Superintendent John Robidoux sent an email to Marblehead parents and guardians regarding the expected pause in federal food aid benefits as of Nov. 1, due to the government shutdown. "While it’s uncertain whether the shutdown will continue, this could create a sudden gap for families who rely on SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) for food. Local food pantries are aware and preparing, but resources are limited — especially withThanksgiving approaching. These community resources may be helpful whether or not the shutdown affects November benefits," according…
Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Facilities Mike Pfifferling has released a preliminary schedule for completing the schools’ fiscal year 2027 budget. On Oct. 17, members of the School Committee’s budget subcommittee met with Finance Committee liaisons to answer questions about past, current and future spending. Up next, Nov. 3, the administration will hand out FY27 budget packets to principals and program directors. Here are a few other highlights from the calendar: Nov. 17: The district will submit its capital requests to the town Jan. 26: Executive…
Students at the Brown School laced up their sneakers and buckled their bike helmets for the Walk & Roll event on Oct. 15. Brown has partnered with the Department of Transportation on its annual Walk & Roll day since the school opened in 2021. Brown School students celebrated Walk & Roll day last week. COURTESY PHOTOS Once students arrived, they celebrated with music and some chalk art. “All the students got stickers/bookmarks encouraging safer, more active travel for youth,” said Katelyn Manning, who organized the program.
Hundreds of young families packed the Brown School's annual Monster Mash celebration Friday evening to celebrate Halloween. The Current stopped by to check out this year's costumes and, of course, to see if any students could get Principal Mary Maxfield in the dunk tank! (They did!) Parts of the school were transformed into a haunted house and there were lots of spooky carnival games. Lydia Macdonald, 8, gives it her all to eat a donut off a string at the Brown School's Monster Mash Oct.…
Police are charging a 15-year-old male Marblehead High School student after an investigation into hateful graffiti found on school property. On Monday, Oct. 6, and Tuesday, Oct. 7, Marblehead Police were made aware of two incidents of hateful graffiti on MHS property. Graffiti included a racial slur and antisemitic symbols, according to an MPD press release late Wednesday. "These incidents were immediately addressed by school administrators and School Resource Officer Sean Sweeney Jr.," the release reads. "An investigation led by Officer Sweeney Jr. identified the…
Marblehead High School Principal Michele Carlson sent an email Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. alerting families that graffiti had been discovered in a school bathroom, containing "hateful words and symbols, including a swastika." Carlson's email continued: "As a school community, this behavior does not reflect our values and will not be tolerated. MHS administration and Superintendent Robidoux are addressing this in accordance with our handbook and support from law enforcement. Thank you to the students who reported these incidents, allowing us to take swift action to…
The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to its News in Brief section. Send yours to info@marbleheadnews.org. Committee votes to self report possible OML violationAt the Sept. 30 School Committee meeting, member Jenn Schaeffner made a motion that the committee should self report a possible Open Meeting Law violation to the state. Schaeffner said that an email sent by Chair Al Williams regarding School Committee goals violated the OML because it included suggestions from two members for possible goals. The School Committee ultimately voted 4-1 to…
Marblehead High School is ranked no. 61 among Massachusetts public high schools in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings, released last month. The school also placed no. 50 in the Boston metro area and no. 1,526 nationally. The annual survey evaluates nearly 400 public high schools across the state using factors that include college readiness, state assessment scores, graduation rates and performance among underserved students, according to the report. The methodology has remained largely unchanged over the past five years, though the publication…
Marblehead schools spent $493,704 on legal expenses in fiscal year 2025 — nearly 200% over its $165,000 budget. Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Mike Pfifferling pointed to the teachers strike as one factor for the overrun. In addition to those expenses, the town paid $98,000 to a fired employee after a legal ruling, Pfifferling said. He declined to offer additional details saying it was a personnel issue. In fiscal year 2024, the Marblehead schools’ central administration spent $334,734 on legal counsel, significantly more than the…
Serious roof leaks at the Veterans School have shut down MHTV, which is located in the building. "Roof is in fact leaking over the D wing," Superintendent John Robidoux emailed the Current. "Students had been relocated prior to the roof work on that section being started. The heavy rain last night into today has found its way into the building. The company and our facilities crew have been working to remediate." The MHTV studio is impacted by leaks at the Veterans School today. COURTESY PHOTOS…
