It is a busy week for the School Committee, with several meetings discussing spending, the former Coffin School and capital expenses.
On Monday, the committee met in executive (private) session to discuss a grievance filed by the Marblehead Education Association. The Current asked the MEA about the filing, but the union declined to provide details.
Then on Tuesday, the School Committee’s budget group (Sarah Fox and Alison Taylor) met with Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations Mike Pfifferling for an update on the fiscal year 2026 budget timeline. (See below.)
Fox said Tuesday that it is too early to determine whether the committee will ask for an override.
During teacher contract talks in November, the School Committee said the pay increases agreed upon would add more than $3 million to school budgets over the next four years, requiring layoffs if an override is not passed.
Meanwhile, a new estimate to replace the high school roof (a project that now includes additional HVAC units) jumped from the $5.3 million approved at 2023 Town Meeting to nearly $14 million.
Pfifferling and interim Superintendent John Robidoux said they will meet with building principals and program directors to get their input on next year’s budgeting priorities. Pfifferling has already created a draft, level-funded spending plan.
The district will learn at the State of the Town address in late January or early February what its budget allocation will be for FY 2026. (The FY 2025 budget was $46,759,111.)
The following is a preliminary timeline from there.
- Feb. 3: Pfifferling presents draft budget to School Committee at a public workshop
- March 6: Public School Committee budget hearing
- March 20: School Committee votes on a budget
- April 7: Finance Committee holds its warrant hearing reviewing articles (including possible overrides)
- May 5: Town Meeting
Staffing audit
Pfifferling also spoke about an ongoing staffing audit, which was requested by the School Committee.
“It was shouted loud and clear throughout our town the last several months by our staff that we’re not safely staffed,” Fox said. “We’re hearing differently from our administrators. We can’t ignore the narrative, It’s too loud.”
Robidoux said, “In certain pockets, there is probably some understaffing, in other pockets there might be overstaffing.”
What’s next
The School Committee meets again Thursday at 6 p.m. Agenda items include:
- Capital outlay request to replace the high school’s leaky roof
- Proposal for competency determination for graduating seniors (now that MCAS is no longer a graduation requirement).
- Coffin School surplus property vote.
- Superintendent status preliminary discussion.
Thursday’s public meeting will be held at the Marblehead High library and online at marblehead.org/school-committee/events/142941.
