Marblehead Superintendent Says 'No' To Possible Raise Ahead Of Tax Override Vote

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Marblehead Superintendent John Buckey began Thursday's School Committee meeting — the final one before next week's townwide vote on a tax override that could save 33 district positions and programs — which included his annual performance review with a statement that he believes his salary should be frozen given the town's financial situation and that he would not accept a raise or contract extension should it be offered as part of the review process.

The statement came, he said, in response to what he called "what has unfortunately become a political controversy" involving his salary and review process at a time when the full focus should be on trying to pass the override.

"I want to state unequivocally that all of us — School Committee, superintendent, the people of Marblehead — have a far more pressing matter ahead of us than my contract," he said. "That is the override vote that will be held next Tuesday, June 20. This critical vote on the budget for the schools and other town departments has profound implications. I, for one, am focused solely on that vote.

"To that end, while I appreciate any efforts on my behalf for a contract extension and/or pay increase, I say now is not the time. With the town finances, as stretched as they are, I believe a salary freeze for the superintendent is appropriate and I will not accept a pay increase in the next fiscal year."

Marblehead residents head to the polls Tuesday to vote on a $2.5 million general tax override that would add $248 to the bill for the median single-family homeowner in town.

A "yes" vote would restore a "level-services budget" for 2024, while a "no" vote would result in the cutting of 33 equivalent positions and programs, including high school freshman sports, middle school library services and a middle school language program, in reductions that Buckey has repeatedly called "gut-wrenching" but said at the last School Committee meeting two weeks ago would be non-negotiable.

"This is the list of cuts that have been identified, that the School Committee reviewed, and to suggest that we — if god forbid, the override does not pass — we would come back to this list and say: 'No, actually we're not going to make that cut,' I think undermines me, undermines me, undermines the school principals," he said on June 1.

"I just want to be crystal clear that these cuts will be made should the override not pass."

The list of 33 equivalent positions being eliminated in the reduced-services budget: district clerk, Glover secretary, payroll coordinator, Village custodian, district human resources director through a reorganization, behavioral specialist, (5) lunch paraprofessionals, a preschool paraprofessional, two high school paraprofessionals, a permanent substitute, a middle school librarian, a technology specialist, a Glover school tutor, an evaluation lead teacher, high school math teacher, (2) high school science teachers, high school English teacher, middle school Latin teacher, Village music teacher, Village physical education teacher, (2) Village school grade level teachers, Brown school special education teacher, Glover speech teacher, Brown school tutor and all high school freshman-level athletic teams and their coaches.

"The very last thing that I want is for any speculation about my contract to have any bearing whatsoever on the critical townwide vote on Tuesday," he told the School Committee on Thursday. "My goal here tonight is to render the question of my contract moot and to keep the focus on the urgent needs of our students and staff."

The School Committee unanimously approved Buckey's annual review later in the meeting without addressing compensation.

The override is designed to bridge the structural budget gap between increased costs and the money available for one year while the town determines a long-term strategy to keep revenues in line with expenses within tax increases allowed in Proposition 2 1/2 as well as reduce its reliance on "free cash."

The override article won more than 70 percent approval at the May 2 annual town meeting but may face a tougher road at the ballot box.

The School Department had requested a $3 million supplemental budget general override last year that also won overwhelming support at the annual town meeting, but failed the townwide vote by a 2-to-1 margin.

Marblehead voters last passed a Proposition 2 1/2 general override in 2005.

(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.)