[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6089626,"mediaKeyId","2872362-4e01976728de64a34e5e23a327d712c5","parentId",2872362,"title","Independent probe finds insufficient evidence to substantiate most personnel‑level antisemitism claims; finds some procedural failures","audioSeconds",13237,"startMs",2303000,"endMs",15540000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2872362-4e01976728de64a34e5e23a327d712c5&start=2303&end=15540","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2872362-4e01976728de64a34e5e23a327d712c5/thumbnail_2303000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089626/Massachusetts/Independent-probe-finds-insufficient-evidence-to-substantiate-most-personnellevel-antisemitism-claims-finds-some-procedural-failures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089626-d1c843aac1e74db359d0e656c79b4535/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181751&Signature=ZAm7ccoT31FIRPCeW~d3jqtRtYuVoMlN~1nKQOfDvLX5U8a0VVs5NOzFS7xjLosvnMSmr6p5j2z4RqSpE7-mUd3LiSyOz6LyeAf4nCdgF9Ti6esv5-fxwnshCjynholeWFt8ozkx~N78NfJgnZWDkq9ZDOvFd4OX9psqImbFJE2YeIcQs3nADB3ov4A89Y7bQm3s--DTV0sdj67FtSNqgSRBugKHiSXErTRikmOifJGr7vlUgmMmsmLPDByW4fFqQqc8iBewJF3xjcfiUgu8YJMZgYVT6g9q0fimRH0kLJl4cCVgfhcz4h9IPp1iY2~sbB4665tPlzrTem8~h~Qzzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marblehead Public Schools, MA","date","2025-04-04T11:21:27.02Z","article","An independent investigator hired by the Marblehead School Committee concluded that, for the personnel-level incidents the probe examined, there was insufficient evidence to show by a preponderance standard that school district employees engaged in legally actionable antisemitic discrimination or harassment. The investigator did, however, identify two corroborated findings of staff misconduct and concluded the district’s earlier internal grievance process had fallen short of being neutral and thorough.

The investigation, summarized to the committee on April 3, was based on interviews with roughly two dozen current and former staff, parents and other community members, and an analysis of some 450 pages of district records, emails and public materials. The investigator also reviewed relevant legal frameworks—federal and state workplace anti‑discrimination laws and professional standards—and evaluated credibility, documentary corroboration and internal timelines.

The report’s conclusion does not state that antisemitism is absent from the community; rather, the investigator wrote that the specific allegations examined did not meet the investigative standard. The investigator noted 39 separate allegations were submitted for review; most could not be corroborated by independent documentary or testimonial evidence, or were contradicted by other records. Two specific findings did emerge: one staff member’s statements were found to have misrepresented facts in a manner that violated the staff conduct policy, and the earlier district grievance process (an investigation conducted in fall 2023) did not meet standards of neutrality and thoroughness.

Superintendent Reverick told the committee he had already established an anti‑discrimination committee before the report’s completion and described additional administrative steps the district is taking in response to community concerns. He reported hiring changes in human resources (an HR manager is expected to start in May) and said the district will combine the registrar and HR assistant roles to improve family and staff intake and communication. “All these items were in motion well before the report was finished,” he said, adding the administration plans to continue work on professional development, hiring and communication.

The committee and administration emphasized next steps that include: legal review where appropriate, establishing a standing anti‑discrimination committee to advise on prevention and response, adding HR capacity, running additional climate or “pulse” surveys for staff and students, and convening follow‑up conversations with affected groups. Committee members also noted limits on public disclosure: because the investigation addressed personnel matters, much of the investigator’s source material and detailed findings are personnel‑confidential and cannot be released in full.

What the report found and what it did not:
- What it found: two narrow instances in which a staff member’s conduct violated district policies and at least one instance where the prior grievance investigation did not meet the district’s standards for neutrality and completeness.
- What it did not find, on the evidence reviewed: widespread, provable antisemitic discrimination by district personnel with respect to the specific allegations the investigator was asked to examine.

