Justice Dept. cracks down on harassment of school officials
Attorney General Merrick Garland is cracking down on a “disturbing” spike in harassment and threats of violence against school officials, which is taking place nationwide — including in Massachusetts.
“There’s been a significant amount of it, including more people being accosted on their way out the door, people being followed out to their cars, people being bullied, people being spat upon,” said Glenn Koocher, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.
Koocher said the incidents are fueled by hot-button topics such as mask mandates in schools, and the announcement from the Department of Justice to address the worrisome trend is a welcome one.
“What’s happening in Massachusetts is not unique to Massachusetts,” Koocher told the Herald, adding that more topics such as vaccination and critical race theory could stand to add onto the existing issues.
Garland directed the FBI and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to meet in the next 30 days with federal, state, tribal, territorial and local law enforcement leaders to discuss strategies to keep school officials and students safe.
The meetings will include open lines of communication for threat reporting, assessment and response by law enforcement.
In a memo, Garland wrote, “There has been a disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff who participate in the vital work of running our nation’s public schools.”
Part of his action will also include specialized training and guidance for local school boards on how to identify and report threats, capture evidence and aid in investigations.
“Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to our nation’s core values,” Garland wrote. “Those who dedicate their time and energy to ensuring that our children receive a proper education in a safe environment deserve to be able to do their work without fear for their safety.”
Thomas Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Superintendents, said “numerous” school districts have been subjected to “incivility among a small but vocal and inappropriate audience.”
He said some of the events were threatening to school committee members and superintendents.
Garland’s action follows a letter from the National School Boards Association, which asked President Joe Biden for federal assistance to stop threats and acts of violence against students, public school board members and other public school district officials and educators.
The letter documented more than 20 instances of threats, harassment, disruption and acts of intimidation across the country. It did not mention any incidents in Massachusetts.