Superintendent-Director of Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School District v. Speicher

In this case we are asked to decide whether an arbitrator exceeded his authority by reviewing the merits of a twenty-day suspension of a school librarian having professional teacher status. The librarian had been suspended for “conduct unbecoming” the librarian, pursuant to G. L. c. 71, § 42D. The arbitrator applied a just cause standard of review and overturned the sus pension on the ground that the school district failed to meet its burden of proof. The school district filed an action to vacate the arbitrator’s award under G. L. c. 150C, § 11, and for declaratory relief under G. L. c. 231…