The public will get two opportunities to offer input to the School Committee this week — on flags and next year’s budget.
First, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m., the School Committee will host a community forum at the high school library on a possible flag policy. Committee members Jenn Schaeffner and Alison Taylor have proposed allowing only U.S., Marblehead, Massachusetts and POW/MIA flags on school property. This would lead to the removal of Black Lives Matter, Juneteenth and Pride flags in schools.
On Feb. 13, about 20 students sat down with Schaeffner and Taylor, telling them that removing flags would alienate many students and make them feel less welcome. The students offered a counterproposal that would give them a voice in the process. The students’ plan would permit only U.S., state, town and POW/MIA flags on school flagpoles, but would allow a joint committee of students and administrators to consider other flags and banners inside schools.
The community flag forum will also be available virtually at https://loom.ly/e11BtKs.
Money talk
Next, on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. the School Committee will lead a public hearing on its proposed $49.1 million, level-services budget for next fiscal year. The proposed budget is 5% higher than this year’s. The hearing will also be held at the Marblehead High School library and online.
Robidoux presented the budget earlier this month, announcing that the district will not need a general override to cover salaries and programming. The budget documents are available at marbleheadschools.org.
Robidoux emphasized that the level-services plan includes all the services, staffing and supplies from the current year, as well as contractual salary increases.
“We are confident that the level-services budget will allow us to move forward with this budget and provide all the services necessary to educate our students and make sure our students and staff have all the resources they need,” he said.
An override or layoffs may be necessary in upcoming years to fund new four-year teacher contracts approved in November. The largest wage increases happen in the later years of the agreement.
Tax hike ask for new MHS roof
Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Mike Pfifferling announced that the schools would ask for a $8.6 million debt exclusion override that would raise taxes for 15 years. If passed at Town Meeting and the June election, the roof override would add $86 to the tax bill of the median-priced home the first year.
Pfifferling said the project is on hold, awaiting Town Meeting approval.
“We will likely have some additional discussions and communication to the community around the proposal between now and Town Meeting,” he wrote in an email to the Current. “However, based on the current plans presented, no project actions will continue until after the Town Meeting decision — this means the project manager firm and schematic design firm are waiting for direction based on the outcome of Town Meeting.”
If passed, the roof replacement would happen in the summer of 2026.
Budget breakdown
According to Pfifferling, the largest piece of the budget (82%) covers salaries at $39,083,209. The next largest portions of the budget include:
- Out-of-district tuitions: $3,562,163
- Contracted services: $2,579,043
- Utilities $1,922,408
- Supplies: $1,675,794
- Other expenses: $179,461
Out-of-district tuition and transportation costs (for students whose academic needs cannot be met in Marblehead schools) are a large part of the budget. Assistant Superintendent for Student Services LisaMarie Ippolito said she expects 47 out-of-district students next school year, compared to 50 this year.
Capital requests
In addition to the roof debt exclusion override request, the district is also asking for funding for several other capital improvement projects, totaling $607,548. The requests, which would not require an override, include:
- Glover School HVAC in the cafeteria: $70,000
- Glover playground: $120,000
- Reupholster seating in the Veterans School Performing Arts Center: $140,000
- Paint the PAC: $200,000
- Special education van: $77,458
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.
