1st Mass. school board meeting since bullying charges were filed turns heated

Mass. meeting in wake of bullying case gets heated

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. — A school committee meeting for a Massachusetts district embroiled in a bullying controversy turned heated.

Wednesday night’s meeting in South Hadley was the first since six high school students were charged with bullying a girl who eventually killed herself.

Police had to intervene several times and at least two speakers were escorted out.

Parent Luke Gelinas (guh-LEE’-nuss) was escorted out after calling for the ouster of several officials.

The school board chairman, Edward Boisselle (boy-ZELL’), also announced that he is relinquishing his leadership post just nine days after his re-election. Boisselle says it has nothing to do with the January suicide of high school freshman Phoebe Prince, but rather he thinks the chairmanship should be rotated among members.