Education

Marblehead MCAS results show growth in younger grades, 20-point drop in MHS science
22 Sep

Marblehead MCAS results show growth in younger grades, 20-point drop in MHS science

Leigh BlanderEducation, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories
Marblehead students continued to outperform their counterparts statewide on most measures of the 2026 MCAS, but the results show a mixed picture — with significant gains in science and eighth-grade math offset by declines in Grade 10 English and science. The 2026 results, released publicly by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Tuesday, show that 58% of Marblehead students in grades 3-8 met or exceeded expectations in English language arts, while 60% did so in math and 63% in science. Those figures compare…
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Town’s legal spending tops $3.2 million over eight years; schools’ costs nearly quintupled since ’18
22 Sep

Town’s legal spending tops $3.2 million over eight years; schools’ costs nearly quintupled since ’18

Akanksha GoyalEducation, Municipal Matters, Top Stories
The town of Marblehead’s spending on lawyers has varied widely from year to year, with the town and school district collectively spending more than $3.2 million on legal services over the past eight fiscal years, according to an analysis of the town’s ClearGov financial data. Townwide legal expenses totaled about $418,000 in fiscal 2018, fell to roughly $240,000 in fiscal 2021, and then climbed to nearly $780,000 in fiscal 2025. The town spent about $1.8 million on legal services from FY18 through FY25, including regular…
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Marblehead Rotary funds new mindfulness program in elementary schools
21 Sep

Marblehead Rotary funds new mindfulness program in elementary schools

Leigh BlanderEducation, Health, Local News
The Marblehead Rotary Club is donating $16,000 to bring a new mindfulness program to the Brown and Glover elementary schools, aimed at giving younger students tools to manage stress, practice kindness and build emotional resilience. Starting in October, mindfulness educator Jean Skaane will “guide our youngest learners (grades K through 3) in weekly lessons focused on core skills of self-awareness, purpose, empathy, collaboration, agency and adaptability, which complement their learning through our Wayfinder curriculum,” according to Assistant Superintendent Julia Ferreira. “Data will be collected to…
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Max dresses to impress, year after year
21 Sep

Max dresses to impress, year after year

Leigh BlanderEducation, Top Stories
Marblehead student and budding fashion icon Maximilian Averback has outdone himself again with another snazzy school photo. The Current has been sharing Max’s school pictures since kindergarten, when he first wowed us with his picture-day style. He's a student at Epstein Hillel Academy. Through the years: School photos of Maximilian Averback from kindergarten through fourth grade. Averback is a student at Epstein Hillel School. COURTESY PHOTOS Every year, he dresses to impress — and fourth grade is no exception. Max sported his signature bow tie…
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This Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, help is available
14 Sep

This Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, help is available

Marblehead Counseling CenterCommunity Resources, Education, Health, Local News
September is national Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and Marblehead Counseling Center wants to remind residents of the many resources available for individuals and families who are struggling. “Suicide prevention actually starts before a mental health crisis,” according to Gregg Mulford, LMHC clinical director at the center. “This is a great time to learn about warning signs, and connect people to vital mental health resources.”  Mulford says many factors may increase the risk for suicide, including underlying mental health issues such as depression. But suicide risk…
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Free parenting classes to help local families build their ‘village’
10 Sep

Free parenting classes to help local families build their ‘village’

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Education, Parenting, Top Stories
Having a baby may not come with an instruction manual, but a new — and free — program hopes to send expectant parents home with something close: a plan. The Board of Health is sponsoring a series of parenting classes, including a new prenatal program that will be free for Marblehead residents. Expectant parents will leave the course with a personalized Postpartum Preparedness Plan identifying the people, community organizations and medical resources they can turn to once their baby arrives. The goal is to help…
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NEWS IN BRIEF: New town hires, schools return $800K, Green Communities vote coming
08 Sep

NEWS IN BRIEF: New town hires, schools return $800K, Green Communities vote coming

Leigh BlanderArt, Education, Environment, Local History, Local News, Municipal Matters, News in brief
The Current accepts News in Brief submissions of 150-200 words at info@marbleheadnews.org. Town hires treasurerThe town has hired a new treasurer, Shaun Strobel. Strobel has more than 20 years experience as a treasurer in various municipalities, including Worcester, Sharon and, most recently, Marshfield. For the last several years, Marblehead has combined the positions of treasurer and collector. Cami Iannarelli remains as collector. The collector is responsible for billing and collecting money owed to the town, including property taxes. The treasurer manages that money. School business managerOn Aug.…
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First-day jitters — and plenty of smiles — as Marblehead students head back
31 Aug

First-day jitters — and plenty of smiles — as Marblehead students head back

Leigh BlanderEducation, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories
First-day jitters mixed with big smiles Monday morning as about 3,000 students headed back to Marblehead Public Schools, including Charter School. Some were clutching their parents’ hands while others raced ahead, eager to see their friends, meet their teachers and begin a new year.  At Glover School, Superintendent John Robidoux and new Principal Mary LeBlanc greeted children and families as they streamed toward the building for the start of a new school year. Students walk into the Marblehead Community Charter Public School this morning. COURTESY…
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After cuts and turmoil, superintendent looks toward stable future as classes start Monday
26 Aug

After cuts and turmoil, superintendent looks toward stable future as classes start Monday

Leigh BlanderEducation, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories
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…
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ASK LIZZIE: Crying at drop-off is not a red flag
25 Aug

ASK LIZZIE: Crying at drop-off is not a red flag

LIzzie AssaColumns, Education, Opinion, Parenting
You stood at the school door this morning. You said goodbye, and maybe they skipped in and maybe they held onto your leg, stretching out your leggings and leaving wet tear and drool marks all down the side. Either way you walked back to the car and started worrying before you even got your seatbelt on. Now you've got a few hours. You're going to spend most of it holding your breath and wondering: Current parenting columnist Lizzie Assa COURTESY PHOTO Is she crying? Did…
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