CP_MBHC_20240626_1_A01
FESTIVAL OF ARTS EDITION IN THIS ISSUE
NONPROFIT ORG PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
The Current is a sponsor of the Marblehead Festival of Arts. Check out our special Festival section, starting on Page 9, which includes a schedule.
PAID
MARBLEHEAD, MA PERMIT NO. 25
NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.
TM
June 26, 2024
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VOLUME 2, ISSUE NO. 31
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MARBLEHEADCURRENT.ORG
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ON SOCIAL @MHDCURRENT
EDUCATION
Schools to hire independent investigator Will probe MPS antisemitism accusations, competing claims BY LEIGH BLANDER After listening to two hours of emotional public comment about accusations of antisemitism in Marblehead schools, the School Committee voted to hire an independent investigator to look into the claims and counterclaims More than 140 people, including several from the
Israeli-American Civic Action Network, packed the School Committee meeting Thursday night after a June 10 ICAN webinar where Veterans School teacher Brigitte Karns accused a high school world language teacher with the initials “C.S.” of making antisemitic statements. Karns also accused the teacher of tearing down the Israeli flag in the cafeteria and throwing it in
a corner. In that webinar, Karns said, “Marblehead has been knowingly supporting a hostile work environment of some of the Jewish teachers and students. The Marblehead Education Association is using intimidation tactics to silence Jews and then the administration is perpetuating antisemitic and anti-Israel ideology by remaining
silent.” The accused teacher, Candice Sliney, categorically denied the accusations Thursday night. “In a recent public webinar, Brigitte Karns and other Marblehead public school employees accused me of hateful words and actions that are complete fabrications,” Sliney said. “Nonetheless, seeing that disturbing language repeated
SUMMER FUN
Beating the heat Kids came out on a hot and humid afternoon last Thursday to enjoy a summer splash courtesy of the Marblehead Fire Department. MFD brought its ladder truck to the Community Center parking lot and rained water from a fire hose down on the crowd below. Photographer Grey Collins captured the kids’ joy.
and reproduced over social media caused tremendous harm to our Jewish friends and neighbors, and I want to acknowledge the pain they were subjected to because of her choice to use such inflammatory language about a person she has never met.” Sliney spoke about her EDUCATION, P. A2
MUNICIPAL MATTERS
Assessor remains on paid leave BY WILL DOWD Town Assessor Karen Bertolino remains on paid administrative leave, costing taxpayers more than $23,000 over the last three months. Bertolino was placed on leave after residents expressed frustration over property revaluations and significant increases in their tax bills. In response, the board approved over 80% of the 344 abatement applications, resulting in approximately $541,000 in reduced property taxes. On June 20, the Board of Assessors voted to write a letter explaining the issues with last year’s assessments and post it to its website at marblehead.org/assessors-office. The letter will be reviewed by the board at its next meeting and vetted by town counsel before release. A town-commissioned audit, conducted by independent consultant Jim Doherty, reviewed the valuation process overseen by Bertolino based on 2022 sales data. Board Chair John Kelley has said findings from the audit — which the board voted to release to Bertolino — showed significant issues with land valuations, though the specifics have not been disclosed to the public. The board also voted to consult legal counsel on possibly releasing a redacted version. Board member Jonathan Lederman, whom voters recently elected in a write-in campaign, emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability. “Everybody wants everybody to know what happened to the maximum extent possible,” Lederman said. “It’s important to try to communicate with the community, to understand what went wrong, how it went wrong and what we’re doing to make it right.” Bertolino has not responded to the Current’s requests for comment.
This is the final week of our spring fundraising. We are so grateful to who has contributed: Thank you! And to our match challenge sponsors Peggy Schrage, the Marblehead Current Board of Directors, and the Shube, Sheridan, Weed and Hill families -
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW