Across the nation, Sept. 11 is a somber day of reflection remembering the 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
In Lynnfield, more than 200 people gathered on the Town Common to remember 9/11 and honor its own at the annual First Responders Day
This year’s event was especially meaningful considering the town’s firefighters and police officers had spent more than 24 hours the day before (and into the early morning hours of Sept. 11) battling two massive blazes.
But rather than honor the extraordinary contributions of Lynnfield’s public safety servants, who put their lives on the line fighting those fires, the School Committee decided its scheduled meeting was more important.
More important than standing with fellow residents in solidarity to remember our town’s two 9/11 victims.
More important than being there to commend and thank our firefighters and police officers for being there for their valor and keeping Lynnfield families safe every day of the year.
But rather than reschedule the meeting, it was business as usual.
Actually, it wasn’t business as usual at all. It was an embarrassment and yet another example of how tone deaf the school committee continues to be.
It was a blindsided character attack on committee member Jamie Hayman, the longest-serving member and former chair of the committee.
After observing a moment of silence and expression of gratitude to the LPD and LFD, committee Chair Kate DePrizio accused Hayman of using his committee position to secure preferential treatment in the schools for his children. She accused Hayman of threatening her and her family, a claim the Lynnfield Police Department determined was unfounded. But more on that later.
DePrizio opened the meeting with a prepared statement, saying that, “It has come to our attention that one of our school committee members is in violation of our ethical standards in terms of using the role on the School Committee in a manner that violates our ethical guidelines as a committee.”
In a letter she said was drafted by committee attorney Colby Brunt, signed by DePrizio, DePrizio stated that Hayman had communicated with “administrators, principals, (the) athletic and curriculum departments and teachers.” She declined to identify specific details. She later stated that “staff members” reached out to her to report said communications. First, why are staff members reaching out to her at all? Shouldn’t they be reaching out to their supervisors?
I am appalled at the lack of due process afforded Hayman. I’d like to know if other committee members were involved or were aware that DePrizio had taken the law into her own – and it seems, Superintendent Tom Geary’s – hands, who DePrizio said she consulted in determining how to proceed. It’s important to note that these other committee members – Jim Dillon, Kristen Elworthy and Jenny Sheehan – are the very same people who preached transparency and communication during their campaigns just a few months ago.
According to Hayman, DePrizio never asked him for his side of the story. How is that transparent? How is that fair? It isn’t.
I thought the prior School Committee’s actions in ignoring parents’ and teachers’ complaints about Superintendent Kristen Vogel were tone deaf and appalling. But this is worse.
Hayman asked DePrizio for examples of his alleged misconduct. She refused, citing the “utmost” need to be “protective” of LPS staff members. Shouldn’t the protection be first afforded to the students who were thrust into the public spotlight by DePrizio?
That’s not OK. It’s unconscionable, especially considering that the LPS mission statement as filed on its website states that the first protected class is students, not staff members.
Hayman made an excellent point at the meeting when he said that complaints regarding possible ethics violations should be referred to the state ethics commission for an objective investigation. He said he welcomes a state investigation, yet not one committee member, nor Geary, spoke up. In fact Geary never opened his mouth during the entire discussion.
But it gets worse.
During the meeting, DePrizio accused Hayman of threatening her and her family during a Sept. 11 conversation that took place after Hayman received DePrizio’s email containing her allegations.
“You threatened me, a threat that had to (be reported) to the police,” DePrizio said
“I am going to be very clear with you that I called you today and you threatened me …. You’ve threatened myself and my family and I won’t stand for it,” DePrizio said.
“You said that you would destroy me and my children. That you would ruin me and my reputation in this town and that I should watch my back,” DePrizio said.
“When I spoke to you… you were absolutely threatening to me, there’s no way around it. You were threatening to me, you were threatening to my children and threatening to my family,” she said.
The Lynnfield Police Department released a report Monday afternoon after it conducted an investigation. The report determined there was no merit to DePrizio’s claims, finding they did not rise “to the level of a criminal threat.”
The report also dismissed DePrizio’s claims that Hayman had called her a “bitch.”
“I did not hear threats that are of a criminal level or (Jamie) mention her family. (Jamie) does not call her a bitch or mention safety,” the report stated.
The fact that it’s gotten to this point is an indictment on the committee and superintendent’s ability to lead. Instead of paying attention to a new curriculum, the onset of MCAS testing and the general well-being of students, this committee spent much of the nearly two-hour meeting discussing themselves and their protocols.
Many in the community are disgusted with the School Committee and superintendent’s behavior. One resident has pulled recall papers to remove DePrizio.
All of this adds up to one thing – there is eroding public confidence in this committee and the superintendent to lead our schools. If we learned one lesson from the Vogel debacle, it’s that people are now paying attention, which I, as a resident of this community for 33 years, find encouraging.
So, in the words of legendary actress Bette Davis, “Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.”
