School Committee Rejects Contract With New Business Manager

The Marblehead School Committee threw out a signed contract with newly-hired business manager Brian Salzer Thursday night, saying Superintendent Paul Dulac violated policies with the deal.

"The contract is gone," said School Committee member EuRim Chun.

Interim Superintendent Bob Bellucci told the committee that Salzer -- who resigned as Swampscott High School principal this spring to take the Marblehead job -- is willing to reopen negotiations for the position.

There are two controversial issues. First, Dulac (who is out on medical leave) hired Salzer without notifying the School Committee. It is the committee's charge to hire the business manager, according to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.

Also, Salzer's signed contract was for $125,000, substantially higher than the $103,000 budgeted for that position.

"We cannot accept this," said Chun.

"It's a big concern that this never happens again," said committee member Jonathan Lederman.

"I ask this evening that a full inquiry be made into the possible malfeasance of the superintendent," said Tom Connolly, a parent with two children in Marblehead schools who attended Thursday night's meeting.

He accused Dulac of "either arrogant abuse of power or grotesque incompetence."

The School Committee was to meet later in a closed door executive session to discuss the parameters of the search for business manager. Lederman suggested they start from scratch and look at resumes from other candidates.

Bellucci emphasized that Salzer is "looking forward to re-starting negotiations."

In other school committee business:

• The Glover School Building Committee reported that it will write a letter to the state within 10 days explaining why it thinks the override to fund a new Glover School failed, and why voters may have a change of heart in a new override vote this fall.

  GSBC member Bob Schaeffner called the override a "winnable vote." The committee believes that the large number of overrides on the ballot overwhelmed voters. He urged the School Committee to get behind efforts to get the question back on the ballot and detailed plans to put out a more powerful and straightforward message to voters.
• Student representatives from the high school urged residents to support  the North Shore Medical Center's Cancer Walk this Sunday. About 200 people are walking this year, they said, including many in Team Z -- a group walking in honor of MHS Principal John Ziergiebel, who died of cancer last year.
• Facilities director Richard Matthews said he is considering installing cameras at the high school to prevent vandalism, in the wake of damage done to the school over graduation weekend.
•  Veterans Middle School Principal Libby Moore reported on the recent eighth-grade historical tour of Marblehead that took 250 students from Abbott Hall to the Lee Mansion, Tucker's Wharf and Old Burial Hill. "The goal was to give kids a unique sense of what Marblehead is really all about, what makes it special," said Moore. "They had a wonderful time."