Dear editor:
Upon learning that Kristen Elworthy and Jenny Sheehan, both one-year term School Committee incumbents, pulled papers to run for three-year term seats, I felt it was imperative for the Lynnfield community to gain a better understanding of the true quality of character of these two individuals. To say that I have serious reservations about both candidates is an understatement, and I would like the community to know the truth and understand why. The following is a statement I delivered during public comment at the Dec. 10 School Committee meeting:
I understand you all want to put this situation behind you; however, the more information that comes to light, the harder that is to do. I have no real desire to rehash everything; however, for the last three months I have laid awake at night trying to figure out why you all took the actions you did and what I could say to you so you would understand how it impacted my family.
As a wife and mother, I worry about my family all of the time. But this situation has brought that worry to astronomical levels. So many things have kept me up at night. The disbelief that all of you questioned our children’s achievements and Jamie’s, and by extension, my family’s value, character and integrity, at a public meeting.
That Kate (former School Committee Chair, Kate DePrizio) made up claims that Jamie threatened her and her family is incomprehensible to me. Kate, that was reprehensible; I join with many others and ask you to resign. We should not have a member of the school committee who has no trouble lying about a colleague and filing false police reports. I am thankful every day that Jamie recorded his side of the conversation.
I was worried about our ability to provide for our family because, prior to the Chief’s (Lynnfield Police Chief, Nick Seccatore) report being released, someone in our community anonymously sent Jamie’s company a recording of that meeting where Kate said Jamie threatened her. The anonymous emailer suggested that Jamie should be fired. I am forever thankful that Jamie’s company looked at all the facts, including his years of hard work and integrity, and did not believe a word of it.
I lay awake at night thinking about our girls and the impact this was having on them and is still having on them. I was worried about the ramifications our daughter’s statement may have. But she was determined to speak up and defend herself and her sister and all their hard work. As you all saw, she rocked that statement.
After an email was sent from the staff member disputing Kate and Tom’s (Superintendent of Schools, Tom Geary) claims, I lay awake thinking about why you still moved forward with your accusations. After reflecting on it for some time, I realized you did it because you could. You had the power. You chose to behave like bullies.
The decision you made is because one of your colleagues disagreed with you on several issues, including that he, and many others in our community, wanted to conduct a full search to find the best, most qualified person to lead our district.
Kristen (School Committee Chair, Kristen Elworthy) and Jenny (School Committee Vice Chair, Jenny Sheehan), you say you want to “move on.” However, based on your statements to the Villager (December 4, 2024), it is clear you don’t understand why people aren’t ready for that.
You each deceived our community. Kristen, you read a statement at the last meeting saying that Kate’s claims that the committee was covering up support of her actions, was “egregious and not true.” However, in reality Kristen and Jenny, there is no doubt that you both supported Kate’s actions.
Kristen, it is clear from your email to Kate (made public by Kate DePrizio after residents submitted a public records request) with suggestions about how she could best “position” her statement to Jamie and from the unpublished comments you sent to the Villager, that you don’t like working with him. Jenny, your text exchange with Kate (made public by Kate DePrizio after residents submitted a public records request) was telling, and any denial of your support of Kate’s actions is completely not true. You wrote to her that she was right, and you were willing to “die on that hill.” You both thought the best way to address your frustrations was to support false claims that impacted our children and questioned Jamie’s character and integrity, at a public meeting. Rather than transparency and accountability, this committee has been fraught with deception and hypocrisy.
After three months of this being all-consuming for my family, here is the conclusion I reached, based on the facts. There were never any formal complaints about Jamie, and he most certainly never sought preferential treatment for our children. You were all frustrated by his disagreement about several of your decisions and did not like that he made his disagreement public. Trust me, I get it, there have been times in our 22 years of marriage that I have been frustrated with Jamie, but we handle it like grownups and talk through it.
The lessons this committee is teaching our children are unfortunate. Perhaps you all need to step into Lynnfield Middle School for a reminder about the importance of Kindness, Effort and Citizenship. You displayed none of these core values in your recent actions. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to hold you accountable, so speaking up today is the best I can do.
Your behavior has been shameful, and our community deserves better. I hope that all of you reflect on your actions and consider the impact they have on our community, and particularly, my family. Thank you.
It is because of the lack of professionalism, character and integrity shown by these two individuals that I strongly encourage other residents to run for Lynnfield School Committee. Our students, faculty and staff deserve better, and our community deserves a choice that includes professional and trustworthy candidates.
Sincerely,
Christina Hayman
Village Row
