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Webster Elementary School staff, parents voice support for principal placed on leave

New Hampshire Union Leader - 9/28/2018

Sept. 27--Webster Elementary School staff, parents voice support for principal placed on leave

By PAUL FEELY

New Hampshire Union Leader

September 27. 2018 2:21PM

* Webster School principal on leave shows up at Manchester school board meeting to thank supporters

* Retired principal in charge at Manchester'sWebster Elementary; no word about Principal Sarah Lynch

SARAH LYNCH

-- School officials remain silent on what led to Webster Elementary School Principal Sarah Lynch being placed on administrative leave just before the start of school this month, prompting pleas by staff that she be reinstated -- with one claiming Lynch suffered a "neurological disorder" after an incident with a student.

Lynch, the principal at Webster the last two years, has been absent since school began Wednesday, Sept. 5. Many parents and staff said she was greeting parents and children the previous week at kindergarten orientation.

On Sept. 10, the district sent a letter home to parents from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bolgen Vargas saying Lynch is on a leave of absence. Former Beech Street School Principal Elinor Murphy is currently serving as substitute principal.

At Tuesday's Board of School Committee meeting, dozens of Webster staff members and parents were in attendance at City Hall wearing yellow in support of Lynch, their "ray of sunshine," according to school social worker Stacey Evans. Many addressed school board members during the public forum portion of the meeting, with Evans saying Lynch was assaulted by a student at the school.

"We have a marked increase in the amount of students with trauma," said Evans, who has worked as a social worker in the district the past 15 years. "Webster has grown to become a trauma-sensitive school under the leadership of Sarah Lynch. Last February, Ms. Lynch tried to de-escalate a situation in a room full of scared students. During this situation, Ms. Lynch received several blows to her head and suffered a concussion and eye injury."

Evans said despite the injuries, Lynch finished out the work day and missed only one day "due to doctor's orders."

"Never once did Ms. Lynch hold a grudge against the student that assaulted her, and she welcomed him back after suspension," said Evans. "Due to this assault, Ms. Lynch has been diagnosed with a neurological disorder."

Attempts to reach Evans for additional information regarding her comments were unsuccessful Wednesday. Dr. Vargas was in a meeting Wednesday afternoon and unable to respond to a Union Leader reporter's questions. Mayor Joyce Craig said she was unfamiliar with the incident Evans described.

Several school board members said they recalled hearing of an incident where Lynch suffered a concussion "from parents," but had not heard the term "neurological disorder" used to describe the incident before Tuesday night.

Sarah Lynch spoke briefly during the public forum, but did not address or dispute the claim. She did not respond to a request through social media for comment.

"I need you to know I am an extremely level-headed individual, who sits and reflects prior to making rash decisions," said Lynch Tuesday night during the public forum. "Even in this instance I know I am being true to who I am, but I can tell you it has been very difficult some mornings to get out of bed. What's impacted me greatly is that the staff, who I utterly adore and who has gotten me through the last few weeks, found out 10 minutes before school started on the first day of school that I would not be at the helm of their ship."

Neil Lynch, Sarah Lynch's father, said his daughter was given five minutes to "gather her belongings" after being told she was being placed on leave. According to Neil Lynch, the last communication his daughter had with school administrators -- before being told she was being placed on administrative leave earlier this month -- was in late June.

"Sarah had to obtain a one-day permission slip in order to vote in the Sept. 11 elections in her building or forfeit her constitutional right to do so," said Neil Lynch.

Voters in Ward 1, where Lynch lives, cast ballots in the Webster School auditorium.

"She treated every student with dignity and respect, no matter how challenging they were, or how tired she was," said Anite Kuniegel, a Webster teacher. "Every time she was called to deal with a tough situation, it was as if it were the first time. We hope that whatever it is that's causing this disruption to the positive administration in our school comes to a close sooner rather than later, so that we can advance our school with the person best qualified to do it -- Sarah Lynch."

"One of the most valuable attributes of a leader is that your staff has faith in your ability to act, respond and be present," said Evans. "I wish I had the courage to speak up earlier and advocate for our administrator. She is fearless, determined, and supportive of students and staff. She is never tired or too busy to respond.

"Although we the staff and public are not privileged to know the specifics of the current situation, I would ask the school board and school district if whatever this disagreement about is so egregious that she should not be afforded the common courtesy that we are used to in our jobs," said Evans. "To be supported, rather than targeted. Offered assistance and mentorship, rather than leave."

School board members did not address the comments, which is always the case with statements made during the public forum section of the meeting.

The 2018-19 school year marks Lynch's third year with the school district. She was an administrative mentor in the Lawrence, Mass., school system when she started at Webster Elementary School on July 1, 2016, hired after a community forum that featured two finalists.

Last year, Lynch launched a public campaign to raise $62,000 to renovate the school's library.

Located on outer Elm Street, Webster Elementary School serves much of the North End and is also a magnet school for elementary-age students who do not speak English as their first language.

General News Manchester

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