Marblehead School Committee Backs Acting Superintendent On Israel Support Statement

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Marblehead School Committee members were resounding in their backing of Acting Superintendent Michelle Cresta after a formal complaint was filed against her for an email to the school community supporting Israel following the Hamas attacks two weeks ago.

School Committee Chair Sarah Fox began Thursday night's meeting with a statement of support for Cresta, while School Committee member Jennifer Schaeffner commended Cresta for her statement to the school committee.

The formal written complaint filed on Oct. 12 indicated that Cresta's letter, which said the district stood with Israel and Jewish people around the world in the wake of the attack, was harmful because it did not mention the victims of the war in Gaza and that Muslim children were being bullied amid the ongoing conflict.

Fox's statement both supported Cresta and once again criticized the vitriol that has coursed through many of the debates facing the schools in recent months.

"I stand with the statement being made by Michelle Cresta," Fox said. "To be clear, the filing of a complaint does not guarantee the outcome of the complaint be validated. The process must be followed. It is not the place of the official who receives the complaint to say they will not follow district policy, or Mass. general law, simply because they do not agree with it.

"Policies and laws are in place to protect students and staff from bullying and other acts of impropriety. Unfortunately, this July with the publication, in its entirety, of a bullying complaint filed by a student, we have seen the weaponization of this process and an increase in the volume of complaints filed against members of our school community. It appears that individuals are using the published report as a roadmap to punish others whom they may disagree with.

"Disagreeing with someone's words is not the same as being bullied or threatened. The weaponization of these safeguards harms our staff, our students and our community, while simultaneously diminishing the effect that bullying has on its victims."

Schaeffner largely echoed Fox's statement and offered a commendation for Cresta's efforts.

"It is clear from emails, and phone calls, and social media, that this has been a very difficult time in our community and obviously in our world, but particularly with this incident," Schaeffner said. "I am confident that we are going to be able to resolve this and that we are all going to be able to unite together with how we feel about this, how we feel about our community, how we support each other and the people in our community who are suffering with what is going on in this world."

The School Committee had filed for an executive session to discuss the formal complaint against Cresta — as is state law — but canceled it when Cresta waived her right to the executive session and agreed to have the open discussion at Thursday's meeting.

Cresta said she stood behind her own words in the letter and that it was meant to "share my support for Israel and condemn the horrific actions of Hamas" and that the intent of the statement was "to plainly condemn terrorism and affirm support for all individuals to live from fear from terrorism and violence."

"I do not believe it is the place of a school administrator to further opine on such a complex geopolitical situation," she said. "But, rather, it is our job to support our staff, our children, and our school community.

"Our time is better spent trying to create an environment that fosters love and acceptance in our community. We are committed to promoting a world of tolerance and peace where all may feel respect love and belonging."

The School Committee quickly acted and voted 5-0 in favor of a motion of "no wrongdoing" against Cresta in the letter following public comment.

"I am really proud of you Michelle," School Committee member Alison Taylor said. "Thank you to everyone who came and shared their stories (in public comment). I know it took a lot to do that as well. It certainly took courage and bravery from Michelle to stand up here and have to go through this."

"I hope you feel the support of both this committee and this community," School Committee member Meagan Taylor said in addressing Cresta. "Because I personally think you did the right thing. I do stand with Israel and I stand against terrorism in any form. And I thank you for always keeping the safety of our students and our staff at the front of mind."

Fox stressed — as she did last week in the vote to extend an offer to Theresa McGuinness as the district's interim superintendent — that the rhetoric must be toned down in the town for the benefit of the children.

"It is time for our community to stop intentionally harming each other," she said. "It is a time for us to come together with open minds and open hearts for the sake of our students and our community.

"I am begging everyone to let go of the anger and commit to building a productive and supportive community."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)