LYNNFIELD — Town officials learned Friday night after the high school graduation ceremony that town employees had used racist words during a livestream of the event.
In a joint statement issued by Town Administrator Rob Dolan and Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin on Friday, they said the town was informed of the incident at 7 p.m. Friday night in which “town employees were overheard using inappropriate and racist words (and) this video and audio feed was seen and heard by people waiting to watch the graduation,” which began at 5 p.m.
The video appears to capture footage of workers setting up chairs on the football field for the ceremony. In it, the use of at least two racist words, including the N-word, can be heard clearly.
According to the town’s statement, the individuals have been identified and placed on administrative leave pending a full investigation of the video and any other evidence. The Select Board, Superintendent of Schools, and Police Chief were informed of the allegations, and the investigation was to begin “immediately.” Dolan confirmed Sunday that three town employees were placed on leave.
“We, as town leaders, stand together in outrage over what has been reported this evening and wish to state emphatically that racist language and behavior have no place in our town and will be dealt with immediately,” the statement read. “It is especially regrettable that this incident took place on what is and should be a night to celebrate our incredible seniors. Such incidents, however, must be confronted directly and openly and a full investigation and appropriate action will be taken.”
In a joint statement posted on the Lynnfield School Committee’s Facebook page the next day , Superintendent Tom Geary and School Committee Chair Kristen Elworthy said, “(W)e are outraged that our students, families, and community members were exposed to such harmful language. This language — and the racism it reflects — has no place in Lynnfield Public Schools. It stands in direct opposition to our core values of respect, inclusivity, and belonging.”
The statement said that while district staff employees were not involved, “We have been in close communication with town leadership and fully support their swift and decisive response. We thank them for their action and join them in condemning this behavior. Lynnfield Public Schools is committed to being a safe, supportive, and inclusive space for all students, staff, and visitors. We recognize that for many in our community this incident is deeply painful. We hear you, and we stand with you.”
The statement continued, “we will identify opportunities to come together as a community to listen, learn, and move forward in unity.”
School committee member Jamie Hayman posted a statement on Facebook, saying, “As an elected town official, I want to express my personal outrage and deep disappointment. Racism and bigotry, in any form, have no place in our community.
“We can’t ignore the fact that this incident took place at a school event and students were watching. By now, hundreds of Lynnfield Public Schools students have heard these words. And just as importantly, they are now watching what we do next. If we treat this only as a personnel issue, we miss a critical opportunity, to lead, to grow, and to teach… We must show our students that their community stands firmly against hate and discrimination. Our children are watching us. Let’s rise to meet this moment and show them who we are.”
Joel McCarthy, the parent of a 2025 graduate, said Sunday he believes Lynnfield is an inclusive community.
“With town activities you do see that melting pot that you look for in a town,” he said. “I think the immediate reaction from the town saying ‘this is not okay, this doesn’t represent us’ was what you are looking for in your town. It was encouraging that in spite of the fact that it was such a bad incident, everyone rallied around to say that it is not representative of who we are as a community. Seeing that universal message is encouraging.”
At a June 3 School Committee meeting, Treetop Lane resident Carl Allien told the committee that he is “hoping to have a conversation with Superintendent Geary regarding some incidents that my son is facing with the school system that is going on right now.” He said he received a phone call from the principal “regarding some of the harsh things that my son has been enduring, not due to any specific person, but it’s been challenging for a young African-American kid in the schools. … I’m struggling right now.”
Elworthy and Geary encouraged Allien to reach out to them and to leave his contact information with the district secretary.
In February, 7th-grade student Joseph Dixon and his mother, Wendy, appeared before the School Committee and questioned what they said was a lack of portrayal of Black History in the school system. Joseph Dixon said he believed the district and the community “should celebrate Black history, the contributions and the culture beyond Martin Luther King Jr.” Elworthy, Geary and Hayman thanked them for bringing the matter to the committee.
“You obviously put a lot of thought into this, and we appreciate hearing directly from you as a student,” Elworthy said.
“Thank you for coming,” Geary said. “I agree with you that we can do better. Thank you for being willing to speak. It’s something we will talk about administratively on how to move forward with that.”
