LAKEVILLE — The Freetown-Lakeville School Committee will address “serious allegations” brought against four committee members by way of an Open Meeting Law Violation at the committee’s next meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 4, said School Committee Chair John Burke. 

This statement comes after School Committee Member Crystal Ng filed an Open Meeting Law Violation against the Committee on Aug. 20, in which she accused members Will Sienkewicz, Jennifer Blum, Stephen Sylvia and Robert Clark of making “sexist” comments with “underlying tones of racism.” In the violation, Ng called for the resignation of the four School Committee members. 

“Until the School Committee has an opportunity to discuss the Open Meeting Law Complaint, I am not in a position to provide a substantive response on behalf of the School Committee,” said Burke. 

Burke noted however that “as an individual, I have not witnessed ‘racist,’ or ‘sexist,’ behavior, including the behavior Ms. Ng alleges from any committee member, past or present.” 

He added that “the towns vote these committee members to represent the school district, advocate for the students, families, tax payers and staff.”

In doing so, members of the committee are tasked with having “difficult conversations, dealing with adversity, relying on our individual learned experiences and being able to work within a larger group to promote progress for the district,” Burke noted. 

“We take such allegations seriously and, if found to be true, will promptly address them,” he stated. 

The Open Meeting Law Violation also alleges that the School Committee met in executive session during its July 31 meeting under false pretenses. 

While the reason cited for the executive session was to discuss “negotiation strategies for non-union personnel”, the discussion actually “revolved around the superintendent’s public survey results,” Ng said in her complaint. 

Stephen Sylvia, one of the members who was asked to resign, was not physically present for the meeting on July 31, Burke said. 

Sylvia participated remotely for part of the executive session portion of the July 31 meeting. The committee decided to not allow his participation in the open session part of the meeting as remote participation had not been indicated on the agenda, Burke said. 

Footage of the meeting confirms that Sylvia was not present, physically or remotely, during the committee’s open session meeting on July 31.