Marblehead charter school appoints new director

MARBLEHEAD – The Marblehead Community Charter Public School has offered Nina Cullen-Hamzeh the post of academic director for the next two years.The charter school board’s decision Thursday night represented another step in a process that began in 2007 when the MCCPS, mired in controversy over the former head of school, divided the head of school position into two jobs and named Cullen-Hamzeh interim academic director.Cullen-Hamzeh has spent 14 years as an educator, including the past seven as an administrator at MCCPS, which serves Grades 4-8. The appointment is subject to mutual agreement on a contract. Her current contract with the school expires June 30. Her salary this year is $95,000.The decision was announced by Board Chairman Emil Ronchi in an email to parents.Board members are discussing the possible retention of veteran educator Albert Argenziano as part-time managing director of the school, a position he has filled on an interim basis for the past two years.Kay O’Dwyer, who served as board chair during the past three years, stepped down as a board member Thursday night. Ronchi said, “I offer my personal gratitude to Kay for her years of care and commitment to MCCPS as part of the Board.”Contacted Monday for her comments, Cullen-Hamzeh said it was humbling but, “I’m very pleased and very excited. This is a wonderful community. We’ve moved beyond the bumps in the road.”She also expressed her appreciation for the board. “They operate very collegially, and the discussion is healthy,” she said. “I used to dread going to board meetings years ago, but now everyone feels respected.”Cullen-Hamzeh noted that MCCPS is holding an open house Wednesday evening and the school already has more than 100 applications for next year. The deadline for applications is Feb. 15 and a lottery will be held Feb. 26 to choose next year’s students.