Want a Seat on the School Committee? Act Fast

Written and reported by Stewart Lytle

Marblehead is still looking for candidates to fill the fifth seat on the School Committee.

People interested in joining a committee that according to new Superintendent Maryann Perry will “put the kids first,” have until next Wednesday, July 17, to submit a letter expressing their interest.

The vacancy is caused by the resignation last month of former School Committee chair EuRim Chun.

A week after the applications are closed, on July 24, the four current members of the School Committee and the five members of the Board of Selectmen will conduct public and televised interviews with each of the candidates.

Selectmen chair Jackie Belf-Becker cautioned the Selectmen and the School Committee members not to have private conversations with any of the candidates. “Just don't talk with any of them,” she said.

Her fear is that the public will perceive that the choice for the fifth member of the School Committee could be decided by a less than transparent process.

The nine public officials will vote on July 30 to fill the vacant seat.

So far, two people have said they would like to serve on the committee that has been embroiled in considerable in-fighting for several years. That in-fighting left its casualties. Dr. Greg Maass, the superintendent, resigned. Committee chair Jon Lederman, often blamed for much of the in-fighting, chose not to seek re-election.

Perry, invited to speak to the Selectmen for the first time, said the Marblehead community has spoken. “They want us to put the kids first,” she said. “I am taking that mandate and running with it.”

She called the last few weeks “surreal” after being elevated abruptly to be superintendent. But she is excited to move forward and make future School Committee meetings about school and student issues.

“We have great kids, great teachers, great parents and a great community,” she said.