PEABODY — To say it’s been a challenging and unprecedented year for Peabody schools is putting it mildly.
A year like no other in anyone’s memory officially ended Tuesday with the final School Committee meeting of the 2019-2020 academic year.
The day also marked the last day on the job for Interim Superintendent Dr. Marc Kerble, whose efforts in stepping in after the unexpected death of popular Superintendent Cara Murtagh in late November prompted heaps of praise from committee members.
“I was going through old records and was shocked at how many superintendents we have had, but I can honestly say that other than the transition from Herb Levine to Cara, I have never seen a more positive transition than this one between Josh (Vadala) and Marc,” said committee Vice-Chairman Beverley Griffin-Dunne. “Someone should do a case study on how to do this as it’s really the way things should be done. Marc was able to give Josh the benefit of all his years of experience.”
After being asked by Dunne to comment, Vadala thanked Kerble, adding, “I couldn’t have asked for a better transition and am looking forward to starting (Wednesday).”
Kerble came in after a series of four tragic deaths in a short span of time rocked the community late in 2019. The district was reeling, prompting the City Council President Tom Rossignoll to say in January, long before the onset of the pandemic in March, “this has been one of the most challenging years I can ever remember.”
Little did he, or anyone, know that those events were only the beginning of what can only be described as life-changing.
Kerble’s career in education spans more than five decades. He spent 16 years as a special education teacher in Peabody. He served as superintendent of the Newburyport Public Schools from 2010-2013 and previously worked as an assistant superintendent in Winchester. Following retirement, Kerble was the chief academic officer at a private school in Newton for special education students and then worked as an interim elementary school assistant principal in Marlborough.
Kerble came into Peabody off a two-year stint as a District Reviewer for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Association. He was the unanimous choice of the School Committee to replace Murtagh on an interim basis last December.
Kerble thanked the committee for their cooperation and asked it to be mindful of the need to support new superintendent Vadala.
“It’s been my pleasure and has been great to be able to come back to my hometown,” he said. “It has not been easy, but I wouldn’t have it any way. I ask you to support Dr. Vadala as he has a long road ahead.”
Every committee member expressed gratitude to Kerble for coming in at such a difficult and dark time and navigating the district through, what John Olimpio described as “choppy waters.”
Brandi Carpenter thanked Kerble for stepping in when “we were really hurting and missing Cara.”
“I can’t imagine what you expected to experience, but it couldn’t have been what it ended up to be,” said Andrew Arnotis. “I noticed that whenever something would come up you would say, ‘it’s OK, I’m on it.’ We didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but I thank you for riding the waves with us.”
Joseph Amico echoed Arniotis’ comment, saying that while “we didn’t always agree, you’re a gentleman and a true professional.”
Olimpio said he shared his fellow committee members sentiments, adding that “when we first met in January, you gave me a sense of calm that we would get through this and that was extremely comforting.”
Jarrod Hochman’s comments were short and sweet.
“Doc, you made it! We didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but I hope you have a great summer with your family.”
Dunne joked that she was going to give Kerble the night off.
Kerble responded, “It’s been great to be able to come back to my hometown. Once a Tanner, always a Tanner. Dr. Vadala, here’s the baton. Feel free to call me anytime.”
