Despite more than 800 people signing a letter to the editor that gave the School Committee a failing grade in four separate categories, three of its members gave themselves Bs during the committee’s public forum on Thursday.
Following the letter, the committee held a discussion at which community members were allowed to ask questions directly to the committee on a number of topics, including the budget process, special education, flag policies, and the superintendent search.
During the two-hour long forum, Marblehead Democrats Chair Kathy Hempel asked each committee member, excluding new member Al Williams, to grade their performance from F to A.
Committee member Brian Ota gave the committee an overall grade of a B, with a C on the superintendent search, as Marblehead began the permanent superintendent search much later than other districts in the area.
“We actually started that process late, I admit that,” Ota said. “I think for that, we’re a C.”
Ota also stated that the committee had plans to hire interim Superintendent Theresa McGuinness for the permanent role had she not decided to leave at the end of the current school year.
Members Jenn Schaeffner and Alison Taylor gave grades of B- and B, respectively. Despite listing multiple reasons why the committee deserves a good evaluation, Committee Chair Sarah Fox refused to provide a letter grade for the committee’s overall performance despite multiple requests from Hempel.
Hempel thanked the members for volunteering their time to be a part of the committee, but recommended that they take a look at the differences expressed between the town and themselves.
“You’re rating yourself a B and the town thinks you’re an F, so something is wrong,” Hempel said. “I would ask that you do a bit more self-reflection and maybe think about how things could be different.”
Earlier in the meeting, two high-school seniors asked the committee questions regarding the flag policy that is currently being developed.
One student questioned the committee on the policy’s vagueness, and requested that the policy incorporate student voices.
“You guys aren’t here, you aren’t understanding the trials and tribulations of going through the school, being microaggressed and being harassed in the hallways. Flags may not seem like a big thing, but it is a piece of identity and it really shows people that they don’t need to shrink themselves when they come here,” the student said.
A first draft of the policy stated that the only flags allowed to fly on school ground would be the U.S., state, and town flags, and that if organizations or parties wished to hang another flag, it must be approved by the School Committee.
The policy did not state if flags involving the town’s schools, such as athletic team logos or championship banners, were allowed, and was vague in describing if all vehicles on school grounds would be subject to the policy. However Schaeffner, the chair of the Policy Subcommittee, said that the committee is currently working with its counsel to clarify the policy, and that it would only affect school- or town-owned vehicles and property.
The Select Board also approved a flag policy the night before the committee’s forum. That policy states it is the responsibility of the town administrator to decide what flags can be raised on town property, which is now creating more challenges for the committee’s policy.
“I don’t know what that means for the schools,” Schaeffner said. “That’s the latest wrinkle in it.”
Fox noted that the committee has tentatively set a March 27 date for another public forum, this time moderated by a state member from the League of Women Voters. Multiple members also noted that the community will have another opportunity to ask questions regarding the budget when it hosts its budget hearing, which is tentatively scheduled for March 21.