Marblehead to begin search for next super

MARBLEHEAD – One of the smaller items in the Fiscal 2011 $27.9 million school budget may have the greatest consequences for the future of Marblehead schools: the $30,000 Superintendent of Schools Paul Dulac budgeted for next year’s search for his successor.Dulac, who earned about $175,000 in 2009, will conclude his four-year contract next year.Originally hired in 2006 for three years at a $160,000 starting salary, he renegotiated to four years in 2007, with the option of a fifth year at his discretion. Dulac made it final Thursday evening: he won’t be exercising that option.The School Committee voted Thursday to discuss the search process and schedule at their next meeting. When Dulac was hired the committee relied on a consultant to advertise the vacancy and screen applicants.During the budget deliberations committee member Patricia Blackmer suggested cutting the $30,000 to $25,000 for a $5,000 savings, but committee members didn’t take her up on it.The decision may affect this year’s race for the two available seats on the School Committee, where incumbent Jonathan Lederman faces challengers Jennifer Schaeffner and Kathy Leonardson.Schaeffner has already mentioned the search on the home page of her campaign Web site."This is an important and difficult time for Marblehead and our schools," she wrote. "Dr. Paul Dulac, our school superintendent, will be leaving us as his contract ends at the conclusion of the next school year. The School Committee will be responsible for hiring a new superintendent – a responsibility that I would like to be part of."The committee approved the level services budget, a 1.9 percent increase over last year, after an eight-minute hearing and an hour’s discussion of budget shifts proposed by committee members and Dulac.The only speaker at the hearing was school parent Kelly Rigby, who compared legal expenses in Marblehead and Swampscott – $31,396 and $13,578 respectively – and asked if savings in that account could be used to fund kindergarten, an area where fees have been increased next year."That’s just the way it is, unfortunately," Dulac said.In his budget changes Dulac concurred with his principals about appointing a kindergarten-Grade 6 math and science curriculum director instead of teacher leaders he has supported and agreed to restore $25,000 he cut from the maintenance request. The changes will be funded in part with $50,000 Dulac gained by hiring only one Grade 4 teacher instead of two.The longest discussion focused on the changes proposed by Lederman, who wanted to reduce the athletic director salary by an additional $25,000 and end the requirement for student athletes to take gym classes, allowing Dulac to hire part-time teachers in high school social studies and Spanish at the Marblehead Village School.Chairman Dick Nohelty questioned Lederman’s savings figures and other committee members questioned his choice of classes, with Patricia Blackman and Eurim Chun advocating for health and wellness classes, part of the gym curriculum and Chun pointing out that a committee of volunteer experts recommended Dulac’s current plan for a full-time Spanish teacher for Grade 6.Lederman had more luck with his proposals to seek savings through schedule changes at Marblehead High and outsourcing the food service program. Dulac said he would be looking at class schedules at the high school next year with new Principal Ken Weinstein and planned to announce a new food service program later this spring.