The principal of a Lynnfield, Massachusetts, elementary school has resigned following an incident on a school bus involving two young children.
Parents are confused and concerned as the Lynnfield School District deals with a sensitive police investigation.
"If my kids are here, I'd like to be in the loop," said parent Mike Deraps.
"Of course it is shocking, in any community," parent Cynthia Fallon added.
The district's superintendent says the resignation of Summer Street Elementary School Principal Jen DiBiase is effective Friday. Parents, though, say they haven't seen her since Thanksgiving.
According to police, the students were involved in some sort of incident on that METCO bus last month. Those same investigators say had the students been older, possible crimes that could be investigated would include indecent assault and battery.
"There's something definitely not right about the way it was handled," said former METCO coordinator Lelo Masamba.
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Masamba worked 16 years as a coordinator for the METCO buses. METCO is a state-funded program that promotes voluntary school de-segregation. She was fired, along with bus monitor Wanda Hill.
"I love our kids," Masamba said. "The parents have been very supportive. They're very confused as well.
"I'm not trying to be on the news about something that I don't feel like was handled right," Hill said.
The district didn't indicate why the workers were terminated.
"There was an assistant principal involved in the investigation," Masamba said. "There were many of us involved, so why did they only single both of us out?"
Investigators say because of the students' ages, proving criminal intent can be a challenge. Police say no adults are the subject of any criminal investigation.
The superintendent of schools would not give further details on the case because it involves confidential student and personnel issues.
Despite the resignation, DiBiase still has fans in town.
"She was a lovely person," Fallon said. "I think the world of her. I don't know anything about the facts."
Parents say they were never notified of the incident, despite swirling rumors about what happened. The head of the district's school committee said a note was sent home to parents Friday afternoon.
About 45 minutes after necn stopped by the Superintendent's office to ask what took so long to notify parents, two Lynnfield Police officers showed up and instructed our crew they had to leave.
We reached out to the superintendent again Friday to get an answer on whether or not other staffers might face disciplinary action for whatever took place. We were not able to make contact with her.
