The School Committee unanimously approved Superintendent John Robidoux’s plan to restructure the Marblehead Public Schools’ finance department following the departure of Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Mike Pfifferling. Pfifferling announced his resignation in early August, but may stay for 90 days per his contract.
Instead of replacing Pfifferling’s position, Robidoux is asking the School Committee to approve a new director of finance position. The new position would not include facilities and operations responsibilities.
Robidoux said he hopes to recommend a candidate for the committee’s approval at its Sept. 3 meeting, although the timeline could be extended if necessary.
Focus on finances
Robidoux said the proposed structure is intended to allow the district’s finance leader to concentrate on school finances, including the budget and grant funding, without the additional operational responsibilities that came with Pfifferling’s assistant superintendent role.
“This gives an opportunity to have a person that can focus mainly on the school budget on the inner workings of the grant monies coming in and out and not have the operational stuff on the backend and seep in and get in the way,” Robidoux said. “I think it’s a good model. I’ve seen it work in other districts.”
The salary for the new director of finance position is listed as $160,000-$175,000.
The timing is particularly important because the district recently received voter approval for a $15 million override. School Committee members noted that the finance director will have significant responsibilities related to the override and reporting to the town.
Robidoux agreed.
“With the override and knowing what those pieces are, I think whoever comes into the role is really going to have to focus on that because we have reporting that we need to do out to the town,” he said. “I feel confident that that allows the person to kind of really focus on those pieces that are going to be really important, especially the next two to three years.”
Robidoux also said the change would address concerns about the size of the district’s administrative structure.
“I would be remiss in not mentioning that I think having three assistant superintendents — operationally I think it works well — but I think conceptually it looks like we’re really top heavy in administration,” he said. “I have heard that feedback, so this is partially addressing that, too.”
Facilities responsibilities shift
Under the proposed structure, the district’s facilities director would assume more responsibility for facilities operations, including custodial and maintenance oversight and building projects. Once a new facilities director is hired, that person would report directly to Robidoux.
Pfifferling had been overseeing the facilities director, but Robidoux said Pfifferling’s role became more visible after the death of facilities director Todd Bloodgood, when Pfifferling stepped in to handle additional responsibilities.
The facilities director would also become the district’s point person on the School Committee’s Facilities Subcommittee, with larger questions or issues moving up to Robidoux.
Transition period
Pfifferling has offered to remain with the district for the 90 days required under his contract, which would keep him on board until roughly Nov. 6.
Robidoux called that “a luxury” that will help with the transition.
Once Pfifferling returns from vacation, Robidoux said the two will develop a plan for September and October to determine what information needs to be transferred before Pfifferling leaves.
When a new finance director is hired, Pfifferling’s primary role during the transition will be to bring that person up to speed on the district’s finances and ongoing work.
Asked about how the restructuring will impact the district’s FY27 budget, Robidoux answered, “We won’t be able to specifically determine the fiscal impact until we hire someone and negotiate a contract.”
New hires
Key hires include Lydia Rundell as assistant director of student services and Allison Alves as assistant principal at the high school. As the Current previously reported, Mary Leblanc is the new principal at the Glover School.
