After a few turbulent years marked by a teachers strike, deep budget cuts and a contentious override campaign, Superintendent John Robidoux is heading into the new school year with a more predictable road ahead.
Marblehead schools begin the new year Monday, Aug. 31, after a budget process that resulted in $4.7 million in cuts and the elimination of 22 full-time-equivalent positions.
The $15 million operating override approved by voters in May does not restore those cuts this school year. Instead, it establishes a multiyear funding plan that allows the district to begin planning for investments in future years.
“The override is helping to stabilize things,” Robidoux said. “I know what we have this year. I know what’s coming in next year and the following year. I know it’s not what I want. It’s not what we need, but it’s at least I know what we have to work with.”
The first major investments are expected in 2027-28, when the district plans to introduce free full-day kindergarten and undertake a technology refresh. The following year, the district expects to add curriculum updates and bring back an 18-to-22-year-old special education program.
The latter would serve students who have graduated from high school but remain eligible under Massachusetts law for special education services through age 22. Robidoux said the program would focus in part on adult living skills and could allow eligible students to remain in Marblehead rather than being educated out of district.
“We’re going to bring that back because it’s needed,” he said.
A leaner district, a longer view
The budget reductions remain in place across the district, with Robidoux describing the changes as “right-sizing.”
The district expects free full-day kindergarten to begin in 2027-28. Robidoux estimates that the program could increase the number of students attending full-day kindergarten by roughly 10% to 12%, although he emphasized that is only a projection.
With this year’s budget largely settled, Robidoux said he can spend more time on the academic issues he wants to address across the district.
He sees instructional leadership as one of Marblehead’s strengths.
“In each one of the buildings, we have solid instructional leaders, instructional coaches and teachers,” he said. “They’re using data-based decision making, which is I think a strength of the district as a whole.”
The district is continuing work on aligning curriculum across grades and schools and using student data to identify achievement gaps and determine where additional support is needed.
“Gaps aren’t huge,” Robidoux said. “They’re just small pockets.”
Robidoux also wants to increase student engagement, which he sees as closely connected to attendance and academic performance.
“The biggest push that I’ve seen from everybody is just making sure that the kids are in school and attending and being engaged,” he said.
He said attendance improved by about 5% over the previous year. The district is also working to reach out to families when students are absent to determine whether there are ways to support them.
The district expects to begin the year with just under 2,600 students. Enrollment remains relatively steady, Robidoux said, although administrators are watching transition years such as the moves from sixth to seventh grade and eighth to ninth grade.
New faces, continuing changes
Several new administrators will be in place when students return.
Lydia Rundell-Gjerde has joined the district as assistant director of student services, replacing Victoria Ryan. At Marblehead High School, Allison Alves has been hired as assistant principal.
Robidoux also praised new Glover Elementary Principal Mary LeBlanc, a longtime Marblehead educator who most recently served as an instructional coach.
“Mary just stood out,” he said of the hiring process.
There are still several teaching and support positions to fill, including a high school math position, a special education position, instructional assistant positions and a BCBA (board certified behavior analyst). Robidoux also expects to hire a facilities director.
The district is preparing as well for the departure of Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Mike Pfifferling, whose final day is currently scheduled for Nov. 6. Robidoux said the district will discuss the search process at an upcoming School Committee meeting.
Despite the turnover, Robidoux said the mood inside the district feels different from a year ago.
An administrative retreat in early August brought together central-office administrators, principals, assistant principals and team chairs for team building and planning.
“It was just all positive,” Robidoux said.
Looking three years ahead
Robidoux said his priorities for the next three years are improving communication and collaboration, closing achievement gaps and strengthening instructional leadership.
He said the district can improve how it communicates with staff and the broader community, including helping residents better understand the distinction between the School Committee’s role in policy and budget oversight and the superintendent’s responsibility for day-to-day operations.
“That goes back to the collaboration and communication,” Robidoux said. “How do we communicate that better?”
Robidoux, who has two years remaining on his contract, said he hopes to remain in Marblehead. He acknowledged that he had an opportunity to take another job earlier this year but declined it.
“I love it here, and I’d like to continue the good work we’re doing,” he said.
For all the challenges ahead, Robidoux said he is entering the school year with a more positive outlook.
“I’m excited that there’s this feeling of positivity,” he said. “I don’t know how else to describe it.”
And with the budget settled for the year and a multiyear funding plan in place, Robidoux said the focus can now turn toward the work inside the schools.
“I just feel better about everything, so that’s great,” he said.
