Marblehead Schools' $3 Million Override Request Heads To Townwide Vote

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Marblehead voters will have their say on a proposed Proposition 2 1/2 override to fund a $3 million school surplus budget after town meeting members voted to forward the proposed general override late Tuesday night.

More than four hours after the start of the second night of the annual town meeting, town meeting members voted 264 to 73 in favor of the override vote that will take place at the June 21 town election.

The School Committee has argued that the increase is necessary to fund a backlog of necessary upgrades in curriculum, textbooks, technology and staffing as well as the funding of free, full-day kindergarten and a new Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

"All of these priority areas are needs," Superintendent John Buckey said Tuesday night, "shared by our stakeholders and leaders as necessary for an exemplary education."

The Finance Committee came out in support of the surplus budget while noting again on Tuesday that the town will almost certainly face another general override in 2023 to address systemic budget challenges.

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