The School Committee announced who will fill the two remaining spots on the Screening Committee it set out to assemble on Aug. 18. The Screening Committee’s goal is to identify the top candidates for the interim Superintendent of Schools position, so the School Committee can then make the final decision on who to select among the finalists. The School Committee was advised by the New England School Development Council (NESDEC) that the Screening Committee should be composed of not only School Committee members, but also a school administrator, a staff member, and a parent.
After fielding public comment and recapping the opening week of the school year, School Committee Chair Sarah Fox stated that the Marblehead Education Association has named Marblehead High School mental health clinician Alison Carey as the school-system staff member representative on the committee.
“This is Alison’s 11th year as an employee at Marblehead Public Schools,” Fox said. “In that time, she has worked as a para, then tutor, school counselor, and now a social worker and mental health clinician.”
Fox emphasized the high amount of interest received for the parent position on the Screening Committee and said there were many qualified candidates. She nominated Sarah Magazine, a parent of students at Village and Glover schools, as the best fit.
“Sarah is in her second year as PTO president, and is a very active supporter of the students of our schools,” Fox said. “Through her multiple volunteer roles, Sarah has shown she is able to advocate for the needs of students and staff while understanding and maintaining confidential information.”
School Committee member Meagan Taylor chose to abstain from voting Magazine onto the Screening Committee, as she expressed her desire to have had the parent representative chosen randomly. Member Jenn Schaeffner was also unable to vote at the time of the motion, however, the vote was upheld in favor 3-0 among the remaining members.
Marblehead Special Education Parent Advisory Council Co-Chair Jennifer Jackson also campaigned for a SEPAC representative to be included on the Screening Committee, which Meagan Taylor motioned for after the announcement of the additions of Carey and Magazine.
“Going back to past precedents, the entire time I’ve been on this committee there has been a SEPAC member on selection of key administrative roles,” Meagan Taylor said. “The parent role from SEPAC brings a very unique perspective that staff member does not.”
Meagan Taylor’s motion did not carry, as no other committee member was willing to second it.
Fox noted that the formation of the Screening Committee is based on the advice of NESDEC and that she is satisfied with the special education experience spread across the entire Screening Committee roster.
Before the meeting’s conclusion, committee member Alison Taylor expressed frustration with the overall communication between the School Committee and the Select Board as it pertains to the amount of American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated to the school system overall.
“I had numerous conversations with Dr. Buckey regarding my frustrations in not having as much come to the school system as has happened in the majority of other cities and towns and municipalities in the Commonwealth,” Alison Taylor said. “So when they need money, it’s okay to say ‘the school system is this percentage, you need to provide us with this percentage,’ but when we’re looking at something like ARPA it’s okay to only give us 10%.”
Acting Superintendent Michelle Cresta explained that a numeric financial typo in a Town Meeting bylaw is a partial contributor to the confusion about the true nature of funds allocated to the school system. Alison Taylor expressed gratitude that Select Board Chair Erin Noonan reached out and offered to meet with her and Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer to clarify the ARPA-fund allocation process. However, Alison Taylor said she hopes to keep this process in the public eye moving forward.