LYNN — According to a parent of a KIPP Academy freshman on the junior varsity football team, multiple bullying incidents have occurred.
According to the parent, who asked to remain anonymous, there have been fistfights, incidents involving stolen items, verbal abuse, and other instances of physical abuse.
Head football coach Jim Rabbitt, as well as assistant coach and Athletic Director Anthony Grimaldi, deferred to Executive Director Nikki Barnes for comment.
Barnes was out of her office Thursday, but Director of Marketing and Communications Sam Cooke said she “did want to share that KIPP, MA does not tolerate any kind of bullying.
“In that regard, we take any such claims seriously,” the statement went on to say. “This case will be no exception and we will investigate it promptly. So, as of now, we consider this an open investigation and therefore will not make any further comments that could affect the integrity of the investigation.”
According to the parent, incidents began on the first day of training camp, despite the school holding a meeting with parents ahead of the season.
“We were assured there would be no bullying or hazing that would take place,” the parent said. “The first day of training camp, my son was on the sidelines, off to the side, and another player whipped a football at his head. It connected, my son went to go talk to Coach Rabbitt about that… and Rabbitt looked my son in the face and said, ‘I don’t care.’”
Bullying and assaults continued and the student-athlete suffered physical damage, according to the parent.
“He just had dental work done. His teeth, as a result, were a little bit loose,” the parent said. “I had to take him to the emergency room multiple times.”
The parent said he sat down with members of administration this week and that they were unaware of any incidents.
“Since then, there have been a few suspensions regarding the students, but Jim Rabbitt himself, who willfully turned a blind eye to all of this, he’s still there,” the parent said. “He has not faced any sort of suspension or nothing like that.”
KIPP’s varsity team hosts Bourne in a state tournament game Friday night (5 p.m.).
According to the parent, he spoke with Rabbitt this week. The parent added that other student-athletes have also been bullied.
“His response was, ‘I’ve got 65 kids out here. I can’t be responsible for everything. That’s impossible,’” the parent said. “It wasn’t just my son. It was a lot of other kids and the school’s own internal investigation they did confirmed that – they told us that. This guy (Rabbitt) is still working away and still coaching.”
According to page No. 5 of KIPP’s Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan, updated in 2022, “The principal or designee will promptly investigate all reports of bullying, cyberbullying or retaliation and, in doing so, will consider all available information known…”
