Interim School Superintendent Theresa McGuinness has preliminarily outlined $2.3 million in cuts that would be needed to meet town budget guidelines for fiscal year 2025. McGuinness’ $45.6 million reduced-services budget proposal includes eliminating 36 staff positions, consolidating the district’s therapeutic programs at the Brown School, increasing fees for athletics and extracurricular activities, and cutting instructional supplies and professional development.
The reduced-services plan could be funded without asking the town’s taxpayers for more money with a Proposition 2 1/2 override this spring. To maintain the same level of services, an override would be needed.
“At this time in history, the taxpayers of Marblehead do not have an appetite for an override, having twice failed in as many years,” McGuinness said at a School Committee budget workshop on Feb. 28. “For this budget year FY 25, I respect what was asked of us and tonight present our preliminary budget reflecting significant cuts.”
Chair Sarah Fox emphasized that the School Committee has not yet debated the budget or decided whether to ask for an override.
Speaking about the budget process, McGuinness said, “I’m not going to say it wasn’t painful because it was, and it sort of still is.”
Even without adding staff or programs, rising expenses represent a $2.5 million or 5.77% increase in the school budget. The biggest budget drivers are staffing (with contract negotiations starting this month), out-of-district tuitions and transportation, and operations and maintenance.
Staff salaries are projected to increase $927,578, while out-of-district tuition and transportation are expected to jump more than $850,000.
The reductions McGuinness outlined include the following positions:
Four special education teachers
Student services assistant director
Three special education support staff (paraprofessionals/tutors)
Two adjustment counselors
One board-certified behavior analyst
Four classroom teachers
Veterans School assistant principal
Five general education support staff (paraprofessionals/tutors)
Two reading teachers
One English language teacher
Five clerical/administrative support positions
Two facilities staff
Four lunch supervisors (paraprofessionals)
One driver
Therapeutic programs consolidate
The proposed reduced-services budget also moves all therapeutic programs across the district to the Brown School.
The MPS website describes those programs as follows: “Students with emotional disabilities or other impairments that significantly impact their self-regulation skills receive a continuum of services and supports that include teaching emotional regulation strategies, social skills, and executive functioning skills. Therapeutic instructional practices are provided in small group settings, within general education classrooms, and/or embedded in core content instruction.”
Fees increase
Currently, fees for athletics and extracurriculars cover 50% of the stipends for coaches and staff. Under the reduced-services budget, fees would increase to cover 100% of those stipends. Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Michelle Cresta and Athletics Director Greg Ceglarski are analyzing fees in nearby districts to determine the best path forward.
This school year, 1,233 student athletes play on 64 teams in the district, with 90 paid coaches.
Capital improvement requests
McGuinness and Cresta identified four priorities on a long list of capital improvement requests that they hope the town will help fund. They are:
- $100,000 for a structural repair of the D wing at Veterans Middle School
- $218,000 to replace HVAC units at Glover School
- $30,000 to update the fire panel at Village
- $52,700 to replace the paging system at MHS. The system controls bells and clocks in the building.
Enrollment, performance
While data shows declining enrollment in Marblehead schools in recent years, the New England School Development Council is projecting a slow and steady increase moving forward, according to McGuinness. MPS enrollment is 2,617 this year.
At the workshop, principals from each school presented their enrollment figures, as well as MCAS data showing marked improvements across the district.
Next steps
McGuinness outlined the next steps in the budget process. In March, the School Committee will review a staffing accountability report based on enrollment, student need and IEPs (individualized education programs), and learn more about options for athletics fees.
On March 21, the School Committee has tentatively scheduled a budget hearing. Member Jenn Schaeffner wrote on Facebook that the hearing would be “an opportunity for the community to provide feedback on the proposed budget.”
The School Committee will vote on a budget in March and present it to the Finance Committee in April. Town Meeting will have final say on May 6.
To read McGuinness’ budget slideshow, visit https://loom.ly/bzVa8K4.
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.
