By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — In a surprising turn of events, Chair Rich Sjoberg and Vice Chair Stacy Dahlstedt resigned from the School Committee on Friday, Dec. 29.
The School Committee’s two leaders’ decision to resign their respective seats occurred in the wake of the ongoing Lynnfield Public Schools crisis.
Sjoberg, who was first elected to the School Committee during the 2016 Town Election and was re-elected to a third three-year term in the 2022 Town Election, announced his resignation in an email sent to the School Committee, Town Clerk Amanda Haggstrom, Acting Superintendent Tom Geary and Town Administrator Rob Dolan. He had served as the school board’s chair since April 2021, and was the committee’s vice chair from April 2018 through April 2021.
“It is with regret that I inform you I am resigning my position on the Lynnfield School Committee,” Sjoberg wrote. “I apologize for the inconvenience this may cause; as I will always be grateful for every experience the Lynnfield Public Schools has given our family.”
Dahlstedt, who was first elected to the School Committee during the 2019 Town Election and was re-elected to a second three-year term in 2022, sent Sjoberg, Haggstrom, Geary, Dolan and the committee a letter about her decision to resign. She had served as the School Committee’s vice chair since April 2021.
“After considerable thought and conversation with my family, I decided to resign my position on the Lynnfield School Committee, effective Dec. 29, 2023,” Dahlstedt wrote. “This was an incredibly difficult decision, but it is the right decision for me and my family at this time. It has been a great honor to have served the Lynnfield community over the past 18 years, in multiple volunteer and elected positions, including president and board member of the Friends of the Lynnfield Library, secretary to Gathering Change, Inc., Summer Street School PTO enrichment director and president, Summer Street School Council parent representative, A Healthy Lynnfield coalition member and Health and Wellness Committee member. My most meaningful role has been serving as Lynnfield School Committee vice chair and member for the past five years. I am grateful to the voters of Lynnfield for electing and supporting me twice. I dedicated countless hours, and I am confident that I have made a positive difference in our community and our schools.
“The current toxic political environment in Lynnfield, and the apparent unwillingness of some to recognize that we are all one community working towards a common goal, has become unsustainable for me,” Dahlstedt continued. “I am no longer able or willing to conceal my emotions and invest my energy in helping the School Committee continue to make sound and fair decisions. Doing so would require that I sacrifice my own well-being and that of my family in the face of angry and bullying groups determined to destroy the personal character and reputation of anyone who dares to not do as they demand. I hope that Lynnfield will move forward and commit to more civil dialogue without the indignation and distractions that have occurred recently. Lynnfield students and our community deserve better.”
Over the course of their respective tenures on the School Committee, Sjoberg and Dahlstedt advocated for curriculum initiatives such as expanding the district’s STEAM and health programs and supported the $18 million elementary schools’ expansion project. The former committee members also worked to ensure that the school system was providing mental health support programs for students by approving budgetary requests such as hiring adjustment counselors.
Sjoberg also resigned from the Recreation Commission and the Council on Aging Board of Directors in separate emails on Dec. 29. He announced his resignation from the Recreation Commission, which he also chaired, in an email sent to Dolan and the Select Board. Sjoberg’s resignation occurred the same week as Recreation Director Julie Mallett’s retirement.
“I am resigning my appointed position on the Lynnfield Recreation Commission, effective today, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023,” Sjoberg wrote. “I am choosing to realign how I prioritize time and energy positively.”
Sjoberg informed Dolan, Select Board Chair Joe Connell, Senior Center Director Linda Naccara and Council on Aging Board of Directors Chair Anita Migliore in an email that he was resigning from that board as well.
“I would like to inform you that I am resigning my appointed position on the Lynnfield Council on Aging, effective today, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023,” Sjoberg. “It has been a pleasure serving with my fellow volunteers in helping to increase programming and make our incredible Senior Center a better place.”
School Committee members Jamie Hayman, Phil McQueen and Kate DePrizio each posted similar statements on their respective Facebook pages thanking Sjoberg and Dahlstedt “for their years of service to the families of Lynnfield and the broader Lynnfield community.”
“Their contributions are too many to list and our schools are academically, artistically and athletically strong in part because of their contributions and hard work,” McQueen stated on his Facebook page.
The three remaining School Committee members also announced that a brief reorganizational meeting will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 2, taking place after deadline. After the reorganization vote concluded, the school board was scheduled to enter into executive session to “conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations and to conduct negotiations with nonunion Central Office leadership personnel.”
“Our next regularly scheduled meeting will be on Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. in the Al Merritt Center, at which time we will share next steps for the committee,” Hayman wrote. “If we know more prior to that meeting, we will share with the public. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us with any questions or concerns.”