Wellesley School Superintendent Bella Wong is resigning (via Wellesley Patch), following a seemingly nonstop series of controversial issues involving the schools this year.
Wong’s seat has gotten hotter and hotter this year, starting with the $100K+ in uncollected lunch fees to more widespread business office sloppiness (as revealed in an audit released last month) to controversy over thefts at Wellesley Middle School and the revelation that a custodian charged with the thefts was hired despite having a fresh criminal record to questions in recent weeks about grandfathered vacation pay policies that are allowing one town employee to walk away with $86K (enough to fund quite a nice vacation…). Complaints from school parents and other residents have been on the rise in our inbox as well, and even local graffiti has singled her out.
Leaving at the end of the school year will at least reward Wong with seeing through the opening of the new Wellesley High School, which has taken shape during her tenure. Wong was hired as superintendent in 2007, and had been assistant superintendent before that.
School Committee Chair Suzy Littlefield told the Boston Globe she wasn’t happy about Wong resigning but said it is best for the district in order to keep the focus on educating children.
