Marblehead Schools To Host Next Tax Override Forum Next Week

MARBLEHEAD, MA — The Marblehead School Committee is hosting a trio of informational forums as the district looks to convince voters of the merits of a $3 million general Proposition 2 1/2 tax override.

The override, which was approved 264 to 73 at the annual town meeting earlier this month, will be up for a vote as Question 2 in the June 21 general election.

The first forum will be on May 24 at 9 a.m. in the cafeteria of the Brown Elementary School. Each forum will have a virtual link with the first forum here.

The second forum will be on June 8 at 7 p.m. in the high school library. A Zoom link to that forum is here.

The third forum will be on June 13 at 7 p.m. in the high school library. A Zoom link to that forum is here.

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 at the town meeting on May 2, "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 during the town meeting 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.)