The co-presidents of the Marblehead teachers union sharply criticized the School Committee Thursday evening for debating a proclamation (that it later approved 3-2) to “strongly caution” against using educational resources related to Gaza and antisemitism from the Massachusetts Teachers Union. The local union leaders accused the School Committee of playing politics just weeks before the town’s election on June 10, when two committee seats will be up for grabs.
“Let me be clear, the Marblehead Education Association has already publicly stated its disagreement with the MTA’s position on Gaza. That statement was deliberate, thoughtful and reflective of the values of our educators, staff and students,” said Marblehead Education Association Co-President Sally Shevory.
“More importantly — and let me emphasize this — Marblehead never even considered adopting this curriculum. Nor would we,” Shevory added. “Curriculum decisions in our district are made carefully, collaboratively and always with the best interests of our students in mind. They involve input from administration, from teachers, and ultimately require approval by this very School Committee. To imply otherwise is to mislead the public and undermine the professionalism of our educators.”
Co-president Jonathan Heller laid out the timeline of the MTA controversy, suggesting that the School Committee is speaking out now, for political reasons.
“Once again, we see an attempt to drive a wedge between teachers and the community using a false narrative. I urge this committee to stop using educators as political pawns and to start engaging with us — as partners dedicated to the success of every child in Marblehead,” Heller said.
“On December 9, 2023, the MTA Board approved the development of resources related to the history and current events in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The School Committee made no proclamation at that time. On February 10, 2025, MTA President Max Page testified before the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism, where those resources were criticized. Still, no proclamation by the School Committee. By mid-March, those resources deemed antisemitic were removed from the MTA’s website. Again, there was no action from the School Committee.
“So, why now? Why mid-May?” Heller continued. “It is difficult not to see this as politically motivated, especially with two School Committee seats up for election. This feels less about students and education and more about optics and distraction.”
MTA controversy
Responding to concerns from some Jewish leaders and the state’s Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism, the MTA removed several images and links that some found to be antisemitic or anti-Israel. Two of those images: dollar bills folded in the shape of a Jewish star and a hand grabbing the tongue of a snake with the words, “United in Confronting Zionism.”
In a presentation to the School Committee, Schaeffner shared MTA links to more mainstream learning sites, including the Zinn Education Project based on the teaching of a former Boston University history professor.
“Claims that the MTA is an antisemitic organization are patently false and are wittingly or unwittingly aiding and abetting a broader right-wing attack on labor unions, workers’ rights and free speech,” MTA President Max Page said in March.
During the School Committee meeting resident Karen Tal-Makhluf praised members Sarah Fox and Jenn Schaeffner for taking concerns about antisemitism seriously, including accepting a recent invitation to attend a film about the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel.
Later in the meeting, Schaeffner explained that she was bringing the proclamation cautioning against MTA resources to the School Committee after Brookline passed it on May 1.
Schaeffner acknowledged that she did not have access to the MTA resources and had not seen it first hand, and was relying on information sent to her.
Member Al Williams, who voted against the proclamation along with Brian Ota, thought it wasn’t necessary.
“The concerns around inappropriate curriculum are already addressed in our own policies and federal law,” Williams said. “I trust our Marblehead teachers that they know their students and our policies and have the wherewithal to know what’s inappropriate.”
Ota said he would not sign the proclamation.
Member Alison Taylor said she didn’t understand why the MEA was upset, since the proclamation affirmed what the district is already doing. She and member Sarah Fox characterized the proclamation as complementary to the MEA’s previous statements.
The School Committee will now send the proclamation to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees in case other districts want to follow suit.
Robidoux closer to being permanent super
In other business, the School Committee signed off on its mid-cycle review of Robidoux and voted to enter contract negotiations with Robidoux to change his position from interim to permanent. The committee applauded that announcement.
**This story was updated May 19 to reflect that the MTA offered educational resources, not curriciulum.
