Parents press Dorchester 02 board over student safety and discipline; trustee panel upholds discipline decision after executive session
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Summary
Two public commenters urged trustees to act on student-safety concerns: one parent requested an emergency transfer after an employee allegedly used physical force and another speaker accused the district of prolonged negligence. The board later convened in executive session on discipline and upheld a prior discipline decision 6-1 with one abstention.
Two emotional public comments during the Dec. 8 Dorchester 02 board meeting put student safety and accountability at the center of the evening.
Keturah Kimmerlin told trustees her daughter suffered visible injury and ongoing trauma after an adult district employee used physical force on school grounds. "We cannot and should not allow ... a child who has been physically harmed by a staff member to return to their environment," Kimmerlin said, and asked trustees to "vote yes to approve this emergency transfer for both my kids." She said she had followed district processes, provided requested documentation, and that her children had not attended school for two weeks as a result of the incident.
Later in public comment, Jason Brockert delivered a lengthy, recurring critique of district handling of bullying and mental-health matters, recounting appearances at board meetings back to 2020 and saying the board’s "silence is fatal." Brockert urged voluntary resignations and said he would publicize perceived failures if leaders did not act.
Following public comment, the board moved into executive session for a student-discipline appeal, legal advice on pending litigation and personnel matters. After returning to open session, trustees voted on a motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Miss King, to uphold the decision regarding two students; the motion carried 6 in favor with 1 abstention (Miss Bates did not participate in that hearing). The board did not publicly tie the executive-session item to a named public commenter during open session.
Board members acknowledged the seriousness of concerns raised during public comment and reiterated that staff had investigated at least one of the cases mentioned; they emphasized following agreed processes. The meeting record shows trustees moved forward with the existing disciplinary determination rather than reversing it at that session.
No additional personnel actions or emergency transfers were recorded in the open-session votes at the meeting.