Amy OConnor announced Monday that she is resigning from the School Committee, citing a “small but vocal group” who she says continue “to mischaracterize our fiscal management and cast doubt on the work of our professionals.”

“This dynamic has made it increasingly difficult to sustain the work of the committee and district leaders,” OConnor wrote in a letter sent to the Swampscott Tides. “I no longer have the fortitude to continue pushing back against misinformation, mistrust and the persistent negative commentary on social media, particularly from individuals who once held leadership positions and show know better.”

OConnor, who moved to Swampscott in 2008, first joined the School Committee in 2013. With two children in the district, she was active in the schools before joining the committee, having served as vice president of the Parent Teachers Organization and the director of afterschool programs. She currently serves as the chair of the committee.

She works as an associate partner at JHilburn, according to her LinkedIn.

In her 2013 candidacy letter, OConnor said she ran because the district needed planning, stability, and a School Committee that worked collaboratively with the administration. When she ran for re-election in 2019, OConnor said she focused on “consistency and longevity,” which is “critical to educational success.”

“Serving this town and its children for more than a decade has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” OConnor wrote in her letter Monday. “I will always be grateful for the trust the voters placed in me and for the opportunities to help guide the district through years of growth, challenge and progress.”

OConnor wrote that the district is “at an important inflection point.” She said she is “confident” newly appointed Superintendent Jason Calichman “will lead our district to even greater success.” She also listed Director of Student Services Martha Raymond and Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Cheryl Herrick-Stella as “among the most talented professionals in the state – and our district is stronger because of them.”

“The same is true of our teachers and their union leadership,” OConnor wrote. “Becka Bucklin has fostered a collaborative, productive working relationship that is uncommon among our peer communities.”

She also wrote that “school finance is, by nature, unpredictable.”

“Students’ needs shift, sometimes dramatically, and the associated costs follow,” OConnor wrote. “Even so the district closed last year with 1.3% of its annual budget – an outcome of disciplined planning, constant monitoring and the expertise of our finance team.”

She said much of the criticism stems “from a lack of understanding of modern educational finance, yet they are delivered with certainty that undermines trust in the very people who keep our schools running.” 

“Massachusetts law intentionally separates school finance from municipal finance because the work requires specific licensure, deep expertise and constant adaptation,” OConnor wrote. “Our professionals have that expertise. Unfortunately, some in positions in town leadership persist in insisting they know better.”

Looking ahead to the next budget season, OConnor wrote that the work is now “beyond my energy level.”

“In any other town, schools closing the year with a small surplus is a positive headline,” OConnor wrote. “Instead in Swampscott, it is somehow negative. This is a purposeful effort to misdirect attention away from the town’s recent $400,000 accounting error. Where is that public discussion?”

O’Connor ended her letter by writing “directly to younger residents,” sharing that Swampscott “needs you.”

“Too often, our public discourse centers on demand for lower taxes while simultaneously demanding amenities, services and infrastructure improvement,” OConnor wrote. “Swampscott’s tax rate is not high compared to surrounding communities, yet the misinformation persists. Painting the schools as irresponsible or overspending is an easy trope, but it’s inaccurate and harmful – to our town, to our reputation, and most of all, to our kids.”