Families Want Answers on Fired Boston High School Administrator

Community members say they are angry. Boston Public School officials did not tell parents and students any further about the actions of a Madison Park high school administrator who was fired for allegedly having unauthorized sexual content on his work laptop.

The administrator, who GBH News learned was Matthew Dugan, allegedly uploaded images from students’ social media accounts before being suspended more than three weeks ago.

Friends of Madison Park member Louis Elisa said families had received few details about the dismissal of an unidentified staff member, and even that notice took weeks to arrive.

“Why weren’t the community, black parents and Latino parents made aware of the situation, whether their children were in danger or not, (or) something in their personal lives was exposed?” He asked.

Elisa said Dugan was confronted with district officials in his office earlier this month after just three weeks working as deputy principal at Madison Park school.

He said that’s when Dugan threw his laptop to the ground and stomped on it in an attempt to destroy it. Elisa said that Mark Racine, the district information director, was one of the officials who then escorted Dugan out of the building in front of the students and staff.

When asked about the parents’ response and Dugan’s firing, a Boston Public Schools spokesperson said he could not comment as the matter was under police investigation.

GBH News learned that when IT staff examined the contents of the laptop, which Dugan failed to destroy, they found material which prompted them to immediately turn it over to the police.

No arrests have been made, according to Boston police, who declined to say whether the case was under investigation.

Boston Public School officials sent a letter to families in Madison Park the day before Thanksgiving informing them that an unidentified staff member had been fired. He said they could not release more details due to a criminal investigation.

Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia said she also answered calls and questions from parents in Madison Park whom she described as desperate for more information.

“We should always have accurate and full disclosure of things going on in our schools – and being in the dark is a concern for me,” she said. “I think the district really needs to think about their communications strategy and how they educate not only families but also care and concern for those who are worried about what might have happened to their child. “