Committee approves $731,000 in transfers to prepay special-education tuitions; agrees MOAs and policy updates

The Marblehead School Committee on June 11 approved a series of fiscal and labor-agreement actions designed to balance next year’s budget and finalize staff-unit changes.

Finance staff explained the district regularly prepays out-of-district special-education tuitions to manage year-to-year budgeting and proposed transfers totaling $731,000. The motions—each approved 5–0—moved $488,000 from district salary lines, $69,000 from contracted services, $101,000 from supplies, and $73,000 from professional expenses into out-of-district tuition lines to repay prepayments for the coming year.

Finance presenter summarized the rationale: the district had previously prepaid $1.1 million the prior year and continues to manage variability in special-education placements and invoices. After discussion, each line-item transfer was moved and carried unanimously.

In labor matters the committee approved memoranda of agreement with the Marblehead Education Association that add occupational therapists, physical therapists and board-certified behavioral analysts to Unit A, while placing PT assistants, OT assistants and certified nurse assistants in the instructional assistant unit. The MOAs were included in the meeting packet and were approved by vote.

The committee also approved policy revisions. Revisions to policy GB (staff conduct) were adopted following policy-subcommittee review, and the committee updated policy JKA to reflect referenced state-level regulations (referred to in the packet as 'DESIE' regulations) on timeout, seclusion and restraint for students. Members noted additional policy work will continue with the subcommittee in the coming year.

Other administrative actions included a vote to name the high school auditorium for Gregory Dane (motion passed 5–0) and a student-led inventory that led the committee to declare outdated high-school science textbooks surplus and authorize their disposal.

All motions described above passed unanimously; committee members said the fiscal and bargaining steps were necessary to close out the fiscal year and clarify staff-unit assignments.