Marblehead super denies request to slash position

MARBLEHEAD – School Committee member Jonathan Lederman tried for a second time to get the committee to discuss his idea of reducing an unidentified $100,000 job from full-time to part-time.Lederman’s "philosophical" point, raised during the final 10 minutes of the meeting, didn’t get far – but after some verbal sparring he told committee Chairman Amy Drinker he would submit it in writing and discuss it with the superintendent for the committee’s next meeting April 30.Lederman proposed reducing the post of athletic director at the March 26 meeting, to fund Spanish classes for Grades 1-4. Committee members tabled the proposal for a recommendation from the superintendent.Superintendent of Schools Paul Dulac rejected the proposal in a written memo last night. "Personnel issues should not be discussed publicly unless all employees have been notified," Dulac said.In response to Lederman’s philosophical question Dulac said, "I believe that’s the superintendent’s prerogative. I didn’t want to get into this, I don’t believe it’s Marblehead’s way and it’s certainly not my way. You tell me you want $50,000 (for a program) and I find it."Lederman was a little luckier with his proposal to teach Spanish in the lower grades.Committee member Dick Nohelty made a motion to create a task force to study the proposal and report back on it. The motion passed 4-1, with Drinker opposed. Lederman said he would act as committee liaison to the task force and bring a letter seeking parents to serve on it to the next meeting. "It’s a perfect opportunity to get parents involved," he said.At the urging of committee member James Dearborn the committee will also invite new Village School Principal Michael Hanna to a meeting to discuss Spanish in the lower grades. "I want to hear what he would say," Dearborn said, noting that Hanna was lukewarm on the idea when he addressed the committee as world language curriculum coordinator more than a year ago.Dearborn suggested after-school Spanish lessons, which also received an enthusiastic response from Lederman.