To the editor:
Marblehead deserves School Committee members who put students first and lead with vision, fiscal acuity, and respect for our schools’ educators. That’s why I’m voting for Kate Schmeckpeper. She cares about our students. She understands governance. She asks the right questions. She listens carefully. And she knows public trust is earned through accountability — not school committee theatrics and the chaos of the past few years.
Many years ago, when I was a young parent at Eveleth and Glover, I was frustrated by the constant funding tug-of-war between our schools and other town departments. With hard work by the school committee and the community, funding stabilization and facility needs were addressed. Our schools weren’t perfect, but they were good, and Marblehead attracted high-quality teachers. Now they’re leaving in droves.
As a grandmother, I still care about our schools. I find myself once again in a heightened state of alarm. Month after month, community members like me have watched in disbelief as noise and chaos have overtaken the school committee. The two incumbents running for re-election, Sarah Fox and Alison Taylor, have provided disruptive leadership–just look at last year’s budget presentation or the yet-to-be-started (and insufficiently funded) high school roof fiasco. There’s no excuse for their mistakes, and we can’t afford three more years of their failed attempts to deliver results.
Our school community has faced tough times before and pulled through by working together, grounded in facts and focused on pragmatic solutions. On June 10, we can each cast two votes for School Committee; mine will go to Kate Schmeckpeper and Henry Gwazda. Together, they can shift the dynamics of this committee and usher in the stability we need.
Christine Nuccio
Damey’s Way
