Medford Students Walk Out, Mayor Promises Change After Stabbing

MEDFORD, MA — Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said change is coming for the Medford Public Schools on Wednesday two days after a stabbing at Medford High School and hours after a student walkout related to the incident.

“Beginning now,” Lungo-Koehn said, “the district will operate differently.”

WBZ Reporter Anna Meiler was among those sharing videos of the Medford High School student walkout around 10 a.m. Wednesday. Students, Meiler reported, said they were protesting about safety concerns at their school.

Lungo-Koehn issued a statement around 3 p.m. after the walkout.

“Hearing directly from the students today about their daily experiences at the High School was eye-opening and will lead to immediate changes,” Lungo-Koehn said.

Lungo-Koehn said students described a “deteriorating” climate and culture at Medford High School.

Lungo-Koehn continued, saying she spoke with students who “do not feel like they are recognized, heard, or supported.”

Lungo-Koehn said she heard stories about incidents of racism in a classroom.

“It’s gut wrenching to hear these lived experiences from students," Lungo-Koehan said. “This is a school community that does not feel like they are being effectively listened to by the school administration and it is damaging the connection between leadership and students.”

“These students felt that they had no other choice but to bring these concerns and questions directly to me and I will do all I can to not let them down,” she continued. “We need significant, clear and effective policy and operational changes in order to rebuild trust with our students, faculty and families.”

Medford High School spent roughly three hours in a lockdown Monday, according to police, after a student was stabbed during a fight in a bathroom.

Another student was arrested in connection with the incident, police said.

READ: Medford Police Promise Visible Presence At High School After Stabbing

Frustration followed the incident through the day on Monday and into the evening Monday night as community members packed a meeting of the Medford School Committee to voice their concerns about larger safety issues in the Medford Public Schools.

Throughout a public comment period, several people said district leadership to date has been ineffective in addressing problems that have manifested as fights, bullying and, this week, a stabbing.

“We have a lot of work to do and we’re committed to doing it,” Lungo-Koehn said after public comments at Monday’s School Committee meeting.

The Medford Police Department has promised an increased visible presence at Medford High School through the rest of this week.

Lingo-Koehn didn’t detail specific upcoming safety changes in her statement on Wednesday. The School Committee is scheduled to meet before the end of the upcoming holiday break, though, to discuss safety concerns and communicate next steps to the school community.