LYNNFIELD — The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has ruled that Lynnfield Public Schools was in compliance with both state and federal laws and regulations in its response to complaints of racial harassment.

“The incidents that gave rise to this complaint were completely unacceptable and there is still work to be done to ensure that our schools continuously foster a culture of inclusion and acceptance,” wrote Superintendent Tom Geary in an official statement, adding: “With DESE’s process complete, this is an appropriate opportunity to provide the community with a factual summary of the ruling and the actions Lynnfield Public Schools has taken in response.”

According to DESE, a Lynnfield resident submitted a complaint with its Problem Resolution System Office in March after reporting to the school district “three incidents in which students at Lynnfield Middle School directed racist comments and/or racially threatening gestures at the Student during the 2025-2026 school year.” In terms of timeline, DESE noted that the school received notice of those reports during the period of investigation on March 19, March 23, and March 25.

The complaint itself was then filed on March 30. While another report has also been made of “two additional incidents of alleged racial harassment” DESE noted that those incidents “fall outside of the Department’s period of investigation.”

After receiving the three reports, DETE noted that LPS “took immediate steps to address the alleged harassment,” and that within days of each incident, school administrators investigated and took “disciplinary action for the aggressors.” They also communicated with both the school community and affected families about the incidents and their consequences, as well as the “seriousness of the behavior and to report any such conduct.”

As for the student, DESE stated that the school also made efforts to address the student’s safety and offered him individual support, including an initial safety plan that entailed “staff monitoring, check-ins with trusted adults, access to counseling staff and the school psychologist, and review of lunch/classroom seating and assignments.”

Ultimately, DESE has concluded that the Lynnfield Public School district met its legal obligations in its response to the racial harassment complaints. DESE also noted that the district has taken steps to prevent a “hostile environment based on race and its effects” by implementing antidiscrimination and bias prevention programming for the aggressors, as well as classroom discussions, grade-level assemblies facilitated by staff members, community meetings, listening sessions with district administration, and also a district-wide policy review.

However, DESE did find that the district’s policies, specifically, do not meet a state regulatory requirement as it does not “contain a nondiscrimination policy or grievance procedures for complaints of discrimination or harassment,” citing:

“For example, the District’s policies do not explain how students and staff can report discrimination or harassment. The District’s policies do not include any procedures or protocols for responding to and/or investigating such complaints. Moreover, the District’s harassment policy…defines “student-to-student harassment” too narrowly and in a manner that is inconsistent with state and federal law.”

As a result, DESE has now ordered that the district take “corrective action” in reviewing and updating the school handbooks and codes of conduct to comply with these requirements.

The district now has until October 1 to provide DESE with copies of the revised handbook, code of conduct, and nondiscrimination and harassment policies and procedures, which must also be posted to the school district’s website. DESE is also requiring the district to implement training for all administrators, educators, teachers, service providers, and paraprofessionals on the district’s “obligation to respond to allegations of discrimination or harassment based on race in a manner consistent with its own policies and procedures.”

According to Geary, LPS has already started the process of implementing these updates ahead of the October deadline. That includes adopting a Civil Rights Grievance Procedure and approving additional policy and handbook revisions, which were implemented back in May. Geary also said that other revisions will be presented to the School Committee in August prior to the start of the school year.

The staff training session will take place in September.

“As we prepare for a new school year, my focus is on our students, our staff, and the collaborative work ahead,” Geary said. “Lynnfield Public Schools will continue implementing required updates, strengthening our policies and procedures, and dedicating ourselves to a respectful school environment where every student is welcomed, supported, and safe.”