Parents and community members who remain unsatisfied with the findings said they want additional measures focused on training and climate; the committee responded by pointing to the new anti‑discrimination committee, ongoing HR staffing changes, and plans for additional targeted professional development and community engagement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Marblehead School Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","An independent investigator hired by the Marblehead School Committee concluded that, for the personnel‑level incidents the probe examined, there was insufficient evidence to show by a preponderance standard that school district employees engaged in legally actionable antisemitic discrimination or harassment.","taxTitle","Marblehead Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",68732,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6089619,"External review finds Marblehead special‑education services improving, highlights staffing, data and transition gaps",4117,10815000,14932000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2872362-4e01976728de64a34e5e23a327d712c5&start=10815&end=14932","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2872362-4e01976728de64a34e5e23a327d712c5/thumbnail_10815000.jpg","/articles/6089619/Massachusetts/External-review-finds-Marblehead-specialeducation-services-improving-highlights-staffing-data-and-transition-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089619-4d81574464304968db74d4f14e7d7334/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181751&Signature=XfWZXF0cuf~1NfumexLJYMBo1Yw9O8E8tBwhnJP9pXekgGSDC6iOOv-8Y8WVQzpXWg6vy4vnRnQdG3ErmFoMWyQNvwXINXwokDeRRnX22Y8efPx3qWMJS6QghYJsMZTaRuaz5NqYjlex0xqfKpN~3SWnI6gHcXUjrT7e7iObq5SZ1YFEUC2-oXoidY8DXyl00PrImLNbHU6lt573-AuMkF8g4zNwcA8I7D02ggq6Y1UtF3F6nWTIrgj~ka5DQ2IV3YMsVbNg~oxMtyyAhwP2RHerBo9KMsrlxRFXRe3Myszykp6X~86d-RtPUNxcpp~p-51D3dyR0VJmfxuyRgvUhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An external review commissioned by the Marblehead School Committee found that the district’s special‑education operation shows clear signs of improvement — stronger administrative involvement, more consistent procedures and targeted professional development — while identifying continuing gaps in staffing, data systems and transition planning.

Academic Discoveries, an outside vendor hired to perform an independent review, examined six focus areas: program organization and management; student identification and placement; program service delivery and instructional practice; staff support and development; compliance; and stakeholder engagement. Reviewers interviewed staff, parents and administrators, observed classrooms and examined district documentation.

Key findings in the report included:
• Strengths: reviewers found committed special‑education staff, pockets of strong instructional practice and an increased administrative focus on compliance. Staff and parents reported better responsiveness from the central office, and building teams reported deeper collaboration. The district has invested in training and mentoring for new special‑education teachers and expanded coaching and learning‑walk practices.
• Areas for improvement: the review flagged uneven service delivery across buildings, limited vertical alignment of specialized programs, inconsistency in progress‑monitoring practices and gaps in transition planning (between grade bands and for post‑secondary steps). The reviewers also recommended clearer caseload/workload analysis — not just counting students but accounting for the intensity and type of services those students require.
• Data and compliance: Academic Discoveries recommended more consistent progress monitoring and better use of data systems. The report noted that some state reporting fields were combined in the vendor’s source data (for example, residential vs. public‑day placements), and the district said it would provide a clearer breakout of those categories.

District actions already under way, as presented at the meeting, include:
• A “master tracker” for special‑education timelines and compliance deadlines so schools can meet state timelines for evaluations and IEPs.
• A special‑education procedures manual that spells out how the district implements legal requirements and hyperlinks necessary forms and timelines for staff.
• New professional development and a planned purchase of a curriculum‑aligned IEP tool (Goalbook) won via a state grant; the district said Goalbook will help teams generate standards‑aligned, measurable goals and built‑in progress monitoring.
• Expanded training in de‑escalation and safety practices (safety‑care/QBS training), and the district reported a major reduction in reported restraint incidents: five state‑reported restraints so far this school year versus 49 the prior year and 72 the year before that.
• Work with a vendor, Landmark Outreach, and internal staff to standardize language‑based and therapeutic classroom practices and entrance/exit criteria.

Presenters Lisa Maria Pulido and Victoria Ryan said the review validated areas the administration had already identified and that the district has moved quickly to implement both compliance tools and staff training. “This report was requested by the committee to uncover where we needed to improve,” Pulido said; she and Ryan described a mix of short‑term fixes and multi‑year changes the district will pursue.

