SCHOOL COMMITTEE: December community update

Submitted By Melissa Clucas & Henry Gwazda, School Committee Communications Subcommittee

MHS roof bid approved
Following a competitive bidding process, the School Committee unanimously approvedawarding the Marblehead High School roof and HVAC replacement contract to Homer Contracting Inc. for $8.97 million, about $2.1 million under budget. The bid includes fixed pricing for a full roof recovering along with HVAC, plumbing and electrical work. This marks a major step toward resolving longstanding building issues at MHS. Most construction is planned for the summer, with substantial completion targeted before October 2026.

FY27 budget roadmap
The path to an approved fiscal year 2027 budget has been defined. The administrative team has been working closely with the town finance director, and the School Committee’s Budget Subcommittee has been coordinating with FinCom to ensure alignment across groups. Preliminary capital requests have been submitted. The administration is conducting detailed reviews with principals and has analyzed staffing by role at each school to understand how positions relate to enrollment trends, class-by-class needs, and supports for curriculum and special education. These inputs will be consolidated into a draft FY27 budget proposal in the weeks ahead.

COURTESY GRAPHIC / MARBLEHEAD SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S COMMUNICATION SUBCOMMITTEE

School Committee goals for 2025–26
This year, the School Committee’s goals focus on strengthening how we plan for the future, how we listen to educators and families, how we explain the school budget and how we use data to guide decisions and share the story of our district’s progress. We’ll continue to keep the community updated as we move forward on each of these. At a high level, our goals include:

Strategic planning & high-level oversight
- Clarifying the “swim lanes” between the School Committee and the superintendent, and strengthening the district’s long-term planning practices and framework
Elevating educator voices & stakeholder representation
- Creating more opportunities for educators and other key stakeholders to share their perspectives and help shape district direction and practice.
Financial transparency & budget education
- Making the budget easier to understand through clearer materials and open, accessible conversations with the community.
Data-driven decision-making
- Using data more consistently in our decisions and communications so the community has a clearer picture of district progress.

Facilities Subcommittee
Members: Henry Gwazda (chair), Jennifer Schaeffner

The recently installed roof on the MVMS D-wing has significant issues, including blocked drainage that caused water damage inside the building. The district has not paid the contractor and is insisting on a full replacement, not a patch. The facilities team, with support from a community roofing expert, inspected the roof and will recommend next steps.

The subcommittee reviewed survey feedback from 75 families about the Eveleth School site. There’s interest in expanded early childhood programs, especially full-day preschool and toddler options, with affordability, experienced staff, and play-based learning as top priorities. Families noted cost, scheduling, and existing childcare as potential barriers. Further planning is needed. The district will research models, consult staff, and develop a detailed proposal before seeking more input or making recommendations on the site’s long-term use.

Budget Subcommittee
Members: Jennifer Schaeffner (chair), Melissa Clucas

FY27 budget planning is underway. The administration recently shared a reorganized staffing by-school spreadsheet, providing clearer visibility into where positions sit and how they connect to enrollment, special education needs and curriculum priorities. The administration is meeting with principals to shape the first draft of the FY27 budget, with continued discussion scheduled for Dec. 22.

Policy Subcommittee
Members: Kate Schmeckpeper (chair), Jennifer Schaeffner

The subcommittee reviewed a proposed competency determination policy, now required by DESE since MCAS is no longer a graduation requirement. It also reviewed the Support Services section of the policy manual, including safety, transportation and food services, discussing updates to nine policies and proposing five new ones.

Communications Subcommittee
Members: Henry Gwazda (chair), Melissa Clucas

The subcommittee finalized a process for community members to subscribe to School Committee updates and coordinated with local media to ensure these summaries are published consistently. It also released the budget roadmap to help visualize the FY27 planning process and is developing a progress tracker to show how the SC is advancing its 2025–26 goals.

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