Dozens of Lynnfield parents packed into a tense school committee meeting Wednesday night, demanding swift and decisive action after what they describe as a surge in racist bullying at the town’s middle school. Superintendent Tom Geary publicly apologized to families and acknowledged at least three separate racial incidents involving sixth-grade students. The middle school principal has been placed on leave and is set to separate from the district at the end of June. Many parents, though, say they are far from satisfied, arguing that the discipline so far has not matched the seriousness of the harm and calling for clearer, tougher consequences in the student handbook.
Parents told WCVB that classmates targeted a Black sixth grader with slurs and taunts, including being told to “go back to Africa,” being called a monkey and having whip-cracking noises directed at them. The community forum that followed, organized by the group A Healthy Lynnfield in partnership with the district, produced plans for a short-term anti-hate task force and a series of community conversations. Some parents, however, told Boston 25 News that their small-group feedback never made it into the final discussion, leaving them skeptical that the district is truly listening.
District Response And Handbook Revisions
Superintendent Geary told the committee that “responsibility and accountability starts with me,” calling himself the leader of the district and apologizing to families, according to NBC Boston. He has proposed revising the district handbook so that hate speech and serious bullying land in the highest tier of a four-level discipline system. That top category would trigger penalties ranging from suspension to expulsion hearings, along with police notification. District officials say the policy subcommittee is now finalizing those proposed punishment changes, which are expected to be discussed in May.
Leadership Shakeup At Lynnfield Middle School
In the fallout from the incidents, Principal Stephen Ralston was placed on leave and, according to a district message to families, will separate from Lynnfield Public Schools on June 30. Assistant Superintendent Adam Federico will step in as acting principal, while Assistant Principal Dana Courtney will remain in her current role, Lynnfield Weekly News reports. Many parents told reporters they still do not believe the administration has done enough to keep students safe, with some saying their small-group feedback was brushed aside and questioning why students involved in the incidents were still allowed to attend field trips, according to WCVB.
What's Next: Task Force, Dialogues And Policy Work
The district has promised a series of dialogue sessions and community conversations with students, staff and local residents as it tries to repair trust. Patch reports that Geary will launch smaller, more personalized dialogue sessions starting April 17 to talk directly about school culture. District leaders and organizers say they will create an anti-hate task force and share an update on its work by May 1, while the School Committee prepares to take up discipline-policy changes at upcoming meetings, according to Boston 25 News.
Context: A Town Still Dealing With Racism
The uproar is unfolding against a backdrop of earlier racist incidents in town. Last June, a livestream of Lynnfield High School’s graduation captured derogatory remarks by town workers, which led to administrative leave and a town investigation, CBS Boston reported. At the time, town officials condemned the language, said the matter was under investigation and confirmed that personnel actions had been taken.
Parents say they plan to return to the May School Committee meeting ready to press for specific, enforceable policy changes. District leaders, for their part, insist they will move ahead on both tougher discipline rules and broader community education in hopes of rebuilding confidence. “We have to start the process, and frankly with some urgency,” Geary wrote in a public statement, according to Patch. The next several weeks will reveal whether new policies, dialogue sessions and the promised anti-hate task force can deliver the accountability families are demanding.
