WILMINGTON, MA – Former Wilmington Superintendent Mary DeLai, who resigned in October following her OUI arrest, was recently hired as Interim Business Manager for Watertown Public Schools.
According to an announcement from Watertown Interim School Superintendent John Brackett, DeLai began working for the district on Monday, November 14. Her contract runs through June 30, 2017.
“Mary DeLai comes with a wealth of successful experience in the field of finance and business management in a number of public, non-for-profit and private settings,” writes Brackett. “Most notably, she served as Assistant Superintendent, Finance and Administration and Director of Human Resources and Finance for ten years in the Reading Public Schools. She has served as a board member, officer and Past President for the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials (MASBO); was a Policy Fellow in the Institute for Educational Leadership’s Education Policy Fellowship Program; and managed the MASBO-commissioned Rennie Center ‘Smart Budgeting’ research guide.”
In the announcement, Brackett makes just a passing reference to DeLai’s tenure in Wilmington, noting that “just prior to joining us, [DeLai] was Superintendent of Schools in Wilmington (MA) Public Schools.”
Brackett stresses that DeLai received a full vetting and reference check.
“I am confident that Mary DeLai’s long history of successful school business leadership, skill-set in a myriad of areas of business, finance and operations; and her deep understanding of the interrelatedness of budget and educational programming will make her a real asset to our leadership team,” writes Brackett. “As a result of our vetting and reference checks, I am confident she possesses the integrity and talents I seek in a school district leader.”
Selectmen Express Dissatisfaction With Negotiated Deal
The terms of the separation agreement reached between DeLai and the Wilmington School Committee remains confidential.
The fact that the town is paying approximately $6,600 every-other-week to DeLai until the end of the school year, however, was revealed at Monday night’s Board of Selectmen Meeting. These payments, unlike the rest of the agreement, are subject to public record.
Selectmen Kevin Caira and Mike McCoy voted against the payroll warrant which contained DeLai’s payment, expressing their dissatisfaction with the agreement. Caira noted that DeLai is also likely still receiving benefits from the town.
Selectmen Mike Champoux, Greg Bendel, and Judy O’Connell voted to support the warrant and chose not to speak on the matter. Town Manager Jeff Hull did note that the DeLai could seek legal action if she did not receive the monies promised to her through the agreement signed by the School Committee.
It is unclear if DeLai will continue to receive monies from Wilmington now that she’s employed with the Watertown school system. Wilmington Apple is hoping to receive clarification and is waiting to hear back from a School Committee representative.
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Wilmington Apple 
Why in this day and age did she walk out getting health insurance and $6,600.00 a month until July. Maybe we need to have an attorney on the school committee. Come on people we need a shake up on April 27, 2017 election day. NEW FACES to watch our tax dollars