MARBLEHEAD — The School Committee met Thursday night to discuss the Marblehead High School (MHS) roof, the Coffin School, and additional funding for school expenses.
The most significant development, however, came during discussion of the Coffin School. The committee voted to officially name the school as surplus property and to hand it to the Select Board. Against some of the members’ wishes, the vote still fell 5-0 in favor. In so doing, the Coffin School no longer will belong to the school district.
During the discussion, Co-Chair Sarah Fox explained the new rules regarding the MBTA 3A zoning law. As the law requires affordable housing, the new ruling may force towns to comply. But new housing could result in more children entering the school district. Yet allocating the Coffin School back to the Select Board, who could sell the only property on the north side of town, would leave less space to educate new children in the district.
That situation is purely hypothetical. But Fox brought it to attention as a reason to not give up the school. Superintendent John Robidoux countered the argument by stating that maintenance of the building is not justifiable economically since it is no longer being used.
Use of the property will be ultimately decided at town meeting in May. The Select Board will likely give a recommendation as to what should be done with the school, though the town will decide with a vote.
As for the MHS roof, the last year has shown it to be in poor condition, with multiple areas throughout the building leaking as well as the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems not working properly. Many locals, their patience stretched thin, are eager for this long-awaited project to be completed.
The committee also held a vote for a debt exclusion override, a separate override from Proposition 2 ½. A debt exclusion override would be temporary. It includes selling bonds of smaller amounts to multiple investors. But once paid off, the override would no longer be needed. This vote will direct override funds towards facility needs among the schools, particularly the needed roof.
The committee then held a vote regarding the override of Proposition 2 ½ to comfortably fund the school district’s budget due to new teacher contracts. The vote was for a placeholder warrant toward the override, not the official warrant. But the deadline for the School Committee to submit the warrant is Jan. 31.
The committee wanted to make clear that, if passed, the funds from the Proposition 2 ½ override would only be given to the school during the first year. After that, the funds will then be sent back to the town overall budget. The Select Board will then be left to allocate funds they deem necessary towards the school budget.
The committee did not share any specific numbers or information in regard to the override, and the exact amount that would be needed.
