Sheehy said she supports hiring of outside candidate for IT job

Anne Sheehy

Anne Sheehy, currently a kindergarten teacher at the Moody School in Lowell who formerly oversaw district-wide IT operations, learned last week that top Lowell School Department administrators did not select her as the school department’s new director of information, communication, and technology services.

Instead, Superintendent Jean Franco and her top three assistants, Claire Abrams, Anne Murphy and Jay Lang, selected William Silver, now employed by the Methuen School Department.

Lang, who will oversee Silver, said this about Silver in Saturday’s Sun: “Of all the candidates, he was the most well-rounded and has the most complete skill set.”

In announcing the hiring to School Committee members last week, Franco wrote: “Bill has been instrumental in the planning and technology integration for the new Methuen High School and brings a unique skill set of a strong network management and instructional technology background to the position. We welcome him to this new role at this exciting time in technology in the Lowell Public Schools.”

The position will pay $92,500. Had Sheehy been selected for the position, it would have marked a hefty payraise, as she’s currently paid $72,000.

When reached by The Column Blog Tuesday, Sheehy said: “I support Superintendent Franco and her staff and I support their decision.”

Sheehy’s actions since the hiring was announced, however, appear to run counter to her public comments.

She voiced her displeasure with the hiring in separate meetings with Franco and Lang Monday morning. Additionally, her School Committee advocate, Dave Conway, is busy planting seeds around the city that Sheehy is  more qualified and that she’s the victim of a political war between herself and Lang, who some say views Sheehy as a threat.

Going forward, their argument will be that Sheehy oversaw system-wide IT operations under former superintendent, Chris Scott, between 2008-2010. When 2010 budget cuts eliminated the position, Sheehy went back to the classroom. Silver, the Sheehy side is grousing, has been involved in IT operations only at Methuen High.

When pressed to further elaborate on her public comment and meetings with Lang and Franco, Sheehy said: “I have worked for the Lowell Public Schools since 1994, 14 of which have been in instructional technology. When decisions were made to cut technology two years ago, I chose to begin my doctoral work. Of course I am disappointed that someone else was selected, however, I remain supportive of Superintendent Franco and her staff and remain committed to the Lowell Public Schools. I will continue to work to be a leader in our school district.”

Conway did not return a message left on his cell phone.

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