022 ballot.