Marblehead Public Schools

Just about 24 hours after interim Superintendent Theresa McGuinness announced the resignations of Student Services Director Paula Donnelly and Associate Director Emily Dean, the Marblehead teachers union released a statement asking that four Glover School educators placed on leave be welcomed back to work. “As leadership changes are being made in the Student Services Department, it is imperative to correct some of the missteps of the previous leadership team," the Marblehead Education Association statement reads. "Specifically, MEA members unfairly placed on administrative leave by former administrators must be returned to their positions immediately. Undoing that injustice will be an important step toward improving the culture and climate in our schools and will help establish...

Late Monday, Jan. 1, interim Superintendent Theresa McGuinness sent an email to families announcing several changes in the district, including the resignations the Student Services leadership. This comes after the Marblehead teachers union demanded that Paula Donnelly and Emily Dean be removed, and after McGuinness placed four Glover school educators on leave amid a student restraint crisis. "Dr. Paula Donnelly and Ms. Emily Dean have mutually agreed to end their employment relationship," McGuinness wrote on Jan. 1. "As such, the district will begin a search process for an interim director of student services, immediately." McGuinness continued, "In order to ensure that our students receive their necessary support and services, both Dr. Donnelly and Ms. Dean have agreed to assist th...

Marblehead High School students are planning a protest for Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 3, in opposition to a draft policy that would give the School Committee control over which flags, banners and signs are allowed in schools. In social media posts, the MHS Democrats Club called the draft policy “censorship.” (Read the text of the draft policy below.) A social media post announcing Wednesday's protest against a draft flag policy for MPS The students, led by seniors Sophia Weiner and Siena Day, are also asking to get on the Jan. 4 School Committee meeting agenda, where they’ll present an alternate plan. They want to form an eight-student (two from each grade at the high school) committee that would create a flag policy. “This is a topic that mainly effects students,” Weiner told th...

In a surprise announcement at a Dec. 21 meeting, School Committee Chair Sarah Fox said the law firm Stoneman, Chandler & Miller is dropping the committee as a client. “They felt we are separating,” Fox said. “They will stay with us for 60 days as per contract to handle any tying up of lose ends and handing things off to new counsel." Fox did not explain why Stoneman, Chandler & Miller is discontinuing its service of the committee. The firm represented the board during the controversial ousting of former Superintendent John Buckey in August and drafted a non-disparagement clause in his separation agreement.  Attorney Liz Valerio worked for the Marblehead School Committee 12 years ago and is coming back after the committee's most recent firm quit. Fox said that stat...

Dozens of educators, at least one who fought back tears, packed a School Committee meeting Thursday night demanding the removal of Student Services Director Paula Donnelly and Associate Director Emily Dean. The teachers accused Donnelly and Dean of ignoring safety concerns and requests for more staffing. Teachers gather before the Dec. 21 School Committee meeting where many spoke out about dangerous under-staffing in classrooms. CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER The School Committee met later in executive [private] session to discuss demands by the Marblehead teachers union that Donnelly and Dean be fired. “I spent five months in a state of alert while trying to teach and keep my class safe,” said Glover School teacher Jane Sullivan. Sullivan said she asked repeatedly for a suppo...

After several meetings since four Glover School educators were placed on leave, the Marblehead teachers union said it was “extremely disappointed in the inadequate response” from interim Superintendent Theresa McGuinness to concerns about the leadership of the district’s student services department, which supports children with challenges. “It is disturbing that an interim superintendent would prioritize maintaining the incompetent leadership she inherited over supporting the rank-and-file educators she purports to value and hopes to lead,” the Marblehead Education Association wrote in a statement sent to the Current Monday, Dec. 18.  Recent student restraint incidents have led to a review of the district’s policies and four educators being placed on leave. CURRENT PHOTO / LEIG...