Marblehead School Committee member honored

MARBLEHEAD-On the night of her last meeting, School Committee member Amy Drinker wasn?t just honored for her six eventful years on the school board.The nine years she spent working for the town before her election brought a number of speakers and gifts to the committee?s microphone.There was a reception in her honor before the meeting and the meeting began with a series of speakers.Superintendent of Schools Paul Dulac grew emotional as he recalled that he came to Marblehead because of Drinker and former committee member Rob Dana.Marblehead Veterans Middle School Principal Elizabeth Moore was the first one to the microphone, praising Drinker for her ability “to pull people in and involve them” and recalling the early 1990s, when Drinker and Christine Nuccio were elementary school parents in what was then a dysfunctional town, where the schools and the town departments were at odds over money.?We thought it didn?t make any sense,” Nuccio said when her turn came. Together the two women began attending committee meetings, sitting in the back of the room and munching on bag after bag of Twizzlers. They organized several successful general overrides on the schools? behalf. As a result, “Things have advanced,” Nuccio said.Among the other programs Moore gave Drinker credit with starting were the town?s school building plan which has resulted in the Marblehead High, middle school and Marblehead Village School projects so far, and the Friends of the Marblehead Schools.Nuccio gave her longtime friend official Marblehead school reports from 1868 and 1905 and a package of Twizzlers.In a funny, touching moment Drinker?s husband, Larry Rosenfeld, walked to the microphone carrying a large bouquet. Introducing himself humorously as “Mr. Drinker”, he told her “how very proud I am to be your husband” and “how happy I am to have you back.”Dana and Village School Building Committee Chair Michael Rockett presented Drinker with a coffee table handcrafted from wood salvaged from the old high school principal?s office and inlaid with photos and fliers from her override campaigns.They also gave her photos of the town?s three school projects, framed.