No Fall Election For School Override Planned

In an anticlimactic public hearing in front of a packed Selectmen's chambers, Patricia Blackmer, chair of the School Committee and Glover School Building Committee said supporters are not asking the Board of Selectmen for a special election in the fall.

"We are not here to ask for more money or a special election," Blackmer said. "We are here for the opportunity to begin a dialogue to get the schools where they need to be."

A question regarding the rebuilding of the Glover School failed (by 71 votes) in June, along with nine other proposed tax hikes. That Glover override would have increased the average property tax bill by $126.55 a year for 20 years. That is for the median home, valued at $512,000.

New Plan In The Works

Blackmer, along with Superintendent of Schools Paul Dulac told the board after meeting with the Massachusetts School Building Authority Wednesday, Executive Director Katherine Craven is open to creating a plan which will be a good fit for the town.

Part of that will be studying a new pilot program, disclosed just Wednesday afternoon through the MSBA, while continuing to move ahead with the construction planning.

"Today, they rolled out a model school program for elementary schools," Blackmer said. "This is something Marblehead is going to explore."

The model schools program is a pilot program through the MSBA which changes and re-uses designs of more modern buildings to fit the needs of older buildings.

According to the MSBA, their committee chooses which sites will become the model for other schools to adapt. So far the program has only been used for middle and high schools but on Wednesday, four new elementary school sites around the state were named as models.

"The MSBA recognizes the importance to move forward with this project and encourage us to come up with the best use for the site and a more cost effective design," Blackmer said noting a close to 40 percent reimbursement would remain should the town accept the plan.

Blackmer said the Glover School Building Committee will start immediately to identify cost savings and around $100,000 will be needed for a feasibility study. Blackmer noted both the schools and town should look into their budgets for that money.

"In December, we will have a plan for Town Meeting," Blackmer said. "This will keep construction on track and if approved, we will still have a 2013 occupancy date."

Dulac told the board the latest developments occurred just within the last 24 hours and he is eager to look for savings and create a plan.

"I'm looking forward to talking to the School Committee and looking into our budget since it's not possible to ask the voters," Dulac said. "We will work at it and hopefully what we come up with is a plan people will think is worth it."

Selectmen Would Have Said No

Selectmen unanimously stated they were glad they were not asked to vote on holding another town meeting or fall special election.

"I'm glad you didn't ask us for a town meeting," Jackie Belf-Becker said. "I'm pleased to hear of the model school program, it could be a less expensive way to accomplish the goal. It would have been hard to choose one (failed question) because there are others deserving."

Selectmen William Woodfin and Judith Jacobi both said they would not have voted for another town meeting after the town voters already cast their ballots against the override in June.

"If the people of Marblehead want a school, they will pay for a school," Woodfin said. "That's the number one principle I work under."

Woodfin also told Blackmer and Dulac not to expect money for feasibility studies to come from the Town budget.

"You have a much better possibility of finding the money in the schools' budget," Woodfin said. "I don't want to be Pollyanna here, because we can't come up with the money."