Thursday is a big day for the Marblehead School Committee. First, at 2:30 p.m., Chair Jenn Schaeffner and member Alison Taylor will host a forum at the high school to give students another chance to share their thoughts on their draft flag policy. The proposal would allow only U.S., Massachusetts, Marblehead and POW flags. It would lead to the removal of Black Lives Matter banners and Pride flags already at the high school.
MHS senior Maren Potter told the Current that students will present a counter-proposal.
“We remain even more committed to ensuring that every student in the district feels welcomed and supported,” Potter said. “Students are organizing to best have their voices heard… We believe this policy ensures a more inclusive atmosphere at the schools.”
While students meet in person at MHS, the community is welcome to tune into the forum virtually HERE.
Then at 5 p.m., the School Committee will hold its annual budget workshop. Interim Superintendent John Robidoux will present his preliminary budget and principals and department heads will each make a pitch for their spending request.
Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations Mike Pfiffering told the Current that the School Committee will not need to ask for an override to fund teacher contracts or operations in fiscal 2026.
That surprised many people in the community who remembered the School Committee warning about layoffs if an override did not pass to fund the agreed-upon wage increases.
Pfifferling explained that the biggest increases in the four-year contract come in later years.
At the State of the Town address last week, Pfifferling discussed the high school’s $14 million roof project. Town Meeting approved $5.3 million for the replacement in 2022, but it was never started. Now, HVAC units need to be replaced, bringing the total to $14 million.
According to Marblehead Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin, the School Committee is expected to ask at this May’s Town Meeting for an additional $8.6 million debt exclusion override that would raise taxes for 15 years.
The first year, the debt exclusion override would add about $86 to the tax bill for the median-priced home.
The School Committee budget workshop is held at the MHS library and is open to all. It is also available online HERE.
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.
