CP_MBHC_20240522_1_A01
HONORING HEROES
What the town has planned for Memorial Day
IN THIS ISSUE
CULTURE
SPORTS
Sneak peak at this summer’s Arts Festival
Field of dreams at Seaside
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MARBLEHEAD, MA PERMIT NO. 25
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NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.
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May 22, 2024
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VOLUME 2, ISSUE NO. 26
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MARBLEHEADCURRENT.ORG
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ON SOCIAL @MHDCURRENT
EDUCATION
One of two interim super finalists withdraws Days earlier, Glover principal finalist says no thanks BY LEIGH BLANDER One of the two finalists for the interim superintendent position withdrew from consideration last week, leaving a sole candidate, Swansea Superintendent John Robidoux. Robidoux announced that he would leave Swansea last fall due to a difficult relationship with the school committee there, according to a November 2023 article in The Herald News. “It has become increasingly evident over the last several months that members of this committee no longer value me,
my hard work or my dedication,” The Herald News quoted from a letter from Robidoux to the Swansea School Committee. At a May 16 meeting, Marblehead School Committee Chair Sarah Fox announced that Hingham’s interim student services director, Barbara Cataldo, was no longer interested in Marblehead’s interim super position. According to Fox, Cataldo told her she would be “keeping her eye on Marblehead” to possibly apply for the permanent position next year. “We’re very sorry to see her
withdraw,” Fox added. Member Jenn Schaeffner said she had heard from residents concerned about Cataldo dropping out. “What I’ve seen in my experience is that this does sometimes happen in the course of the search process,” Schaeffner said. “We certainly hope this works out for everyone. We also can start the search process again.” School Committee members planned to visit the Swansea schools on May 22 to learn more about Robidoux. Then, they expected to invite him
to Marblehead to meet with teachers, students and the community. Cataldo’s withdrawal came just days after the finalist for Glover principal declined the position and accepted a job in Lynn instead. That search will begin again, as will searches for Village principal and assistant principal. MHS Athletic Director Greg Ceglarski is also leaving next month.
MHS mental health/ substance use survey
results of the 2023-2024 Survey of Substance Use and Related Risk Factors. More than 740 students, or 85% of the school, participated. “What’s really positive to see is a slight decrease in students at risk for depression,” Hart said. The survey showed 24% of students reported anxiety, down from 34% in 2022. Fifteen percent reported experiencing depression, down from 21% last year. However, there was an increase is reported suicide
Marblehead High School social worker Gina Hart presented the
RESTING PLACE
Deceased whale buried in sand at Preston Beach Humpback had washed ashore twice
SCHOOLS, P. A2
WHAT’S NEXT?
Backers rally to pass MBTA zoning BY WILL DOWD
BY LEIGH BLANDER A deceased humpback whale that came ashore twice this spring — first in Marblehead and then 300 yards down the beach in Swampscott less than three weeks later — was buried Saturday under about 10 feet of sand at Preston Beach. The 42-foot, 65,000pound female first appeared among the rocks near Preston Beach in Marblehead on April 25. Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Tufts University and Seacoast Science Center examined the whale’s body, determining that she had not died by human-made causes. Her body did show signs of entanglement, but those injuries did not appear recent. Marblehead Harbor Master Mark Souza worked with the EPA and Smith Marine to tow the whale first to a mooring about one mile off-shore and
COURTESY PHOTO / SWAMPSCOTT TOWN ADMINISTRATOR SEAN FITZGERALD
A humpback whale that washed ashore twice is buried at Preston Beach on Saturday.
then farther out to sea. The operation cost $27,000. On May 14, the whale’s body reappeared, this time in Swampscott. Swampscott Town Administrator Sean
Fitzgerald consulted with several state and federal environmental agencies to come up with a plan to bury the whale, nicknamed “Espresso.” “Espresso is at her final
resting place,” Fitzgerald told the Current Saturday afternoon. “Huge thanks to Meninno Construction and Gino Cresto, assistant WHALE, P. A6
After Town Meeting narrowly rejected a controversial zoning proposal aimed at complying with a state mandate promoting multifamily housing, some town leaders and residents are gearing up for a second attempt to pass the measure later this year. At a recent joint meeting of the Fair Housing and Housing Production Plan Implementation committees, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said another Town Meeting will need to be scheduled before the Dec. 31 deadline to pass new zoning. Resident Rick Smyers believes the key to success lies in running a better-organized campaign with simplified messaging that resonates with voters. He suggested framing the MBTA zoning as a way to reduce regulatory burdens and give property owners more rights. “I think on the ‘no’ side, there was this interesting combination of coalitions,” Smyers said. “There’s kind of the traditional anti-development crowd that talks concisely about crowding, traffic and burdens on schools. And then there was another coalition that was kind of an antigovernment group that said, ‘I don’t like a mandate, and let’s say no to the state.’” Smyers believes the “anti-government” crowd could be swayed by messaging that emphasizes the zoning changes as a means to cut red tape and give rights back to individual property owners. ZONING, P. A15
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