Next steps spelled out at the meeting included finalizing data breakouts for out‑of‑district placements, piloting Goalbook and rolling out further targeted professional development for co‑teaching, MTSS and progress monitoring. The district also committed to clearer transition planning for students approaching major moves (for example, middle‑to‑high school and post‑secondary planning for older students).","An external review commissioned by the Marblehead School Committee found that the district’s special‑education operation shows clear signs of improvement — stronger administrative involvement, more consistent procedures and targeted professional development — while identifying continuing gaps in staffing, data systems and transition planning.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6089630,"Marblehead committee advances revision of flag policy after hours of public comment",9166,1546000,10712000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2872362-4e01976728de64a34e5e23a327d712c5&start=1546&end=10712","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2872362-4e01976728de64a34e5e23a327d712c5/thumbnail_1546000.jpg","/articles/6089630/Massachusetts/Marblehead-committee-advances-revision-of-flag-policy-after-hours-of-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089630-0fa66739248c8b8fbbf85a000ecae1d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181751&Signature=fXw60hD8uqC5tZtDpJHMt~dMP0bOIjkTvz2Yc0Eq6qhDTkOY97oMJRu5XgTf0S8kyAHz1437uXr8wuFaVCRXFGNDYR-MjT-hqGmse--3Lhcd1UOch3hecylfDMVrqVjfZT9cDI9lcdzKka65t1GdGXD~A-xsNc7JeAVoygodUEmPmwc0pjo9N6IrtPxKDfyHpLm~PbVZ5vBy5BgmOLt0qkDiLABdZw7hmEfB13XfSDCMSuIqjW4vU1ikbUVS0sMEq4aVRd2oZqmr6ltb1amB7wWFw5UWQ3-bZnPa74ItSspl6KTT84q3g1fc-LdOunKQsewSC6IxsauY1i8GH2rHGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Marblehead School Committee spent the bulk of Wednesday night's meeting on a proposed policy that would control flags and banners displayed on district property, opening a new round of public debate and prompting the committee to ask the superintendent and legal counsel for clarifications before a final vote.

The discussion followed more than an hour of public comment in which parents, teachers and residents argued sharply over whether the policy would protect students from political or hate speech or, conversely, grant the committee a censorial role over everyday classroom and student expression.

Supporters of a narrow flag policy said a district standard would preserve a neutral learning environment. Opponents said broad language in the draft could amount to overreach and chill free expression. Jeanne Larkin, a resident, urged the committee not to become “gatekeepers of culture,” saying the body should “measure 3 or 4 times before you cut into the culture of these schools.” Margaret Clark told the committee the proposal’s phrase “symbolic display” is so broad it could reach clothing, artwork and classroom projects: “It is simply impossible,” she said, “and the broad language is either purposeful censorship or thoughtless.”

Other speakers pressed different points: Sharon Rich argued the district should limit official displays to the U.S. and Massachusetts flags and keep other symbols out of shared spaces, while several parents and teachers warned against treating individual classroom walls or student artwork as committee-level decisions. Emily DeJoy, who identified herself as a parent, said limiting official displays to the U.S., Massachusetts and POW/MIA flags would “prioritize education above all else.”

Committee members debated how the district should handle requests for additional displays. Under the draft the superintendent would be able to recommend flags or banners “that reflect the school district’s mission, vision and values,” and the committee would retain final authority. Multiple committee members and the superintendent said they prefer that the superintendent present recommended displays in a single package for the upcoming school year rather than handle ad hoc requests at every meeting. The committee discussed removing the draft’s phrase “similar symbolic displays” and adding language specifying that the policy applies to items affixed to school district property, a change members said would avoid regulating clothing, car bumper stickers and other personal expressions.

The committee voted to have the chair work with outside legal counsel on a response to a demand letter the committee had received from a union (the committee motion asked the chair to coordinate counsel’s reply). Members also directed the administration to return a revised draft at a subsequent meeting; the policy will require further readings before a final vote.

The committee’s next steps include: legal review of the revised draft language, a public second reading of the policy, and administration work to draft operational procedures explaining how the policy would function in practice (for example, how and when the superintendent will recommend a display and how schools will implement approved banners). The committee emphasized that any final policy should be narrowly tailored to avoid inadvertent restrictions on students’ or staff members’ personal expression.

The discussion was one of the meeting’s longest items and will return to a future agenda with edits requested by committee members and counsel.","A revised draft of the school district's policy on flags and symbolic displays drew lengthy public comment and debate at the April 3 School Committee meeting. Committee members asked the superintendent to frame formal recommendations and the chair to consult legal counsel; the policy will return for additional readings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Independent probe finds insufficient evidence to substantiate most personnel‑level antisemitism claims; finds some procedural failures

External review finds Marblehead special‑education services improving, highlights staffing, data and transition gaps

Marblehead committee advances revision of flag policy after hours of public comment