LYNNFIELD — Lynnfield Public Schools has launched a new initiative aimed at eradicating institutional racism from its schools.
Superintendent Kristen Vogel announced Thursday during a School Committee meeting that the district is establishing an Equity and Diversity Committee.
“This new committee will be charged with assessing and reviewing our current policies and practices, seeking out the voices of students and parents and considering best practices in education,” Vogel read from a prepared statement signed by administrators, school committee members and all of the faculty and staff of every Lynnfield school. “This committee will recommend further actions and changes necessary for us to build a more inclusive school system.”
Vogel said the committee will be formed by the district’s Administrative Leadership Team and will include representation from parents, students and educators. She said anyone interested in serving on the committee or having input of any kind should email her a letter of interest.
School Committee Chairman Jamie Hayman said he was “excited to start the conversation.
“Lynnfield public schools have always stood for equality, inclusion and equity,” he said. “Tonight’s discussion has been in the works for a while. It is not a reaction to incidents we have seen in our town, but rather is a culmination and just the beginning of a transformative journey. Racism and bigotry and hate still exist in our country. Education needs to be at the forefront of addressing these topics. Having a conversation about anti-racism I feel is more important than ever.”
Vogel said the schools will be partnering with A Healthy Lynnfield (AHL) and Facing History and Ourselves. AHL will help educators engage in professional development on equitable teaching practices with the assistance of Reading ESL teacher Karen Hall.
“She will be teaching a course for our educators that focuses on culturally competent teaching and learning, breaking down racial inequities and striving for an equitable curriculum,” Vogel said. “Facing History and Ourselves will also provide professional development and resources on teaching acceptances and anti-racist curriculum.”
Committee member Phil McQueen presented a School Committee resolution acknowledging that “we as leaders can no longer remain silent about racism.
“Lynnfield and all districts in the Commonwealth must guarantee that racist practices are eradicated and that diversity, equity and inclusion is embedded and practiced for our students and families and faculty and staff,” the resolution stated. “We must ensure our own school culture and that of every district in the Commonwealth is anti-racist and ackkowledges that all lives cannot matter until Black Lives Matter.”
McQueen said he is eager to see progress and that “this is very, very crucial and important work.”
Committee member Rich Sjoberg said Lynnfield is not “starting from Ground Zero and there are many things we already do, but I look forward as we enhance those things we already are doing.”
The announcement came on the heels of the Sept. 15 arrest of two Lynnfield men in connection with a month-long police investigation of racially-motivated vandalism, property damage and civil rights violations.
Joshua Simpson, 21, was charged in Peabody District Court with malicious destruction of property, two counts of larceny under $1,200, vandalizing property, resisting arrest, property damage to intimidate and criminal harassment.
Stephen Smith, 55, Simpson’s stepfather, was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, property damage to intimidate and assault to murder.
Committee member Stacy Dahlstadt said she is “saddened, disheartened and, frankly disgusted about the recent acts of vandalism in Lynnfield, but she is confident that Superintendent Vogel and the administrative leadership team will continue to promote an inclusive school system.
“We can and should do more, absolutely now more than ever,” she said. “During these troubled times, we must lift each other up and not knock each other down.”
Committee member Tim Doyle said it’s all about respect.
“There has been a complete breakdown of respect across the nation,” he said. “We need to respect others’ differences, respect what you have been given and share what you have been given.”
Anne Marie Tobin can be reached at [email protected].
