Woman Arrested At State Education Board Meeting In Malden

MALDEN, MA - A woman was arrested in Malden on Monday following an incident at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education headquarters during a meeting of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

This came as the board green-lit a controversial move to raise minimum scores on state MCAS exams required to graduate high school. It is unclear, however, if the arrest was related to the topic of MCAS scores.

WCVB reporter David Bienick initially shared a video on Twitter around 12 p.m. that he said showed a woman being led out of the education building in handcuffs.

Bienick later added that another woman had been removed. The second woman had shouted anti-vaccine comments at the board, according to Bienick.

Malden Police Chief Glenn Cronin confirmed the arrest to Patch on Monday afternoon, saying the woman had been arrested for malicious destruction of property and trespassing.

Cronin said it was “still early in the investigation for specifics.”

Monday’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting did not have items related to COVID-19 or vaccination on its agenda.

The state separately released a memo on Monday, though, confirming that it is not recommending universal mask mandates, surveillance COVID-19 testing of asymptomatic individuals, contact tracing or test-and-stay programs in schools. There is no testing requirement for schools, the state said on Monday.

“This upcoming school year, districts and schools should focus their COVID mitigation strategies towards vulnerable and symptomatic individuals,” the state said in its memo.

While not focused on COVID-19, Monday’s board meeting had already drawn attention for its MCAS agenda item.

Among other attendees, the Massachusetts Teachers Association had members and union leaders in person in Malden on Monday speaking against the proposal.

Others previously weighed in through a public comment period, with many advocating against the proposal.

Opponents of the plan cited stress for students and concerns about an increased focus on test prep, among other concerns.

In recommending the change, state Education Commissioner Jeff Riley said in filings to the board that research had shown that students who score at or near the current passing threshold “are not well prepared for postsecondary success.”

The board ultimately opted to raise MCAS requirements on Monday.

Approved this week, these changes will take effect for the high school class of 2026.

Related:

State Board Increases MCAS High School Graduation Scores