Home Nonprofit & Education Education Smithfield school superintendent placed on leave as hazing incident investigated

Smithfield school superintendent placed on leave as hazing incident investigated

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PBN Staff

-

11/06/2025

Smithfield High School — SMITHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS Superintendent Dawn Bartz has been placed on administrative leave amid a legal investigation of an alleged hazing incident involving the high school football team.

SMITHFIELD – The town’s school superintendent has been placed on administrative leave amid a legal investigation of an alleged hazing incident involving the high school football team, WPRI-TV CBS 12 reported. Sean Clough, the lawyer representing the school district, said in a statement Wednesday that Smithfield Superintendent Dawn Bartz has been placed on leave pending

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SMITHFIELD – The town’s school superintendent has been placed on administrative leave amid a legal investigation of an alleged hazing incident involving the high school football team, WPRI-TV CBS 12 reported. Sean Clough, the lawyer representing the school district, said in a statement Wednesday that Smithfield Superintendent Dawn Bartz has been placed on leave pending the outcome of a legal review, which involves the administration’s handling of the situation. Assistant Superintendent Lisa Odom‑Villella will serve as acting superintendent while Bartz is on leave, Clough told WPRI-TV. The school district launched a legal investigation on Nov. 3 after a report of “hazing and antisemitic remarks” involving the high school football team that allegedly occurred last month. In a letter obtained by WPRI-TV last month, Bartz said the matter was being taken “very seriously” and the district was working with the high school’s principal, athletic director and the team’s head coach to address the reported incident appropriately. “Smithfield Public Schools maintains a zero-tolerance policy for hazing, bullying and harassment in any form,” Bartz wrote, WPRI-TV reported. “These actions stand in direct opposition to our district’s values and to the culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion we expect from every student and program. Our football team is no exception.” Bartz later said that the district’s investigation found “inappropriate conduct among a small number of students” and “disciplinary action has been taken in accordance with district policy, and several student-athletes will not participate for the remainder of the season.” However, Smithfield School Committee Chairman Richard Iannitelli confirmed that five players were allowed to return to the team after appealing to Bartz. Last week, the R.I. Office of the Attorney General launched a civil investigation into the matter. Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island CEO Adam Greenman said his organization was told that several football players barricaded a freshman student in a bathroom stall, doused him with a spray bottle and shouted antisemitic slurs at him, according to the WPRI-TV report.