Wayland School Committee Member Resigns Citing Conflict Of Values

WAYLAND, MA — A member of the Wayland School Committee has resigned following a tumultuous several months when committee members launched an inquiry into Superintendent Omar Easy, and eventually voted to place him on indefinite leave with no explanation.

Jessica Polizzotti resigned on May 11, part way through her first three-year term. Polizzotti said she was "unable to reconcile my morals and values" following recent committee decisions.

"I strongly believe in equity and that every decision made should be what is best for our students while supporting the mission of the Wayland Public Schools through the mission of the school committee," she said in an email. "I did not feel I could any longer support the district without contradicting my core values."

Polizzotti did not refer directly to Easy in her email, but she has at times been a dissenting voice in decisions related to him. Weeks after Easy was placed on leave, the committee appeared poised to offer his job on an interim basis to the outgoing Weston superintendent. Polizzotti asked to slow down the process to allow the community to be involved in the selection of the temporary district leader. The committee eventually selected a former Newton superintendent for the job from a pool of five applicants.

In November, the committee held an open session meeting with Easy to discuss hiring investigators to look into complaints made against him. Polizzotti was among the four committee members who voted to proceed with the investigation, with member Erin Gibbons abstaining.

The school committee voted to place Easy on leave during a closed-session meeting on Feb. 8. Minutes from that private meeting have not been released, so it's unknown which members — if any — may have voted against the move. The results of the investigation agreed to in November have not been released. Easy has filed a discrimination complaint against the committee and the town since he was sidelined.

Polizzotti won her seat in the 2021 election, and was the top vote-getter that year among three candidates, including incumbent Ellen Greico.

According to the town clerk, the school committee must notify the select board within 30 days of a resignation to kick off the process of finding a replacement. The select board and school committee will then meet in joint session to select a resident to fill the seat for the remainder of the term, which expires in 2024.

With Polizzotti's exit, the Wayland School Committee will be almost entirely new. In the May election, new members Erin Mueller and Christina Rodrigo won seats after former member Chris Ryan and Jeanne Downs did not seek reelection. Greico and Gibbons are now the only two members remaining from the previous term.