Editor’s note: On Mar. 12, The Daily Item printed this statement by Lynnfield School Committee Chair Rich Sjoberg: “On Feb. 8, 2022, Superintendent (Kristen) Vogel learned that 80 percent of the students and staff at Lynnfield High School were vaccinated, thus meeting the threshold to apply for the school to become mask optional, per a DESE mandate.”
To the editor:
I am writing in response and to add clarification to my comments during the Feb. 15, 2022 Lynnfield School Committee meeting.
The objective of my comments was to encourage greater transparency as to how decisions about COVID policies have been made to date by the School Committee. Specifically, I requested clarification regarding the district’s acceptance of ESSER III funds. I also provided several documents and specific references to enable the School Committee to respond to my questions.
Unfortunately, I have not received a response. I encourage members of the Lynnfield community to watch the public video of my comments, and review the documents posted on the Lynnfield Listens Facebook page, to gain a better understanding of my concerns regarding the ESSER III funding.
During this meeting, my concerns were further heightened with regard to the School Committee’s vote on the Amendment to Face Covering Policy (EBCFA). Prior to this meeting, the School Committee was asked for the specific proposed language to be voted on to amend the policy.
The School Committee ignored these requests and never provided the proposed language. The School Committee then voted to amend the policy without any discussion or deliberation from the community. They amended the face covering/mask policy adding language that they will comply with policies and protocols mandated by various agencies, thereby relinquishing any and all debate, input and discussion from the school community on this issue.
As I stated above, my objective has always been to gain greater transparency from our School Committee.
Suzeanne Guertin
Lynnfield
