In a move that everyone saw coming since Sunday morning’s political ad “Proactive” by Matthew Sheehan, School Committee Candidate DJ Deeb rushed out a motion to have legal counsel review the sick time and vacation time buyback provisions of Superintendent Espindle’s contract.

This was so predicted that Sheehan’s campaign had press releases prepared before the meeting began ready to respond and just had to decide which to present following the meeting.

And in a meeting where Superintendent Espindle wanted to talk about the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony at the High School, the science fair at the Junior High and arts and concert presentation at the intermediate.. the committee was busy discussing a nomination for past School Committee member May Paquette for a lifetime membership into an Association of School Committee members.

While Principals and parents were presenting School Improvement plans for the Greenmont and Campbell schools, once again members of the committee were busy whispering among themselves and writing each other notes.. leading up to DJ’s call for a review of the contract that he knew all about, as Espindle replied:

“As a member of the finance subcommittee Deeb knew that the provision existed and that the $95,000 was included in the current budget as a placeholder.”

“This was not done in secret,” Espindle said “You shouldn’t be surprised by this, Mr Deeb.”

Sheehan’s response was specific. In his statement, he summarized the situation:

This action should prove to every taxpayer in Dracut that it is time for a change on the School Committee. This is a committee that did nothing about the contract until they were pressured by me. They were in such a hurry to push this superintendent out the door that they were willing to saddle the taxpayers with this outrageous deal until I made it an issue.