Published September 23, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — In the wake of racist events happening across the country and in town, the school system will be launching an anti-racism initiative this academic year.
Superintendent Kristen Vogel made the announcement during the School Committee’s Sept. 15 meeting. While the initiative has been in the works for the last several months, the announcement took place after a Summer Street man and his stepfather pleaded not guilty in Peabody District Court earlier that day to charges related to recent acts of racially motivated vandalism at one of their neighbor’s homes.
“We are committed to the values of social justice, anti-racism and equity,” said Vogel. “We aspire to live into these values in our teaching, professional development and curriculum. We aspire to create a school system that operates beyond the reach of institutional racism, and we recognize that we are not there yet. Like every other town or city in America, we must reckon with how certain educational laws, statewide regulations, school policies and teaching practices have served to privilege specific groups of students at the expense of other groups, most notably Black students.”
Vogel said, “We know that our school system is not unique in its struggle towards racial justice.”
“We are empowered by calls for change across the country,” said Vogel. “We strive to become authentic allies with our families and students of color, and take actions and speak out against racism in our schools and our community. We must condemn all acts of racism in our community. We must immediately call out and step in when any member of our community is targeted with hate and aggression due to their race, color, religion, national origin, gender or sexual orientation. We can work toward racial justice by standing up to say that Black Lives Matter. We can take action.”
Vogel said the district will be establishing the Equity and Diversity Committee in the near future.
“This group will comprise of a cross-section of key stakeholders who have a vested interest promoting change and innovation in the school system in the direction of racial justice,” said Vogel. “This new committee will charged with assessing and reviewing our current policies and practices, seeking out the voices of students and parents, and considering best practices in education. This committee will recommend further actions and changes necessary for us to build a more inclusive school system.”
Vogel said the Equity and Diversity Committee have parents, students, educators and officials as members.
School Committee Chairman Jamie Hayman asked how parents can apply to join the new Equity and Diversity Committee. Vogel said parents should send her an email with a letter of interest.
The School Department and A Healthy Lynnfield have partnered together in order to have Reading Public Schools’ English language learners teacher Karen Hall teach a professional development course to Lynnfield educators.
“(Hall) will be teaching a course for our educators that focuses on culturally competent teaching and learning, breaking down racial inequalities and striving for an equitable curriculum,” said Vogel. “We are also partnering with Facing History and Ourselves to provide professional development and resources for our educators on teaching acceptance and ant-racist curriculum as part of our social studies, civics, history and English language arts lessons and classes.”
Vogel also noted METCO Director Curtis Blyden was named as a member of the Administrative Leadership Team this summer.
Hayman said school officials have a tremendous amount of respect for Blyden.
“Curtis has transformed our METCO program and has been a resource for all students, not just students commuting from Boston,” said Hayman. “He has often said he doesn’t want an office, he just wants a book bag so he can go to the schools every day to meet with kids. The addition of Curtis to the Administrative Leadership Team adds a very, very valuable perspective. It is a very well-earned recognition.”
School Committeeman Phil McQueen also read an anti-racism resolution crafted by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC).
“It be resolved that Lynnfield and all the school districts in the commonwealth must guarantee that racist practices are eradicated, and diversity, equity and inclusion is embedded and practiced for our students, families, faculty and staff,” said McQueen while reading the resolution. “We must ensure our own school culture and that of every district in the commonwealth is anti-racist, that acknowledges that all lives cannot matter until Black Lives Matter.”
School Committee Vice Chairman Rich Sjoberg noted, “Lynnfield is not starting from ground zero here.”
“There are already many of these things that we do,” said Sjoberg. “I am looking forward to enhancing the things we are already doing.”
Hayman said the community has to play a role in fighting racism.
“We need parents to be modeling the right behavior,” said Hayman. “We need them to be reinforcing the messages that students are getting in school. This is a community-wide issue and we need parents to do the right things, and we need community members to do the right things. We need parents and community members to step up and say something when things are not right.”
School Committee member Stacy Dahlstedt thanked Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator Peg Sallade and A Healthy Lynnfield for supporting the district’s anti-racist initiative.
“I have been deeply saddened, disheartened and frankly disgusted by the recent acts of racism in Lynnfield,” said Dahlstedt. “Lynnfield is not a place for hate or racism. My family and I have called Lynnfield our home for 16 years, and these disgraceful events do not depict nor define the community that we know and love. This town is where my husband and I have both volunteered countless hours because we believe in it. We believe in and support our fellow citizens regardless of anyone’s race, color, religion, national origin, gender or sexual orientation, many of whom we call our cherished and dear friends.”
Dahlstedt said residents should “strive to be inclusive and supportive of each other.”
“Now more than ever, during these trying times, we must lift each other up and not knock each other down,” said Dahlstedt. “It is incumbent on us, as parents and guardians, town leaders, educators and administrators to model respect, kindness and acceptance.”
McQueen said he has also been horrified by the recent events in town.
“We have to think about the families in our community who have been even more marginalized because of this,” said McQueen. “They are probably frightened to actually go out of their houses. We really have to include everybody in our community if we are going to truly consider ourselves a community.”
School Committee member Tim Doyle encouraged residents to be respectful towards one another.
“Be respectful of our differences,” said Doyle. “Just step back, take a deep breath, listen and embrace everything that has made the U.S. a great country. Be respectful of your fellow human beings and respect their differences. As I look across the nation, there has been a complete breakdown of respect for one another. I think that is a great place for the community to start.”
After the discussion, the School Committee unanimously approved the MASC resolution.
