Despite announcing three finalists for the Amherst Regional Middle School principal position weeks ago, the district decided against permanent leadership, according to an email sent by interim superintendent Douglas Slaughter that was obtained by MassLive.
“After much contemplation, and given that the School Committee is in the final stages of hiring a permanent Superintendent, I have made the decision not to appoint a permanent ARMS [Amherst Regional Middle School] principal at this time,” Slaughter wrote in an email Wednesday evening.
“This will allow the new Superintendent to oversee the search and appoint a candidate they believe will help implement their vision for the school and the district as a whole, while best supporting ARMS students, families and staff,” he continued.
One of the three announced finalists, Lamikco “Meka” Magee, the Amherst middle school dean of students, claims the principal decision demonstrates the district’s continued discrimination and retaliation against her.
Magee filed a federal lawsuit on April 5 against the district and administrators for defamation and violating civil rights laws and the district’s policies against discrimination, harassment, and bullying.
She amended the lawsuit on Wednesday to include the middle school principal decision, claiming that the district offered the position to one of the other two white finalists who declined the position.
“We were not surprised by the latest act of retaliation against Ms. Magee, as the District has repeatedly demonstrated an inclination to violate her civil rights, at every opportunity. As a first tier finalist, Magee should have been offered the position once the less qualified white candidate declined it,” Arnold Lizana, Magee’s attorney, said.
Slaughter and an Amherst district spokesperson didn’t respond to requests for comment.
In her lawsuit, Magee, an African-American female, claims her anti-discrimination advocacy and pro-union work were “motivating factors” that led to “adverse action” against her.
Magee was the union president of the Amherst Pelham Education Association from November 2020 to June 2023.
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Magee initially learned about the halted search on social media on Thursday but the formal email by Slaughter wasn’t sent until Wednesday.
“The school district previously indicated that it would announce its principal selection weeks ago. The much delayed announcement fueled concerns in the community that the district deliberately delayed the announcement to determine how it could avoid selecting Magee,” Lizana said.
“Community members’ suspicions were confirmed when the job was offered to a less qualified white candidate who declined the position, and the district still refused to offer the position to Magee,” Lizana continued.
In her lawsuit, Magee names the Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools, former Amherst superintendent Michael Morris, current interim superintendent Douglas Slaughter, and former assistant superintendent and director of diversity, equity and inclusion and human resources Doreen Cunningham as defendants.
“Unfortunately, workplace retaliation is not uncommon, but this latest act of reprisal likely just doubled the value of our multi-million dollar case,” Lizana said.
The federal lawsuit isn’t the only difficulty the Amherst Regional School District has faced recently.
The district was rocked by allegations last year, first with the filing of a formal complaint in April related to Title IX, the federal statute banning discrimination on the basis of sex, and then with an extensive article in student publication The Graphic laying out claims of mistreatment of transgender students at the middle school by three school councilors.
An investigation report released to the public last November determined Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools failed to effectively address claims of harassment and misconduct by middle school staff against LGBTQ+ students.
The district later cleared the counselors of accusations that they violated the federal Title IX statute.
Amherst-Pelham Regional Public School Superintendent Morris resigned in August and Slaughter, the finance director of Amherst’s regional school district, is the acting superintendent.
Including Morris, there have been six high profile resignations in Amherst and Pelham, including former school committee members Tom Fanning, Sarah Hall, Ben Herrington, Peter Demling and Allison McDonald.
Cunningham also no longer works for the district.
Talib Sadiq stepped down on Monday as the interim middle school principal but will continue to serve as a full-time high school principal. Interim assistant principals Richard Ferro and Doreen Reid are serving as interim co-principals for the rest of the school year.
On July 1, Dr. Michael Sullivan will become the interim middle school principal, according to Slaughter’s email.
Sullivan has experience in local leadership and middle school principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent positions, Slaughter said.
Slaughter described Sullivan as an individual who has an “understanding of the area” and will “bring a wealth of knowledge” and a “fresh perspective” to the middle school.