June 9 override ballot: What you need to know
Marblehead voters will see three override questions on the June 9 ballot. Here is a brief recap of why the override was proposed and how the vote works.
Why the override is needed
The School Committee approved a $47.6 million FY27 budget that required eliminating 18.25 FTE positions. This is the first time in recent memory that the district’s total budget has been reduced in dollar terms. To close the $3.1 million gap, the district used a one-time financial maneuver it cannot repeat: prepaying $1.5 million in special education tuition from accumulated reserves. Those reserves are now gone. Fiscal year 2028 brings a larger structural gap, with special education tuition costs returning to the budget at full cost and contractual teacher salary increases taking effect.
Despite this pressure, the district continues to deliver strong outcomes: Marblehead students outperform the state MCAS average by 15 percentage points, MHS carries a 99% graduation rate, and the district spends below the state per-pupil average.
On May 21, the School Committee passed a proclamation officially supporting the adoption of Question 3 as the designated funding level to ensure the fiscal and operational stability of the school district through 2030.
The Select Board, School Committee and Finance Committee have all signed a memorandum of understanding pledging not to seek an additional override before FY2030 if the override passes at any tier.
The three questions — Schools’ share
Question 1 ($9M total | $6.2M to schools): Funds contractual salary increases, restores special education out-of-district tuition to the required level and moves revolving-funded positions into the General Fund.
Question 2 ($12M total | $7.2M to schools): Everything in Question 1, plus a technology lease for student devices and software ($150K/yr), and elimination of the full-day kindergarten fee (currently $671K/yr charged to families).
Question 3 ($15M total | $8.5M to schools): Everything in Questions 1 and 2, plus curriculum and professional development ($100K/yr), an in-district 18–22 special education program (FY29: $500K) and a school building capital fund (FY29: $500K).
How the override vote works
Questions 1, 2 and 3 are separate questions on the ballot. Each requires a majority (more than 50%) of votes cast on that question to pass. If more than one question passes, only the highest-passing tier takes effect — not a combination of all three.
Voting on each question
You may vote YES, NO or leave a question blank on each question independently. A YES vote supports that question passing. A NO vote opposes it. Leaving a question blank means your vote is not counted toward the majority threshold for that question, which can affect the outcome.
How the tiered structure works
The tiers are designed so that a YES on a lower tier also serves as a floor. If your preferred tier does not reach a majority, a lower tier you also voted YES on may still pass. Voting YES only on your preferred tier, and NO or blank on the others, means that if your preferred tier falls short, no override takes effect at all.
For example: a voter who prefers Question 2 but also wants insurance that some level of override will pass would vote YES on Questions 1 and 2, and NO on Question 3. A voter who opposes any override would vote NO on all three questions.
Question 4 is a separate, unrelated question about curbside trash and recycling services.
Election Day is Tuesday, June 9, and early voting takes place at the Town Clerk’s Office at Abbot Hall June 2, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., June 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and June 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
District improvement plan approved
At the May 21 School Committee meeting, the board approved the Marblehead Public Schools District Improvement Plan for 2026–2029. Required by DESE every three years, the DIP is our district’s strategic roadmap. It was developed collaboratively with input from staff, students, families and School Committee members.
The plan is organized around six goals:
● Curriculum, Instruction and Evaluation: Including integrating AI as a learning tool and
ensuring DESE-endorsed literacy programs are in place within our multi-tiered system of supports framework.
● Teacher Quality and Professional Development: Research-based, job-embedded PD
and a strong, two-year mentoring program for new hires.
● Human Resource Management: Attracting, retaining and celebrating qualified staff.
● Student Support Programs and Services: Restorative practices, social-emotional learning, improved transitions between schools and enhanced safety protocols.
● Leadership, Governance, and Communication: Transparent decision-making, community partnerships and technology infrastructure improvements.
● Financial and Asset Management: Transparent budgeting, grant-seeking and a long-term capital plan, including the high school roof replacement.
Each school’s individual school improvement plan aligns with these DIP goals. The full plan is available on the district website.
Marblehead Veterans Middle School named a NELMS spotlight school
The New England League of Middle Schools has designated Veterans Middle School as a Spotlight School, one of the highest recognitions NELMS grants to middle schools across the region. During a recent visit, NELMS evaluators observed classrooms, joined lunch duty and met with students and staff. What they found was a school where students feel genuinely at home. One eighth grader summed it up simply: “There isn’t a room that I walk into that I don’t feel comfortable in.” NELMS cited rigorous and engaging instruction, data-driven programming, a strong advisory culture and school-wide systems that support both teaching and learning. But the recognition ultimately came down to something less easy to quantify: a clear, consistent and energetic commitment to doing what is best for young adolescent students. Congratulations to Principal Matt Levangie and the entire Vets community.
Marblehead recognized for progress on chronic absenteeism
Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of the school year, has been one of the most significant and underreported consequences of the pandemic. Nationally, rates nearly doubled after COVID-19, and Marblehead was no exception: the share of chronically absent students rose from 7% in 2017 to 19% by 2025, with disproportionate impacts on low-income students. Getting kids back in school consistently matters enormously. Research shows that missing just 10 math classes reduces a student’s likelihood of graduating on time by 8%. The district has made it a priority to reverse this trend, working one-on-one with students and families to address the real-world barriers, such as transportation, mental health and school connectedness, that keep students away. That work is paying off. DESE Commissioner Pedro Martinez recently wrote to Superintendent Robidoux to congratulate the district on reducing chronic absenteeism by at least five percentage points, placing Marblehead among just 55 of the state’s 351 school districts to achieve that level of improvement (~16%).
The commissioner also asked the district to share its strategies as a model for others across Massachusetts.
Quick highlights
MHS graduation: High School Graduation is on Friday, June 5, at 6 p.m. Congratulations to all our graduating seniors, and good luck on your next adventure!
Senior Project presentation
High School seniors presented their Senior Projects on Friday, May 29. Senior Project is an opportunity to design an internship for career discovery and community service and transition from the classroom to gaining real-world experience. We want to extend a special thank you to all our seniors who chose to spend their time in the schools getting hands-on experience in education, and helping students who will one day create senior projects of their own.
Fair share supplemental budget funding
Superintendent Robidoux and Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Julia Ferreira worked with Rep. Jenny Armini and Sen. Brandon Creighton to secure additional funding through the Fair Share Amendment. The grant totaled $66,420, including $40,700 for bus cameras, $15,720 for culinary arts at MHS and $10,000 invested in our music program for grades four through 12. We deeply appreciate the efforts of our administration and representatives on Beacon Hill to help invest in our students, particularly during this tight budget season. Thank you!
School calendar update
Superintendent Robidoux recommended moving the approved professional development day from March 29 to Friday, March 19, based on educator feedback. The School Committee approved the change. There is no school for students on that day.
Melissa Clucas and Henry Gwazda are members of the School Committee’s communication subcommittee.
