Haverhill Public Schools’ pediatrician Dr. John L. Maddox will continue in that capacity for at least the next three years.
The Haverhill School Committee Thursday unanimously approved a new three-year, $15,000 annual contract for Maddox, effective July 1, and through June 30, 2019, according to committee documents. In his role with the schools, Maddox, among other things, “supports the school nurse leader and school nursing staff in planning and implementing the school health services program;” assists in administering the program with the school nurse leader, administration and school committee; assists in emergency care planning for the schools; and “may assist in writing applications for health-related grants.” Maddox is also district liaison to community physicians “on pertinent medical issues of individual students” related to “performance in the educational environment.” He also serves as a medical and clinical consultant in areas including immunization, infection and outbreak control, mental health issues and school sports medicine programs.
Most recently, as WHAV reported last month, Maddox, through his family’s New Mexico-based J. F Maddox Foundation, presented the school committee a $50,000 donation to the Tilton School library to purchase books, audiobooks and technology. He also revealed he has been the donor behind more than $300,000 in grants to the school system since 2004. Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini, who pledged the city would match the money, said he urged Maddox to make himself known when he learned of the gift.
Maddox also helped organize a series of education forums for school parents earlier this year on drug abuse as part of combating the opioid epidemic. Last year, he was a vocal opponent to plans to locate proposed medical marijuana dispensary off route 97 and near Interstate 495. In June, 2015, applicant Healthy Pharms ultimately chose to locate the dispensary in Georgetown when town officials there issued a letter of “non-opposition” in support. Maddox, at the time, called Healthy Pharms’ withdrawal from Haverhill “a real victory for democracy and a defeat for backroom politics.”
In other action Thursday, school committee members agreed to create a three-member subcommittee to “discuss” any plans for new contract negotiations with Superintendent James F. Scully. The panel includes Fiorentini, President Maura L. Ryan-Ciardiello and Vice President Gail M. Sullivan. Committeeman Paul A. Magliocchetti, who placed a discussion item on the agenda, noted a September deadline, under Scully’s current contract, to notify the superintendent whether the city plans to retain him.