At Thursday night’s School Committee meeting, Marblehead Superintendent John Robidoux became emotional as he offered condolences to the family of Savanah Gatchell, the eighth-grade student who perished in an early morning crash two days earlier.
“I want to reiterate our sincere condolences to Savanah’s family at this very difficult time,” said a choked-up Robidoux. “Our newly developed district motto is ‘Moving Forward Together.’ This sad situation makes the motto even more pertinent and reminds us that we need to be there for one another and support each other in all aspects of our lives.”
Robidoux said he planned to visit Savanah’s family in person on Friday morning to lend further support.
Members of the community, including Board of Health Member Tom McMahon, implored the School Committee to organize a collective town board or committee to address concerns around underage drinking and driving.
“It’s not just a school issue… but it’s a Marblehead culture issue, and it’s one that we always brush under the rug,” McMahon said.
School Committee member Jenn Schaeffner expressed her concerns about the crash and said that she had already spoken to a member of the Select Board about forming a group of school leaders, Rec & Parks staff, police, possibly clergy and others to begin a discussion on how to mitigate the chances of such tragedies recurring.
Schaeffner said she would contact officials and members of the community to begin a discussion and report back to the committee at its next meeting on Sept. 4.
Former HR director sues to keep kids at MHS
The Marblehead School Committee adjourned Thursday night’s meeting to enter into executive session to discuss a lawsuit filed by the school department’s former human resource director.
Kelley Ferretti, who was fired in January, is seeking to have her two sons re-enrolled in Marblehead Public Schools and to be compensated for lost wages, alleging breach of contract and wrongful termination, according to the lawsuit filed on Aug. 20 in Essex County Superior Court.
Ferretti and her family reside in Beverly. During the hiring process, former Superintendent John Buckey agreed to enroll Ferretti’s children in Marblehead Public Schools as a “superintendent’s prerogative,” according to Ferretti’s complaint.
Marblehead Public Schools terminated Buckey before the agreement could be memorialized to grant enrollment through high school graduation for Ferretti’s sons, regardless of her employment status with the school district, the lawsuit alleges.
Attorney Justin Murphy of Boston is representing Ferretti and declined to comment on Friday, as did Robidoux.
A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 27 in Lawrence Superior Court on Ferretti’s request for a preliminary injunction, which would allow her sons to return to MHS for their junior and sophomore years of high school, respectively.
Vote on roof subcommittee postponed
The School Committee tabled a vote on appointing new members to the High School Roof Project Subcommittee after member Schaeffner expressed concern that the slots were not more widely advertised.
School Committee Member Henry Gwazda, who will chair the Roof Subcommittee, was prepared to recommend two residents who had expressed interest for a position on the panel but agreed to go back and more widely advertise the openings in the hopes of garnering more interest.
Gwazda said that the project would continue to be handled by the Building Subcommittee until a fully formed Roof Committee could be established.
Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Mike Pfifferling said that prequalification responses to the request for proposals are due at noon Thursday, Aug. 28, starting a process that would establish which interested contractors are qualified to bid on the project. Robidoux was confident that the $14 million project was on track with work to begin in the summer of 2026.
Anti-discrimination group discussed
There was continued discussion on how an anti-discrimination/antisemitism group would function in the district.
Robidoux, who noted that the formation of such a group is part of his formal evaluation goals, provided an update on steps he had already taken in meeting with parents, administrators, teachers and students to discuss their experiences and concerns.
The School Committee seemed to agree that the group would best operate in private, rather than in a public forum, under Robidoux’s leadership, since participants would be more comfortable and forthcoming.
School Committee member Kate Schmeckpeper suggested that Robidoux report back to the board at the beginning of the new school year with a plan for the year, and to then provide quarterly updates.
Chair Al Williams said that the School Committee might still oversee the committee, and that discussion will continue.
Schaeffner asked members to review the recently adopted Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education K-12 recommendations addressing antisemitism and consider adopting them in the district. Schaeffner will facilitate discussion at the next meeting.
