Marblehead Public Schools

In an email to Superintendent Theresa McGuinness and the School Committee, the union representing Marblehead teachers declared "no confidence" in the leadership of the district's student services department, which supports children with learning challenges. "In response to concerns about the culture and climate in Marblehead schools, the MEA asked members if they had confidence in the abilities of Student Services Director Paula Donnelly and Associate Director of Student Services Emily Dean," wrote MEA Co-Presidents Jonathan Heller and Sally Shevory. "Ninety-seven percent of 260 teachers, paras and tutors endorsed the attached statement. We believe that working conditions are unacceptable for all of us and that members of our union are being unfairly punished all because of the ina...

The mother of an eighth-grade student asked the School Committee on Dec. 7 to respond to an English assignment focused on readings on the American Library Association’s list of most frequently challenged books. Melanie Andrews’ child, along with a classmate, initially chose “The Bluest Eye” by Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison. Written in 1970, “The Bluest Eye” tells the story of an 11-year-old Black girl who believes that she is ugly and that lighter skin and blue eyes would make her beautiful. She lives in a violent family and is raped by her father. A Marblehead mom spoke to the School Committee about a reading assignment involving ‘The Bluest Eye,’ a book by Nobel Prize-winning author, Toni Morrison. “I did what most parents would do — I Googled the book,” Andrews t...

The Marblehead Education Association has sent a letter to interim Superintendent Theresa McGuinness and the School Committee, expressing support for their union colleagues "who have been put on administrative leave unfairly" and demanding immediate action. McGuinness placed four Glover School staff members on paid adminstrative leave today while the district calls in an attorney to examine its student restraint policies. [Learn more about Marblehead student restraints HERE.] Marblehead Public Schools admin building CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER The MEA says the district has "failed to provide a safe environment for all students and staff, as they are entitled to. We stand in solidarity with the affected families and students during this difficult time, as we believe that the dis...

Tensions ran high at a School Committee workshop aimed at improving communication between members and with the interim superintendent. After spending about an hour on Nov. 30 making lists of communication goals — including honesty, respect and assuming positive intent— Dorothy Presser, a facilitator with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, asked the group what was preventing them from working together effectively. From left, School Committee members Alison Taylor and Meagan Taylor, interim Superintendent Theresa McGuiness and member Jenn Schaeffner participate in a communication workshop on Nov. 30.  CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER “There’s been a shift in the committee; that’s undeniable,” said School Committee Chair Sarah Fox, referring to the June election that s...