Dear Lynnfield friends and neighbors:
Lynnfield has been home to my family for 20 years. During this time, my husband and I have volunteered on a multitude of town boards, committees, PTOs, and youth sports organizations to give back and contribute positively to our small community. While serving in these volunteer and elected positions, I had the privilege of working with many dedicated residents and public servants to help further the success and well-being of our town and school district.
Over the years, I have taken immense pride in the meaningful relationships I’ve fostered with friends, neighbors, town officials, school administrators, teachers, and town committee members, as well as the positive outcomes achieved through collaboration, accountability, and mutual respect among volunteers. Lynnfield has always been a special place where citizens have joined together, despite differences, to support shared goals.
Therefore, you can imagine my surprise and frustration upon reading the article, “Three incumbents running for re-election,” published in the Lynnfield Villager on Jan. 8, 2025. A current Lynnfield School Committee member was quoted in a re-election statement as saying, “After years of mismanagement and poor oversight from the previous committee…” This comment is not only inflammatory but also baseless and intentionally misleading.
As a former School Committee member, I take great offense to this individual disparaging the entire body of work of the previous committee, seemingly with the intent to tarnish the reputations of a group of dedicated volunteers. Creating a false narrative is both dangerous and unprincipled.
What is true is that, despite the critical need to address the many challenges facing our school district within an increasingly lean budget, the current School Committee has created a toxic environment among its members. Rather than working through differences of opinion, those deemed “difficult” to work with are publicly vilified.
We have witnessed firsthand, through meetings and public records requests, a shared agenda among current committee members to collude in discrediting and humiliating a colleague and his family. What does this behavior convey about the leadership and values of Lynnfield Public Schools to our students and educators? Community leaders, elected officials, and especially the School Committee must model the behavior we want to see in our children—collaboration, respect, and the ability to listen to all perspectives.
I strongly encourage intelligent, hardworking, ethical members of the Lynnfield community to consider running for the School Committee. It is one of the most rewarding positions in town. Our community, students, families, and educators need leaders who bring sound judgment, effective collaboration, empathy, constructive problem-solving, and honesty during this pivotal period for Lynnfield Public Schools.
Please consider running for the Lynnfield School Committee to make a difference in the education our students, families, and teachers so rightfully deserve.
Sincerely,
Stacy Dahlstedt
Former Lynnfield School Committee Vice Chair
