BOSTON (WHDH) - A Boston Public Schools principal was hospitalized Wednesday after a student allegedly became violent during afternoon dismissal, school officials said.
In a message to the Dr. William W. Henderson Inclusion School community, Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said Principal Patricia Lampron and another staffer, who was not named, were assaulted by a student.
Lampron was left unconscious for four minutes from the alleged attack, according to Boston police. She was taken to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
“This incident is disturbing and completely unacceptable,” Cassellius said. “We want to be clear: Violence of any kind is not tolerated and will not be tolerated in the Boston Public Schools.”
Acting Mayor Kim Janey on Thursday called the incident “really concerning” and said that violence will not be tolerated in city schools.
Lampron’s daughter, MaryKate, released a statement about her mother that read in part, “Anyone who knows her knows how passionate she is about this school, its students and the Henderson School community. Our primary concern is her health and safety. She will need time and support to recover from her injuries.”
The School Safety Services Department and the Boston Police Department both responded to reports of the incident around 2:30 p.m. and Cassellius said they are taking steps to investigate the alleged altercation.
That 16-year-old student was arrested at the scene and is due to appear in Dorchester Juvenile Court on charges of assault and battery on a person over 60, assault and battery causing serious injury, and two counts of assault and battery on a public employee.
Classes have been canceled for students attending the Upper Campus on Thursday and Friday out of the “utmost caution and to allow for time to further plan with the staff,” Cassellius said.
The Lower campus will remain open for school.
“Nobody notified us,” Michael McCusker said. “Zero notification. Zero. I am here to drop my son off. We didn’t even know there was no school today.”
When students return to campus, members of the Safety Team, the BPS Crisis Team, and other support personnel will be made available to support students and staff.
“We do not take this decision lightly and we know this will be a challenge for some of our students and families and we thank you in advance for your grace, cooperation and patience as we plan for a safe return to school,” Cassellius said.
A Zoom meeting will be held with parents at 6 p.m.
MaryKate Lampron says that her family “expects a full investigation into the circumstances of the assault to assure the safety of all the students, staff and teachers in the Henderson School Community.”
She added that her mother “wants everyone to know that there is NO place for violence in our schools.”
Lampron was treated and released from the hospital and is now recovering at home.
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