UPDATE: Aug. 3
On Sunday afternoon, Superintendent John Robidoux alerted the School Committee via email that Rep. Jenny Armini has assured him “that METCO funding is intact now and will be moving forward.”
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Superintendent John Robidoux announced at a School Committee meeting Thursday that he recently learned METCO funding is dependent on a community’s compliance with 3A, the state’s multifamily housing law. Marblehead voters rejected 3A in June.
Robidoux emphasized that METCO funding was secured for the upcoming school year. But it is at risk after that.
“So, I hope compliance is in the works,” he added.
Marblehead receives about $500,000 annually in state funding for METCO.
“Quite frankly, we could be in some significant trouble,” Robidoux added. “I had three nights of not sleeping and having some nauseous thoughts … I’m not being dramatic.”
Helaine Hazlett, co-chair of the Task Force Against Discrimination, had this reaction: “After the METCO program has been in Marblehead for over 50 years, I’m disappointed that the funding will be discontinued after this school year because of our community’s noncompliance.”
Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said he and Robidoux first learned about the 3A requirement for METCO last week.
“John and I had a discussion sometime last week that the METCO funding may be affected by the 3A compliance. John was going to do the research to confirm the impact of 3A on METCO, which he has since confirmed.”
Kezer added. “Concurrently, we are having conversations with several state agencies on the Town side to get determinations as to what programs will be affected and when. We are waiting on replies from the state.”
The superintendent said that several other state educational grants are at risk if Marblehead remains in noncompliance, including a $50,000 Pathways and Innovation grant.
In a bit of good news, Marblehead may be receiving about $70,000 in federal funding frozen by the Trump administration. A court has ruled that the money be sent to districts.
This is a developing story. Stay with the Current for new developments.
Ota steps away
In a summer surprise Thursday night, School Committee member Brian Ota announced that he is stepping away from the committee because he is moving out of town. He immediately left the meeting.
Ota, who served for years as the Glover School principal, was elected to the School Committee in 2023. Just about a month after the election, it became known that Ota had filed a state discrimination complaint against then superintendent John Buckey. Ota accused Buckey of not renewing his Glover contract because of his age (he was 71 years old), race/color (Asian) and national origin (Japanese American), according to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
The MCAD later dismissed the complaint and said its investigation revealed “insufficient evidence.”
Ota came under fire more recently, during the School Committee’s debate about flags on school property. Ota voted for the controversial policy after saying that Pride flags might be offensive to people who believe in “family values.”
Next steps
To fill Ota’s vacant seat, the School Committee and Select Board will interview applicants and appoint a temporary successor.
The School Committee has undergone significant change this summer. Members Sarah Fox and Alison Taylor were voted out in June, replaced by Kate Schmeckpeper and Henry Gwazda.
