LYNNFIELD — The School Committee honored seven employees across the district who will retire by the end of the school year.
Interim Superintendent Tom Geary said that Summer Street Elementary School and Lynnfield Preschool paraprofessional Cynthia Fagan, who has worked at the school since 2013, has been loving, caring, and very dedicated to the district’s youngest learners.
“She’s always willing to sit on the floor, get messy with our preschoolers, and met every student regardless of their abilities or backgrounds with a warm demeanor,” Geary said. “Mornings and afternoons won’t be the same without her friendly face at the preschool pickup and drop-off circle each day.”
Gina Gustafson, a clerk for Summer Street, is also retiring, and Geary commended her for all the help she gave students and families in navigating colleges and scholarships when she worked at Lynnfield High School before going to Summer Street.
“She worked hard to help kids earn these prizes and coordinated groups and organizations and brought it all together for families,” Geary said. “Upon her move to Summer Street, she would be the first face the families would see when they would come in the main office of the school.”
Geary also said that Summer Street fourth-grade teacher Kristine Percoskie has been a force in the elementary schools, covering many different areas for the district.
“Kris always found a way to connect with every child, help them to be successful, and ready to move on to middle school,” Geary said.
Steven Luiso, the district’s support technician for the technology department, started at the district in 2008.
“Bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise, Steve became invaluable to the district right away,” Geary said. “From phones, networks, hardware, software, you name it.”
Huckleberry Hill Principal Melissa Wyland, who also worked as a teacher and assistant principal for 17 years, is also retiring. Geary said that Wyland’s classroom was a model to others, as she taught social and emotional learning long before it was recognized.
“Connections with students and families were strong, and she was nominated and recognized by the Boston Red Sox at one point as ‘most valuable teacher,’” Geary said.
The committee also recognized Lynnfield High science teacher Dr. Karyn O’Neill and Lynnfield Public Schools Director of Student Services Roberta Keane.
The committee also approved a change in language in the district’s life-threatening allergy guidelines after prior meetings, at which parents of children with allergies said they should be able to choose whether their children sit at nut-free lunch tables. All committee members except Jamie Hayman, who voted “present,” were in favor of the change. Hayman wanted the language of the new policy to be posted for parents to read before the committee voted on it.
“The students with life-threatening allergies, a nut-free table will be available at the elementary and middle schools during lunch,” School Committee member Jim Dillon said, reading the exact words of the policy’s new language. “Students with life-threatening allergies can be offered a seat at any allergy-aware or nut-free table at the request of a parent or guardian. Details of nut-free table placement during lunch can be documented at a child’s individual health-care plan, emergency action plan, 504, or individual education plan.”
Previously, under the cafeteria/lunchroom plan of the allergy guidelines, the third requirement stated that “students at the elementary schools, with diagnosed life-threatening food allergies and are prescribed an EpiPen, must eat at the nut-safe tables.”
