Parents to BOE: Return Hickey to Classroom

Two McKinley School parents asked the Tuesday evening for the return of fourth-grade teacher Brendan Hickey to the classroom.

Hickey, who is the head coach of the WHS ice hockey team and was expected to be named head coach of the girls' lacrosse team for the third year this spring, was on marijuana possession charges. He has been out of the classroom since Monday. On Tuesday evening, the board left open the head girls’ lacrosse coach, but filled the assistants' positions.

But what's unclear is why Hickey hasn't been in the classroom. He hasn't been in school this week. There is speculation, which schools superintendent Margaret Dolan would not confirm, that he'd been reassigned by the BOE until his case could be handled in the courts. But parents of McKinley students wanted to know the story. 

One parent, Daniel  Moore,  told the BOE members that parents should have been notified in advance of Hickey’s departure from the classroom. Moore and another parent, Eric Leuthold, praised Hickey's teaching ability and connection to students and  said that he should be allowed to remain in the classroom.

“I feel that the teacher is a good teacher,” Leuthold said. “This teacher has been good for my daughter.”

Neither Moore or Leuthold mentioned Hickey by name. Patch has learned that Hickey is the only fourth-grade teacher not to be teaching at McKinley since Monday.

“Everyone has made mistakes and I would like the Board of Education to consider this as you proceed in this matter,” Leuthold said.

Hickey was arrested last Wednesday following a traffic stop for speeding at East Broad Street and Linden Avenue. Westfield police searched his car after detecting the odor of suspected marijuana in the vehicle. Hickey was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and is due in  on March 3 for an initial hearing.

Hickey’s job and teaching license could potentially be in jeopardy in the event of a conviction. His attorney, Timothy R. Smith, Tuesday afternoon calling on the board to follow the legal process and remember that Hickey is presumed innocent. Smith also said that Hickey should be given “a second chance” if he is found guilty.

BOE President Julia Walker thanked each speaker; no other board members commented. Under state law, board members cannot comment on personnal issues in a public meeting without the consent of the impacted teacher.

The public BOE meeting followed a 40-minute closed session, attended by board attorney Phil Stern, where sources say Hickey's arrest and future in the district was addressed.

In an interview with Patch after the meeting, Dolan said, that under advice from Stern, she could not comment on whether Hickey has been suspended from teaching.

But it remains unclear whether Hickey has been cleared to return for his third season as head coach for the Westfield High School varsity girls' lacrosse team.   The board’s appointments of spring coaches included both assistant-coach posts on the varsity team and the freshman coach post, but the head varsity coach is listed as a TBA being filled.

Dolan said the board decided to not fill the lacrosse post at this time. She wouldn't say if they had planned to name Hickey to the position before his arrest. Hickey has amassed a 16-17 record in two seasons at the helm of the girls lacrosse program. During the 2009 season, he guided the team to a first-round win in the state tournament, the team’s first state win since 2002. Hickey is a former assistant coach of the WHS boys' lacrosse team.