Leadership drama continues in Swampscott school board meeting

SWAMPSCOTT – Marblehead Superintendent Greg Maass’ resignation may have been a surprise to some, but for Jackie Kinney, the story was all too familiar in Swampscott.Kinney, a former School Committee member, said when she had read Maass’ reason for leaving was because of friction caused by blurred lines of authority on the Marblehead School Committee, she felt like she was reading about Swampscott and its current climate of a “leaderless” district.”When I read that I really did feel like I was reading a book of our lives here in Swampscott,” said Kinney in her address at a School Committee meeting Wednesday night.Kinney said that with an election coming up, she felt compelled to speak publicly about how some committee members were consistently operating outside their legal responsibilities, which are only to set policy, hire a superintendent and establish a budget. She added that the particular members are also creating a difficult work environment by not supporting Superintendent Lynne Celli.Though she did not name which committee member she spoke of, Kinney went on to endorse School Committee candidates Amy O’Conner and Carin Marshall for the two spots open on the committee, with only Committee member Jaren Landen running for re-election.”We stress value on continuity, but keeping continuity isn’t going to be productive,” said Kinney in her endorsement.Landen responded, “It’s hurtful after what I’ve contributed to the board to make statements like that ?this is a time to reflect on what our needs are as a district and how best to address them as a community.”Committee member Marianne Hartmann said she thought Kinney was “shortsighted to put everything going on in the school district.”Member Rick Kraft admittedly agreed with Kinney, adding that the overstepping had been “well-intentioned” with passion and zeal and initiative, but, he said, “If you push in the right directions, you can push people forward. If you push in the wrong place, you create a tear, and that has been going on in this district too often.”Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].